Compare the2025 Lexus RZVS 2025 Polestar 4

The RZ has standard Safety Connect®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the RZ and the Polestar 4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Lexus RZ achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Polestar 4 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RZ’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 142 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is rated below average.

The RZ 450e’s optional electric motors produces 36 more horsepower (308 vs. 272) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (321 vs. 253) than the Polestar 4’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the RZ gets better mileage than the Polestar 4:

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Polestar 4’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RZ has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 4 (7.9 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the RZ to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Lexus RZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 1000 pounds less than the Polestar 4.

The front grille of the RZ uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Polestar 4 with its rear seat up (34.1 vs. 18.6 cubic feet). The RZ has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Polestar 4 with its rear seat folded (55.6 vs. 54.2 cubic feet).

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RZ offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RZ has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RZ’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Polestar 4’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

The RZ 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 4.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 4’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.