BMW has a long history of developing luxury sports sedans, and now the automaker is aiming to dominate the all-electric segment with its new 2022 i4. About the size of a 3 Series, the BMW i4 offers an engaging driving experience. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Tesla Model 3, this could be it. But there’s another small EV vying for your attention: the Polestar 2.
The Polestar 2 comes from Volvo’s upcoming EV-only brand, Polestar. It impresses with excellent handling and impressive technology. Which electric sedan – with a hatchback trunk – is the better buy? Edmunds experts compared them to find out.
RANGE AND CHARGING
Range and charging should be top priorities, even if you’re looking for a powerful EV. For 2022, the i4 has an EPA-estimated range of 227-301 miles, depending on model and configuration. On paper, Polestar 2’s EPA rating isn’t that high. It is estimated between 249 and 270 miles.
Edmunds also ran its real-world range tests on both cars. Here the twin-engine i4 M50 version drove 268 miles on a full charge and the twin-engine Polestar 2 288 miles. This puts the Polestar in the top half of the Edmunds EV rankings and the i4 in the bottom half.
Charging both vehicles with an empty battery at home takes about the same amount of time. If you use a public DC fast charging station, you may be back on the road a little sooner with the slightly higher peak charging current of the BMW.
Winner: Polestar 2
COMFORT
Luxury sports sedans have to deliver performance, but also offer a lot of comfort. When it comes to driving comfort, both competitors are very comfortable despite their sporty chassis. However, the Polestar seats have more padding for more support and comfort.
Passenger space is fairly even, but the Polestar 2 has slightly more front headroom and legroom. The Swede also offers more cargo space in its hatchback trunk. Electric vehicles are inherently quiet, so it’s important to shield the cabin from outside noise. Both sports sedans excel in that, but expect a smoother driving experience in the Polestar.
Winner: Polestar 2
PERFORMANCE
Performance and solid driving dynamics are key for sports sedans, and both EVs deliver. The i4 eDrive40 makes 335 hp and the M50 469 hp or even more in short bursts. The Polestar offers less grunt: 231 to 408 hp. The difference in performance was evident in Edmund’s tests. The M50 reached 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and the twin-engine Polestar 2 took 4.3 seconds.
While BMW certainly did well on the “engine” part of its name, it strayed when the road got twisty. The i4’s steering doesn’t offer much road feel, and its stability control system tends to kill the fun when you’re cornering hard. It may seem strange, but the Polestar 2 is actually the more playful and engaging EV to drive down a deserted back road.
Winner: Tie
TECHNOLOGY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE
BMW and Polestar impress with impressive technology and have digital instrument panels and large touchscreens. However, the i4’s horizontal touchscreen is larger than the Polestar’s vertical one. The i4’s touchscreen interface works very well and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.
Inside the Polestar you’ll find a Google Android-based operating system that works in a similar way to a smartphone and includes apps like Google Maps. But we didn’t find it quite as feature-rich as the BMW’s interface.
BMW and Polestar are a little stingy when it comes to advanced driving aids like adaptive cruise control. They include some standard driver aids, but the rest are optional. But we like how the driving aids of both cars are helpful and not overly intrusive.
Winner: i4
PRICES AND VALUE
The BMW i4 eDrive40 starts at $56,295 and the M50 at $66,995 with destination. The starting price for the single-engine Polestar 2 is $49,800 and the twin-engine model is $3,500 more, or $53,300. The price difference is significant, but the difference in performance and the familiarity of the BMW brand name might be worth it for some. The $7,500 federal tax credit can be applied to either electric vehicle.
Standard and optional features between the two are comparable, as are their warranties and free maintenance plans. Both competitors also boast solid build quality and interiors that look and feel appropriate for the price.
The Polestar’s slightly lower pricing is appealing, but BMW’s brand awareness and its more extensive dealer network even make up the score.
Winner: Tie
EDMUNDS SAYS
You’ll probably be happy with either EV. In fact, they are statistically even in Edmunds’ ranking scoring. Can’t decide? For superior comfort and handling, get the Polestar. But for brand familiarity and rocket-like acceleration, get the BMW.
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This story was provided to The Associated Press by automotive website Edmunds.
Michael Cantu is an Edmunds employee and can be followed on Instagram.