Volvo is a luxury automaker that owns Polestar, another luxury automaker. Both brands produce some very high-quality cars. Volvo and Polestar are making EVs now, and the Polestar 2 is a highly-regarded EV competing directly with Volvo’s own EVs, such as the C40 Recharge. In this case, Polestar has the better car, and here are four reasons customers should buy a 2022 Polestar 2 instead of a Volvo C40 Recharge.

1. The 2022 Polestar 2 has a lower starting price 

While luxury EV shoppers don’t always care about car prices, there is a significant price difference between these two Swedish luxury EVs. According to Edmunds, the Polestar 2 starts at about $46,000. The C40 Recharge, meanwhile, starts at almost $59,000. That’s a price difference of about $13,000. That being said, both EVs still qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, so their true price tags may be lower for many folks.

2. The Polestar 2 gets much more range on a single charge

One of the significant changes Polestar gave the Polestar 2 for the 2022 model year is a new single motor option. This powertrain option generates 231 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, but it allows the Polestar 2 to get much more range than before. With this option, the Polestar 2 can get 270 miles of range on a single charge of its 78-kWh battery.

In comparison, the C40 Recharge does not have a single motor option. It comes standard with a dual motor configuration, allowing it to get 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. The C40 Recharge also has a 78-kWh battery, but it only allows the Volvo to get 226 miles of range. This means the Polestar 2 has a 44-mile range advantage over the C40 Recharge. 

Even the Polestar 2’s dual-motor configuration gets more range. With the dual-motor option, the Polestar 2 gets 408 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque. It also gets 249 miles on a single charge. This represents a 23-mile range advantage over the Volvo.

3. It is also more efficient than the C40 Recharge

The reason why the Polestar 2 gets so much more range while having the same size battery pack comes down to efficiency. The Polestar is a much more efficient EV than the Volvo, meaning that the Polestar 2 needs less electricity to go a specific distance than the C40 Recharge needs.

According to Edmunds, the Polestar 2 needs 31 kWh of electricity to move 100 miles. The C40 Recharge, on the other hand, needs 39 kWh of electricity. Another way to measure efficiency is with MPGe, and the Polestar 2 wins here as well. The Polestar 2 gets 107 MPGe, while the C40 Recharge gets 87 MPGe. 

4. The 2022 Polestar 2 is a significantly lighter EV as well

One of the big reasons the Polestar 2 is more efficient comes down to size. The Polestar 2 is technically a big hatchback, while the C40 Recharge is a subcompact SUV. As a result, despite both EVs having a 78-kWh battery, the Polestar is much lighter than the Volvo.

The Polestar has a curb weight of 4,396 pounds, according to Edmunds. The C40 Recharge has a curb weight of 4,817 pounds. That’s a weight difference of over 420 pounds. This weight difference helps the Polestar 2 be a more efficient vehicle, but it should also handle better.