The luxury EV SUV market is heating up. Despite the ubiquity of the Tesla brand, new vehicles like the Polestar 2 are shaking up this competitive segment. You’ll find the Polestar 2 has earned quite a bit of praise and is worthy of a second look. Matching it up with a comparable vehicle like the Volvo XC40 Recharge is just one way to see how great an option the 2022 Polestar 2 is if you’re looking for lush and eco-friendly sports utility vehicles.

The 2022 Polestar 2’s affordability

Compared to its corporate cousin, the Polestar 2 is the more affordable option at a starting MSRP of $40,900. And unlike many vehicles in this segment, the Polestar 2 still qualifies for the 2009 federal tax credit for EVs. With the full tax credit, buyers might take home a new Polestar 2 for as little as $40,900 per Volvo.

In contrast, the Volvo XC40 Recharge starts at $53,550. Both run on the same Compact Modular Architecture platform and offer similar powertrain options. However, the base model of the Polestar 2 is single-motor, whereas all variants of the XC40 are dual-motor. Still, to get a dual-motor Polestar 2, you’ll pay $53,300 (as per Car and Driver) – $250 less than a base model XC40 Recharge.  

And the Polestar 2’s dual-motor setup will be pushing out 408 hp. That’s six more horsepower than Car and Driver estimates the top XC40 Recharge trim. And you’ll go from 0 to 60 mph 0.02 seconds faster in a Polestar 2, meaning you’ll get more bang for your buck in the more affordable Volvo model.

Greater driving range

You can’t talk about EVs without mentioning driving range. Here too, the Polestar has the XC40 Recharge beat. According to Edmunds, both vehicle models come with a 75.0-kWh battery pack. But the XC40 Recharge only gets 223 miles of range when fully charged. While that’s not terrible, it is not competitive with the likes of Tesla, which is known for its range.

If you need an EV that will take you places with minimal recharging, you’ll want a Polestar 2. Using the same battery pack, Edmunds notes the single-motor Polestar 2 can take you 270 miles on a single charge and 260 miles with the dual-motor variant. The Polestar 2 handily beat the XC40 Recharge in this area, and it also beats a Tesla Model Y.

Both the XC40 Recharge and the Polestar 2 support home charging. They also are capable of DC fast charging up to 150 kW. This method will recharge a dead battery to 80 percent of capacity in 40 minutes. But with a Polestar 2, you’ll need to worry about charging a bit less, which is another reason why it’s superior to the XC40 Recharge.

Greater fuel economy and lighter curb weight

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its range, the Polestar 2 boasts greater fuel economy than the XC40 Recharge. The latter is rated for 92 MPGe in the city and 79 MPGe on the highway, for a combined 85 MPGe.

But a Polestar 2 offers drivers 113 MPGe in the city and 100 MPGe on the highway. That combined 107 MPGe makes the Polestar 2 a superior daily driver and reduces a buyer’s long-term cost of ownership.

Undoubtedly, one reason for the Polestar 2’s greater fuel efficiency is its lighter curb weight. The Polestar 2 weighs just 4,396 lbs, while the XC40 Recharge weighs 4,741 lbs. That lighter weight helps the Polestar achieve greater fuel economy and accelerate faster than not only the XC40 Recharge but several other vehicles in the segment. 

But if you’re considering a Volvo luxury EV SUV, the Polestar’s price, range, fuel economy, and lighter weight are four reasons it’s a better buy than the XC40 Recharge.