Compare the2023 Porsche TaycanVS 2023 Polestar 2

The Porsche Taycan 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera 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.

Both the Taycan and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

Porsche pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taycan for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Porsche will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Polestar doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 2.

There are over 7 times as many Porsche dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taycan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 128 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche higher than Polestar.

The Taycan has more powerful engines than the Polestar 2:

As tested in Car and Driver the Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo electric motors is faster than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor electric motors:

The Taycan 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 Taycan’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 Taycan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 2:

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the Taycan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. 245/45R19).

The Taycan’s optional 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Polestar 2 BST’s optional 35 series tires.

The Taycan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Taycan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Polestar doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Polestar 2.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taycan’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 Taycan is 4 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Polestar 2 AWD pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taycan Turbo S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Polestar 2 AWD (23.6 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 24.7 seconds @ .79 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Polestar 2’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Taycan Turbo S is quieter than the Polestar 2 AWD:

The Taycan has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

The Taycan has a much larger trunk than the Polestar 2 with its rear seat up (17.2 vs. 15.4 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Polestar 2 with its rear seat up (18.7 vs. 15.4 cubic feet). The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Polestar 2 with its rear seat folded (45.7 vs. 38.7 cubic feet).

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the Polestar 2, the Taycan offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Taycan’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 Taycan offers an optional 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.

The Taycan 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 Porsche Taycan has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park 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.

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Polestar 2 isn’t available as a station wagon.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Porsche Taycan 4S higher than the Polestar 2 AWD.