Polestar 2 vs BMW i4

Polestar is one of the newest brands in the automotive firmament, but it still has a connection to an established automaker.

The Polestar name originally belonged to an independent motorsports and tuning company focused on modifying Volvos. It was eventually acquired by the Swedish automaker, and for a short time became its performance sub-brand, similar to Mercedes-AMG or BMW M. Volvo then decided to reassign the Polestar name to a new brand focused on electric vehicles. Launched for the 2021 model year, the Polestar 2 was the new brand’s first volume model, following the limited-edition Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid.

Polestar has other EVs planned, but for now the 2 remains its sole offering. The 2024 Polestar 2 gets some notable upgrades, including a range boost, revised styling, and some powertrain changes. All of that helps keep the 2 fresh in the face of competition like the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Polestar keeps its lineup simple. Buyers can choose between Long Range Single Motor and Long Range Dual Motor configurations. We sampled the single-motor Polestar 2 for this review.

After entering the modern electric car era with the radical i3 hatchback, BMW is dialing things back a bit. The 2022 BMW i4 isn’t as radical as the i3, but it may also appeal to a wider audience.

Instead of a dedicated platform, the i4 uses the same body shell as the gasoline BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, which in turn is a four-door version of the BMW 4 Series coupe and convertible. The result is an electric vehicle with dimensions fairly close to the BMW 3 Series, the Bavarian automaker’s signature product. By offering an electric alternative, BMW is showing that it’s serious about EVs.

The i4’s closest rivals are the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar, as both are electric four-doors from premium brands. Most of BMW’s traditional rivals, such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, are focusing on electric crossover SUVs and more expensive sedans for now. The Porsche Taycan is positioned above the i4 in price and performance aspirations.

As with other BMW models, the i4 launches in multiple configurations based on its drivetrain rather than conventional trim levels. The single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) BMW i4 eDrive40 is the base model, and the one we test drove for this review. Buyers looking for more power can upgrade to the dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) i4 M50, which is featured in our video review, above.