Compare the2023 BMW iXVS 2022 Polestar 2

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the Polestar 2.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the iX 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 iX and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 945 to 1373 pounds more than the Polestar 2. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

There are almost 14 times as many BMW dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 163 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is rated below average.

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 285 more horsepower (516 vs. 231) and 321 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 243) than the Polestar 2 Single Motor’s standard electric motor. The iX xDrive50’s electric motors produces 108 more horsepower (516 vs. 408) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 487) than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor’s standard electric motors. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 202 more horsepower (610 vs. 408) and 262 lbs.-ft. more torque (749 vs. 487) than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the iX xDrive50 is faster than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor electric motors:

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (275/40R22 vs. 245/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Polestar 2. The iX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Polestar 2.

The iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (118.1 inches vs. 107.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Polestar 2.

For greater off-road capability the iX has a 3.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 Performance Package (8.8 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The iX’s minimum ground clearance is 2.9 inches higher than on the Polestar 2 (8.8 vs. 5.9 inches).

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .25 Cd. That is lower than the Polestar 2 (.278) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

The iX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 6.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 5 inches more rear legroom and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Polestar 2’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Polestar 2.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.