Compare the2023 Audi e-tronVS 2023 Polestar 2

The Audi e-tron 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, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the e-tron. But it costs extra on the Polestar 2.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the e-tron’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The e-tron 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. 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 e-tron has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Polestar charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Polestar 2.

Both the e-tron 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Audi e-tron weighs 1051 to 1678 pounds more than the Polestar 2. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 e-tron 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.

There are almost 12 times as many Audi dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the e-tron’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 89 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Polestar.

The e-tron has more powerful engines than the Polestar 2:

The e-tron 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.

The e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 2:

For better traction, the e-tron has larger standard tires than the Polestar 2 (255/50R20 vs. 245/45R19). The e-tron’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (265/45R21 vs. 245/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Polestar 2.

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Polestar 2, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron’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 e-tron S’ wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (115.1 inches vs. 107.6 inches). The e-tron’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (115.3 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

The e-tron has 4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the e-tron. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Maximum trailer towing in the Polestar 2 is limited to 2000 pounds. The e-tron offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Polestar 2, the e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The e-tron’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 e-tron Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 e-tron 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 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The e-tron 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 e-tron (except Premium) 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.

The Audi e-tron outsold the Polestar 2 by 52% during 2022.