2025 Polestar 2 vs 2025 Tesla Model 3
The Polestar 2 edges it, 92 to 86.4, on safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range.
2025 Polestar 2
The 2025 Polestar 2 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the 2 Single Motor (19 Inch Whe…
2025 Tesla Model 3
The 2025 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Long Range RWD, …
2025 Polestar 2
Slight edgeThe Polestar 2 edges it, 92 to 86.4, on safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2025 Polestar 2overall 92 | 2025 Tesla Model 3overall 86.4 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 84.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 93.4 | 69.5 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 92 | 86.4 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 3 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3
Polestar 2: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Tesla Model 3: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Polestar 2 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 124 filed with NHTSA).
- It has 12 standard driver assists filed with NHTSA against 11.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 85).
Where the 2025 Tesla Model 3 answers
- It is rated 137 combined against 114 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $650).
What they share
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
specs not availableSafety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPPolestar 2
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V615000 · 27,816 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V280000 · 27,816 vehicles
Tesla Model 3
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 25V690000 · 12,963 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V002000 · 239,382 vehicles
- minor Tires 24V935000 · 696,281 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Polestar 2 | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Price range across trims | — | — |
| Powertrains | BEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | 2 Single Motor (19 Inch Wheels) | Model 3 Long Range RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 114 | 137 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $550 |
| EV range | 314 mi | 363 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Polestar 2 or the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
The Polestar 2 edges it, 92 to 86.4, on safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Polestar 2 scores 92 and the 2025 Tesla Model 3 86.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Polestar 2 or the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
2025 Polestar 2: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. 2025 Tesla Model 3: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 3 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Polestar 2 and the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
Where the 2025 Polestar 2 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 124 filed with NHTSA), has 12 standard driver assists filed with NHTSA against 11, and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 85). Where the 2025 Tesla Model 3 answers: it is rated 137 combined against 114 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $650). What they share: 5 seats.