Polestar 2 vs Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Polestar 2 starts from $62,400 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai IONIQ 6 opens at $63,000. That makes the Polestar 2 the more affordable entry point by $600.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $68,640 and $69,300 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Polestar 2 and Hyundai IONIQ 6 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Polestar 2 and 97% for the Hyundai IONIQ 6.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Polestar 2 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Hyundai IONIQ 6.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Polestar 2 and 7 in the Hyundai IONIQ 6.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Polestar 2 features a 11.2-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai IONIQ 6 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Polestar 2 stands out with ambient lighting that you will not find on the Hyundai IONIQ 6. The Hyundai IONIQ 6 counters with V2L and BOSE audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Polestar 2 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Hyundai IONIQ 6 offers cloth.

The Polestar 2 uses a Electric Motor producing 200kW and 490Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed fixed gear to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds.

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 responds with a Electric making 111kW and 350Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

The Polestar 2 has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 111kW. In the real-world sprint, the Polestar 2 is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 70kWh (Polestar 2) vs 53kWh (Hyundai IONIQ 6), giving WLTP ranges of 554km and 433km. DC fast charging peaks at 180kW (Polestar 2) vs 220kW (Hyundai IONIQ 6).

The Polestar 2 measures 4,606mm long on a 2,735mm wheelbase, 249mm shorter than the Hyundai IONIQ 6 at 4,855mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai IONIQ 6 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 407L in the Polestar 2 and 401L in the Hyundai IONIQ 6, giving the Polestar 2 a 6L advantage.

For towing, the Polestar 2 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 750kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Polestar 2) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai IONIQ 6). Both match on warranty length.