Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2022 Polestar 2

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kona Electric are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona Electric has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Polestar 2.

Both the Kona Electric and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona Electric the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 220 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Polestar 2 has not been tested, yet.

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 2’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Polestar doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 2.

There are almost 32 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona Electric’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona Electric’s reliability 22 points higher than the Polestar 2.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 143 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Polestar.

The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 243) than the Polestar 2 Single Motor’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Polestar 2’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 900 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The Kona Electric is 1 foot, 3.7 inches shorter than the Polestar 2, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric has .9 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona Electric has a standard rear wiper. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona Electric has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona Electric, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Polestar 2 isn't recommended.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Polestar 2 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.