Compare the2024 Audi e-tron GTVS 2023 Polestar 2

The Audi e-tron GT 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 GT. But it costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The e-tron GT 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 GT 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 GT 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.

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 GT’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 92 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Polestar.

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi e-tron GT (522 HP engine) is faster than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor electric motors:

The e-tron GT can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

The e-tron GT has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Polestar 2 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The e-tron GT’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 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 2:

The e-tron GT RS 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 e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. 245/45R19).

The e-tron GT’s standard 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Polestar 2’s standard 45 series tires. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Polestar 2 BST’s optional 35 series tires.

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

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron GT 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 GT 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 GT’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 GT’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 track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron GT is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Polestar 2.

The RS e-tron GT handles at .93 G’s, while the Polestar 2 AWD pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RS e-tron GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Polestar 2 AWD (24.1 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 24.7 seconds @ .79 average G’s).

The e-tron GT has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

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

The e-tron GT’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 GT Prestige/RS 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.

Laser headlights, standard on the e-tron GT Prestige/RS, 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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the e-tron GT has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The e-tron GT 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 Audi e-tron GT has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Polestar 2.

The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ Park Assist Plus 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 Audi e-tron outsold the Polestar 2 by 52% during 2022.