Skip to main content

With its sedan-like exterior, tall body, and minimalist but elegant interior, the 2022 Polestar 2 is one of the standout EVs on the luxury market. It’s also got optional perks like the panoramic roof and LED fog lights with a cornering function. So, how does it fare against direct rivals? Here are four reasons to buy the Polestar 2, not the Genesis GV60.

1. The lower starting price for the Polestar 2

A Polestar 2 electric vehicle (EV) parked in a retail space in Manhattan, New York City
Polestar 2 | Polestar

As luxury EVs, neither the Genesis GV60 nor the Polestar 2 will come cheap. However, one will leave you significantly more money in your pocket for other endeavors like installing a home charger or getting extra features.

According to Polestar, pricing for its EV offering can start from as little as $40,900 after federal tax credits. That said, without the $7,500 tax credit, the EV’s base MSRP is $47,200. Conversely, pricing for the Genesis GV60 starts at $59,985, according to Car and Driver, with the Performance trim costing almost $10,000 more.

Like its Polestar 2 counterpart, the Genesis GV60 is eligible for a $7,500 tax credit, effectively bringing down the base MSRP to about $52,500. Nonetheless, there’s still a $10,000+ reason to pick the Polestar 2 instead of the Genesis.

2. Better motor performance for the base model

With the 2022 Polestar 2, you only get one trim in a front-wheel or all-wheel drive configuration. Conversely, the 2023 Genesis GV60 is available in the Advanced and higher-priced Performance trim, with America only getting the AWD options, according to Top Electric SUV.

The Polestar’s performance for the FWD version maxes out at 231 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. Its counterpart, the GV60 Advanced 2WD, puts out 225 hp in addition to 258 lb-ft of torque. Admittedly, this GV60 variant offers more torque than the equivalent Polestar, despite having a lower maximum horsepower figure.

However, according to U.S. News, Polestar makes up the difference and then some with its AWD variant producing 408 horsepower and 487 lb-ft torque. The Genesis GV60 Advanced trim with an AWD drivetrain, on the other hand, outputs 314 hp and 446 lb-ft torque.

It’s worth mentioning the GV60’s Performance trim lives up to its name, with MotorTrend noting it can produce 429 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a boost button that increases performance to 483 hp and 516 lb-ft for up to 10 seconds. However, as highlighted above, you’d have to pay significantly more for the vehicle.

3. The Polestar 2 has more driving range

If you have range anxiety, the Polestar 2 becomes a better pick than the Genesis GV60. After all, it offers an EPA-estimated 270 miles of range for the long-range 2WD model. Like with other EVs, opting for a dual-motor variant sacrifices some of the range for better performance; hence the range for the AWD Polestar 2 is only 260 miles.

As for the Genesis GV60, the Advanced AWD variant offers less range than the all-wheel drive Polestar 2 at 248 miles. This figure drops down to 235 miles if you pick the Performance variant.

4. A better fuel economy (equivalent)

The Polestar 2 comes fitted with a 75.0 kWh battery under the floor, while its counterpart, the GV60, has a 77.4 kWh battery pack. Despite the advantage in capacity for the Genesis, the vehicle offers less range, as highlighted above, implying that it burns through stored energy much quicker. This is also supported by the EPA-estimated fuel efficiency figures.

The Polestar’s 107 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) is decent among electric vehicles. However, others offer significantly better, such as the 2022 Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Kona Electric, with their fuel efficiency rated at 120 MPGe or more.

On the other hand, the Genesis GV60’s fuel economy is slightly below average at 95 MPGe putting it in league with the Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and others.

Related

Consider One Of The Best New Luxury Electric Cars Of 2022