BMW i4 vs Polestar 2: Specs Compared

Also searched as Polestar 2 vs BMW i4 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The BMW i4 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 120 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.

Across 3 measured categories, the BMW i4 leads in 2. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2022–2026

BMW i4

Subcompact Cars · 33 configurations

120mpg combined (best)
All BMW i4 specs

2021–2025

Polestar 2

Midsize Cars · 17 configurations

115mpg combined (best)
All Polestar 2 specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricBMW i4Polestar 2
Best combined MPG120 mpg ✓115 mpg
Best city MPG122 mpg124 mpg ✓
Best highway MPG119 mpg ✓106 mpg
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$650$650
Lowest CO2 outputNot availableNot available
Engines offeredNot availableNot available
TransmissionsAutomatic (A1)Automatic (A1)
DrivetrainsAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classSubcompact CarsMidsize Cars
Years covered2022–20262021–2025
Configurations on record3317

Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.

BMW i4 vs Polestar 2: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW i4 burns about $650 of fuel annually against $650 for the Polestar 2. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Polestar 2 is the stronger commuter at 124 mpg city, while the BMW i4 pulls ahead on the interstate at 119 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW i4 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Polestar 2 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

i4 vs 2: common questions

Which is better on gas, the BMW i4 or the Polestar 2?

The BMW i4 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 120 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Polestar 2 runs about $650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i4 — a difference of roughly $0 per year.

What engines do the i4 and 2 offer?

BMW i4: no engine data on record. Polestar 2: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the BMW i4 as Subcompact Cars and the Polestar 2 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More i4 comparisons

More 2 comparisons

Comparison id: bmw-i4-vs-polestar-2