Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor (A) vs Kia EV6 GT-Line (A)

It's quite rare that we get two cars that are so evenly matched. Sure, the Kia EV6 may be a little down on power, with only 321bhp to play with next to the 402bhp offered in the Polestar 2. But there's only one single kWh of capacity that separates the batteries of these two cars. And price wise, the EV6 in this 'GT-Line' trim is asking for $293,999, just a whisker away from the $290,000 that this Long Range Dual Motor Polestar 2 costs (all prices as of 23 May 2023).

And the similarities between these two go beyond these simple figures. The Kia EV6 marks the first of what will be an entire lineup of electric cars from Kia, a lineup which - based on this car's pricing as well as what we've seen of the EV9 and EV5 concept car - looks set to take the brand away from its bread-and-butter associations and into a more premium market.

In the same fashion, the Polestar 2 has also arguably been built to conquer new markets. The first all-electric product from an offshoot of Volvo, the Polestar 2 comes off as a thoroughly design and performance-led offering built to carve market share by chasing customers that would have otherwise considered products from its parent company too conservative or uninspired.

But just which of these two trailblazers should you make your pick?

Fashionable

When it comes to wooing new customers, I reckon it's the Polestar 2 that will have an easier time just on the merits of its exterior design alone.

Not that the EV6 isn't a looker. It not only looks like nothing else we've seen before from Kia, but will also manage to stand out in any carpark with its low front nose, unique lighting signature at the rear, and that dramatic roof spoiler. But combined together, all these features put the EV6 at risk of being overstyled. And those large haunches for the rear wheels do make it look bulbous from certain angles.

The Polestar 2, in contrast, adopts a relatively less dramatic approach to its exterior. There's no wings here, and minimal ornamentation on the outside. Aided by its shorter wheelbase and overall length, as well as a lower overall height compared to the EV6, the Polestar 2 just about pips the Kia design-wise with a more pleasing silhouette.

The smaller measurements of the Polestar 2, however, don't do it any favours when it comes to space. Boot space in the Swedish fastback totals 405 litres, as opposed to the 520-litre rear of the EV6.

Take the rear bench of both cars and you'll find not only more leg and knee room in the EV6, but will also have an easier time with ingress and egress in the Korean car. The Kia EV6 also offers its rear passengers a flat floor, while the Polestar 2 comes with a sizable "transmission" tunnel.

Fresh

The Polestar 2, however, will win the hearts of those seated at the front. The clean dashboard layout here works well to accentuate the clever mix of grey fabric and glossy black plastic. And the fact that the infotainment only makes use of different hues of orange (for the most part), and consistently utilises a white text on a clean black background just adds a classy touch to proceedings.

The Kia EV6, in contrast, is not ashamed to place buttons all throughout its cabin, so naturally there's more visual clutter. Having said that, I found the positioning of the ventilated seat controls at the end of the floating centre armrest a nice touch - they are not only close to hand, but also just centimeters away from the air-conditioning controls, so setting the cabin up just right in this sweltering weather in the EV6 is always easy.

Fast

On the go is where the two cars differ significantly.

What immediately strikes from behind the wheel of the Polestar 2 is that its sporty drive comes more so from its planted and sure-footed disposition.

You'll have to push the throttle pedal deep to get the car to give up most of its power, and the steering is both slower and lacking in outright feel to quite live up to what all those gold touches on the outside otherwise suggest. Still, grip levels are generous, and body roll is well checked here, both of which should please the eager driver, although the latter is also achieved with the penalty of a firm ride.

The Kia EV6, in contrast, is more family-friendly. The ride here is supple compared to the Polestar 2, a feat no doubt aided by the generous sidewalls of its 19-inch tyres. Cabin insulation feels just a touch better here as well, and the car feels more eager to accelerate and turn thanks to its lighter controls.

Fantastic

So, which of these two should you make your own electric fastback?

After a quick afternoon photographing and driving the two, I found myself always drawn to return to the Kia EV6. Its more family-friendly points, including a softer ride and ventilated seats, proved to be irresistible draws, which I figure will find favour among many drivers here, as will its more generous space for passengers.

And of course, it's only from the cabin of the Kia that you're truly able to take in the exterior design of the Polestar 2 in full.


Looking to compare more cars? Check out these other Group Tests

The BMW 5 Series takes on the Lexus ES

Volkswagen T-Cross faces off against the Kia Stonic

Mazda CX-8 squares off against the Skoda Kodiaq

Audi A8 goes head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Volvo XC50 B5 goes up against the Jaguar F-Pace

Lexus NX 350 F Sport takes on the Audi Q5 and BMW X3

Mazda CX-5 meets the Volkswagen Tiguan

Nissan Qashqai faces off against the Skoda Karoq