Compare the2023 Kia EV6VS 2023 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 EV6 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.

The EV6 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Polestar 2’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the EV6 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Polestar charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Polestar 2.

Both the EV6 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, 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 around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the EV6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Polestar 2 has not been tested, yet.

The EV6 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 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.

There are almost 30 times as many Kia dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV6’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 EV6’s reliability 54 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 Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 172 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is ranked 35th, below the industry average.

The EV6 GT’s electric motors produces 100 more horsepower (576 vs. 476) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (545 vs. 502) than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT is faster than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor:

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

The EV6 has a standard locking charge port with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The Polestar 2 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the EV6 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 2:

For better traction, the EV6 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (255/40R21 vs. 245/45R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV6’s wheelbase is 6.6 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (114.2 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV6 is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Polestar 2 AWD pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the EV6 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 Performance Package (6.1 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the EV6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The EV6’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Polestar 2 (6.1 vs. 5.9 inches).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The EV6 has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 2 (103 vs. 96).

The EV6 has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 2’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Polestar 2 is limited to 2000 pounds. The EV6 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity.

The EV6’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The EV6 GT-Line has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the EV6 has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The EV6 (except Light)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Polestar 2 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first among compact SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Polestar 2 isn’t in the top three.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Polestar 2 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Polestar 2 has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Polestar 2 by 26% during 2022.