Nissan LEAF vs Polestar 2: Specs Compared

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

The Nissan LEAF is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 121 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.

Across 3 measured categories, the Nissan LEAF leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2015–2026

Nissan LEAF

Midsize Cars · 26 configurations

121mpg combined (best)
All Nissan LEAF specs

2021–2025

Polestar 2

Midsize Cars · 17 configurations

115mpg combined (best)
All Polestar 2 specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricNissan LEAFPolestar 2
Best combined MPG121 mpg ✓115 mpg
Best city MPG131 mpg ✓124 mpg
Best highway MPG111 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)
DrivetrainsFront-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classMidsize CarsMidsize Cars
Years covered2015–20262021–2025
Configurations on record2617

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

Nissan LEAF vs Polestar 2: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Nissan LEAF 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 and highway economy: the Nissan LEAF leads in both cycles — 131 mpg city and 111 mpg highway against 124 and 106 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Drivetrain and class: the Nissan LEAF is offered with Front-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 Midsize Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

LEAF vs 2: common questions

Which is better on gas, the Nissan LEAF or the Polestar 2?

The Nissan LEAF is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 121 mpg combined versus 115 mpg for the Polestar 2, a 6 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 Nissan LEAF — a difference of roughly $0 per year.

What engines do the LEAF and 2 offer?

Nissan LEAF: no engine data on record. Polestar 2: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

Yes — the EPA classifies both the Nissan LEAF and the Polestar 2 as Midsize Cars, so they compete directly.

More LEAF comparisons

More 2 comparisons

Comparison id: nissan-leaf-vs-polestar-2