Polestar 2 vs Tesla Model 3

The Polestar 2 starts from $62,400 before on-road costs, while the Tesla Model 3 opens at $54,900. That makes the Tesla Model 3 the more affordable entry point by $7,500.

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 $60,390 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 Tesla Model 3 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Polestar 2 and 96% for the Tesla Model 3.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 8 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

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 8 in the Tesla Model 3.

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 Tesla Model 3 gets a 15.4-inch display.

The Polestar 2 stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Tesla Model 3. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Polestar 2 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Tesla Model 3 offers vegan leather.

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 Tesla Model 3 responds with a Electric Motor making 208kW and 340Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The Tesla Model 3 has the clear power advantage at 208kW vs 200kW. In the real-world sprint, the Tesla Model 3 is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 70kWh (Polestar 2) vs 60kWh (Tesla Model 3). DC fast charging peaks at 180kW (Polestar 2) vs 170kW (Tesla Model 3).

The Polestar 2 measures 4,606mm long on a 2,735mm wheelbase, 114mm shorter than the Tesla Model 3 at 4,720mm (2,875mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Tesla Model 3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 407L in the Polestar 2 and 682L in the Tesla Model 3, giving the Tesla Model 3 a 275L advantage.

For towing, the Polestar 2 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 500kg 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 (Tesla Model 3). Both match on warranty length.