Polestar 2 VS Mach-E VS Tesla Model 3 VS Kia EV6: EV Efficiency Battle
How does the Polestar 2 efficiency and range compare when ranked against other similar electric vehicles?
When shopping for a vehicle traditionally, gas mileage would be among the top items of consideration. How efficient the vehicle is when consuming gas will directly affect the amount it costs to drive it, especially now with gas prices being unstable. Electric cars are not so different, however, they measure efficiency differently than internal combustion engines.
Whereas internal combustion engines measure miles per gallon, electric vehicles often measure kWh/100 miles (160.93 km) or per 1000 miles (1,609.34 km) in the case of Tesla. That is how much electricity has been consumed per 100 miles (or 1000 miles).
2022 Polestar 2 Efficiency
Battery efficiency is greatly impacted by many things. Among them are temperature, elevation, tire type, weight, and vehicle aerodynamics to name a few. The 2022 Polestar 2 Dual Motor has a 78 kWh battery, and Polestar has been quoted at having a combined EPA energy consumption of roughly 37.9 kWh/100 miles. That will provide roughly 249 miles of range for the Polestar 2.
Polestar 2 Real World Efficiency
Just like internal combustion engine miles per gallon has the reported EPA gas mileage and real world gas mileage. I have driven my 2022 Polestar 2 Dual Motor a little under 7,000 miles (11,265.41 km) so far and have been getting around 34.3 kWh/100 miles. The type of driving I do is mainly highway driving with a little mountain road driving sprinkled in.
How does Polestar 2 Compare to Other EVs?
Tesla Model 3 Efficiency
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most efficient EVs on the market. The 2022 Model 3 Long Range AWD is quoted as having a combined EPA of about 25.7 kWh/100 miles.
The 2022 Model 3 is able to squeeze out a highly efficient range of about 334 miles (537.52 km) from an 82 kWh battery. I personally have a 2018 Model 3 Long Range AWD and with the same driving style as mentioned above, I have seen 27.8 kWh/100 miles.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Extended Range AWD
The Mustang Mach-E has the largest battery in the bunch. From a 98.7 kWh battery, it is able to achieve about 37 kWh/100 miles with its combined EPA. The Mach-E it is able to provide slightly longer range at 305 miles (490.85 km), due to having such a large battery.
2022 Kia EV6 AWD (Long Range)
The Kia EV6 is reported to have a 77.4 kWh battery, with an EPA efficiency of about 32 kWh/100 miles. Kia is quoted as having a range of approximately 310 miles (498.9 km). The EV6 has the smallest battery among the discussed electric vehicles.
| Model | Battery Size | Range | Combined Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Polestar 2 Dual Motor | 78 kWh | 249 mi | 38 kWh/100 mi |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD | 82 kWh |
358 mi | 26 kWh/100 mi |
| 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Extended Range AWD | 98.7 kWh | 305 mi | 37 kWh/100 mi |
| 2022 Kia EV6 AWD (Long Range) | 77.4 kWh | 310 mi | 32 kWh/100 mi |
Verdict
The Polestar 2 does not have the best efficiency, nor does it have the longest range. However, depending on your situation, 249 miles may be plenty of range. That being said, range tests have seemingly resulted in higher than reported EPA ranges.