Polestar is a name that was first used for a Swedish racing team that was tuning Volvo cars in the 90s. Polestar was later acquired by Volvo to be Volvo’s in-house tuning department so Polestar was to Volvo what AMG is to Mercedes now.
Nowadays the name Polestar is associated with electric cars because Volvo and Geely which are the two companies that own Polestar believe that that’s the right way to go. As such, Polestar is now 100% focused on luxury electric cars while Volvo is focused on both electric cars and ICE cars.
Comparing these two is like comparing yourself to a mirror, they are almost identical. Volvo and Polestar share parts with each other even though Polestar is technically a different brand. This is not similar to what Audi and the rest of the VAG do because the levels of part sharing between Volvo and Polestar are a lot greater.
As such, these two are similar if not the same as far as reliability is concerned. The only mentionable difference here is that Polestar solely focuses on electric cars which are in theory more reliable than ICE cars. As such, it’s easy to suggest that Polestar makes more reliable cars overall.
Volvo reliability – Average up to above average
According to several online sources, Volvo places in the top echelon of luxury cars reliability which means that Volvo bests most of its German premium competitors as far as reliability is concerned. As such, Volvo can be considered a reliable brand even though they are not leading the charts in any way.
Considering the fact that most new Volvo models are complex, this is a really good result. The Volvo XC90 is one of the most reliable Volvo models with most charts placing it in the top echelon of most luxury SUV reliability contests.
Even though the XC90 does utilize a fairly complex platform based on a 4-cylinder engine that is both supercharged and turbocharged while also being boosted by an electric motor, the engine seems to be both efficient and reliable. It does cost more money to maintain when compared to most engines out there, but this is to be expected with such a car.
Finally, Volvo cars come with a factory 3-year long/unlimited miles warranty for free which can be extended up to 6 years or 120k miles.
Polestar reliability – Most likely better than Volvo’s
There aren’t enough Polestar models out there for a good bit of time which means that predicting Polestar’s average reliability is rather difficult. Most online sources state that Polestar’s reliability should be fairly similar to Volvo with the difference that Polestar only makes electric cars.
As such, electric cars should inherently be more reliable because they offer fewer moving parts while also needing less maintenance. However, electric cars are still a bit of a mixed match because we don’t really know how well EV batteries do after any significant miles on the odometer.
EVs also come with EV-specific components such as regenerative braking motors and all sorts of EV- oriented tech which is not tested to the same amount as most ICE systems are. Only time will tell how well Polestar models do as far as reliability is concerned, but it’s safe to suggest that they are going to be similar to Volvo’s EVs.
Maintenance – Essential aspect of reliability
Most reliability charts out there only make sense if you maintain your car according to your manufacturer’s recommendations. This is because there are too many factors that influence car reliability and these can not be accounted for in most reliability charts out there, especially considering that Polestar models are just starting to reach the market.
Volvo models are above average expensive as far as maintenance is concerned which comes as no surprise considering how complex they are. Polestar models should be pretty similar which means that maintenance costs between Volvo and Polestar EVs should be similar.
However, Volvo is still focused on making ICE cars which are indeed more expensive to maintain because they require regular maintenance which is not necessary for an EV. A perfect example of that is the need for engine oil replacements which are non-existent in an EV.
FAQ Section
Are Volvo cars more luxurious than Polestar cars?
Both Volvo and Polestar are considered luxury cars and the differences between the two are minimal so it’s safe to say that these two are equally as luxurious. However, the trim level you go for is likely going to be the most important aspect of car luxury so the higher the trim – the more luxurious the car is.
Comfort-wise it’s safe to say that Volvo still offers more comfortable cars considering the existence of the Volvo XC90 and the Volvo S90. Polestar still has no comparable models to these two full-size cars which are aimed at utmost levels of luxury and sophistication.
Is Polestar one of the best EV automakers out there?
As of right now, Polestar certainly is a competitive EV brand but it’s not the best EV automaker in the world because that honor goes to Tesla and Porsche. Tesla is arguably the best EV brand out there if you consider desirability and convenience as your primary points of reference.
On the other hand, Porsche, Mercedes, and Audi make more sophisticated, more comfortable, and more luxurious EVs than Tesla, especially if you consider build quality and interior material choices. Polestar is certainly up there with the best, but it’s still too early to tell how well Polestar EVs will do in the future.
How many models does Polestar have?
There are only two current Polestar models on the market and those are the Polestar 1 and the Polestar 2. The Polestar 1 is a more luxurious halo-car for Polestar as it showcases what Polestar is capable of if money is no object. As such, the Polestar 1 was designed to elevate the Polestar brand name and not to sell as a regular car would.
The Polestar 2 is aimed at mass-production which means that it rivals the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y. Polestar is also coming out with the Polestar 3 in 2022 and 3 newer models will follow after that.
