Compare the2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 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 Ioniq 5 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Ioniq 5’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5’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 Ioniq 5’s reliability 11 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.

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 5 gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

The Ioniq 5 can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

The Ioniq 5 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 traction, the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

The Ioniq 5 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (118.1 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 5 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

For greater off-road capability the Ioniq 5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 Performance Package (6.1 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the Ioniq 5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ioniq 5’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Polestar 2 (6.1 vs. 5.9 inches).

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 450 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The Ioniq 5 has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 2 (106.5 vs. 96).

The Ioniq 5 has .2 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 5.5 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 5.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ioniq 5’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 2’s rear seats don’t recline.

Maximum trailer towing in the Polestar 2 is limited to 2000 pounds. The Ioniq 5 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ioniq 5 Limited 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 Ioniq 5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote 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 Hyundai Ioniq 5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Polestar 2 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ioniq 5 second 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 Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The Polestar 2 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Ioniq outsold the Polestar 2 by over three to one during 2022.