Compare the2025 Kia EV6VS 2024 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 EV6 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.

Both the EV6 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, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Polestar 2:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Polestar 2:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The EV6 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 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.

There are over 25 times as many Kia dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV6’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 EV6’s reliability 18 points higher than the Polestar 2.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 153 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is ranked 35th, below the industry average.

The EV6 GT’s electric motors produces 186 more horsepower (641 vs. 455) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 546) than the Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Pack’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 Long Range electric motors is faster than the Polestar 2 Single Motor electric motor:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

The EV6 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.

For better stopping power the EV6 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 2:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the Polestar 2:

For better traction, the EV6 GT-Line e-AWD’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EV6 GT has standard 21-inch wheels. The Polestar 2’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV6’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (114.2 inches vs. 107.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV6 is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Polestar 2 Single Motor pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the EV6 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 Performance Package (6.1 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the EV6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The EV6’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Polestar 2 (6.1 vs. 5.9 inches).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The EV6 has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 2 (103 vs. 96).

The EV6 has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 2’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Polestar 2 is limited to 2000 pounds. The EV6 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity.

The EV6 Light/Wind/GT-Line’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 EV6 GT-Line/GT 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 EV6 has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The EV6 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the rear seat, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The EV6 GT-Line/GT’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart 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.

Insurance will cost less for the EV6 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the EV6 will cost $1170 less than the Polestar 2 over a five-year period.

The EV6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the EV6 will retain 51.38% to 51.88% of its original price after five years, while the Polestar 2 only retains 30.2% to 35.13%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Polestar 2 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first 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 EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Polestar 2 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Polestar 2 has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Polestar 2 by almost two to one during 2023.