Compare the2025 BMW iXVS 2025 Polestar 2

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the iX and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 956 to 1314 pounds more than the Polestar 2. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 11 times as many BMW dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 110 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Polestar.

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 40 more horsepower (516 vs. 476) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 546) than the Polestar 2’s electric motors. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 134 more horsepower (610 vs. 476) and 265 lbs.-ft. more torque (811 vs. 546) than the Polestar 2’s electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the iX M60 is faster than the Polestar 2:

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the Polestar 2 on a full charge:

The iX has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Polestar 2 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The iX M60’s launch control uses engine electronics in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer launch control.

The iX stops shorter than the Polestar 2:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Polestar 2 (275/40R22 vs. 245/40R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Polestar 2’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (118.1 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 2.

The iX M60 handles at .86 G’s, while the Polestar 2 pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the iX has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 (8.7 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The iX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 6.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 5 inches more rear legroom and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the iX has a standard rear wiper. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Polestar 2’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The Polestar 2’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The iX’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Polestar 2.

The iX’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Polestar 2 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW iX outsold the Polestar 2 by over three to one during 2024.