The past decade has seen a huge spike in EV popularity with most automakers coming out with their own versions of the electric vehicle. Tesla has the Model 3, Kia has the EV6, VW has the.ID 4, Hyundai has the Ioniq 5, and Polestar has the Polestar 2. In this article, we are only going to focus on the Ioniq 5 and the Polestar 2. So, Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Polestar 2 – Which is better?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was first introduced back in 2021 and it took the world by surprise. First of all, the Ioniq 5 looks great thanks to its boxy design with authentic design touches which elevate the experience substantially. Polestar used to be Volvo’s performance division, but they later branched out to become a separate brand with an EV vision, and the first mass-production Polestar EV is the 2022 Polestar 2.
Both the Ioniq 5 and the Polestar 2 are at the very top when it comes to best-selling EVs in the current market because both of them offer power, efficiency, space, safety, technology, and desirability. You can choose between two battery sizes for both models, rear-wheel-drive is standard, but you can go for AWD if you so desire.
Design is completely subjective, but we can’t say that these don’t look bad. They also seem to be fairly reliable which is to be expected from an EV. Price-wise, the Polestar 2 does cost slightly bit less than the Ioniq 5, but well-equipped models aren’t too different.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
With a starting price of around $42,000, the Ioniq 5 comes with two different battery sizes, a smaller 58kWh battery, and a larger 77kWh battery. The former offers either 170hp or 235hp depending on if you go for AWD or not while the latter offer either 217hp or 306hp, also depending on if you go for AWD or not. You can expect the Ioniq 5 to last as far as 303 miles on a full charge maximum.
Hyundai says that the Ioniq 5 supports fast DC charging with up to 350kW that can recharge the Ioniq 5 from 0% to 80% in just under 18 minutes. However, many owners stated that the Ioniq 5 mostly maxes out at 230kW and that 350kW can be supported for a really short amount of time.
Design-wise, the Ioniq 5 truly is excellent as it looks authentic through and through. The interior is nicely laid out with everything you need to enjoy the Ioniq 5. The driving experience isn’t as sporty as the Tesla Model 3 or some other sporty EVs from this segment, it’s more about comfort and ease of use than it is lap times.
Reliability is rated at 73/100 which is a really good result, but not the best for an EV. Practicality is also really good as the Ioniq 5 offers loads of rear seating space, but the trunk space is not anything to brag about.
Polestar 2
With a $45,000 starting price, the Polestar 2 is fairly similar to the Ioniq 5. Engine-wise, you can choose between a 225hp engine with a 68kWh battery, a 408hp engine with a 78kWh battery, or a 231hp engine with the same 78kWh battery. The maximum range for the Polestar 2 is around 317 miles which means that these two are really closely matched.
Maximum fast charging speeds are capped at 150kW which is significantly less than ever Ioniq’s “real” charging speed that hovers around 230kW at most times. This means that you can recharge the Polestar 2 from 0% to 80% in about 30 minutes or so.
Design-wise, the Polestar 2 is much simpler than the Ioniq 5 as Polestar aims to make the Polestar 2 minimalistic. The interior is also really nicely laid-out with lots of soft-touch materials that aim to elevate the experience to luxury car levels. Reliability is capped at 58/100 which is a lot worse than with the Ioniq 5.
Practicality is really good, but the Polestar 2 could use a slightly larger rear seating area as it is one of the worst ones in its class.
Verdict – The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is better
These two mainstream EVs have many things to offer and it was really difficult to pick a winner here. For starters, the Ioniq 5 is a more practical car with more seating space, a larger trunk, and better visibility. Even though the Polestar 2 is available with upwards of 400hp, there aren’t really any significant benefits when it comes to performance.
This is because none of these two is a performance EV and that is rather obvious. The Ioniq 5 also has a longer wheelbase which enables it to be more comfortable than the Polestar 2. The Ioniq 5 also gets certain safety features such as downhill assist as standard while the Polestar 2 does not.
To top it all off, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a noticeably more reliable car which means that it should be able to offer you a much more dependable experience. The Polestar 2 does feel like a more premium product on the inside, but that is pretty much the only thing where the Polestar truly beats the Ioniq 5.
FAQ Section
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 safer than the Polestar 2?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes with certain safety features from standard such as downhill assist or back seat reminder which aren’t available with the Polestar 2. The Ioniq 5 also gets the rear collision alert feature as standard while the Polestar offers it as an optional extra. When it comes to crash protection, both are 5-star rated cars.
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 more luxurious than the Polestar 2?
The Ioniq 5 is the slightly more comfortable car between these two, but the Polestar 2 comes with higher-end interior materials and a slightly quieter ride. This means that both of these are comfortable and enjoyable, but if we were to choose which one is more luxurious, it has to be the Polestar 2.
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 a better family car than the Polestar 2?
This is an area where both of these tend to do really well, but most families are better off going with the Ioniq 5. It just has certain features that will help you if you are constantly transporting multiple people. The Polestar 2 might feel like a more pleasant place to spend time, but the Ioniq 5 feels like a better package overall.
