BMW i5 vs Polestar 2: Specs Compared
Also searched as Polestar 2 vs BMW i5 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The BMW i5 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 116 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Across 3 measured categories, the BMW i5 leads in 2. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i5 | Polestar 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 116 mpg ✓ | 115 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 120 mpg | 124 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 113 mpg ✓ | 106 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $650 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Compact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2024–2027 | 2021–2025 |
| Configurations on record | 30 | 17 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i5 vs Polestar 2: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW i5 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 i5 pulls ahead on the interstate at 113 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 i5 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 Compact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
i5 vs 2: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i5 or the Polestar 2?
The BMW i5 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 116 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 1 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 i5 — a difference of roughly $0 per year.
What engines do the i5 and 2 offer?
BMW i5: no engine data on record. Polestar 2: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i5 as Compact Cars and the Polestar 2 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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Comparison id: bmw-i5-vs-polestar-2