2024 Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y spec comparison!

The 2024 Polestar 4 is set to arrive in Australia this year, and when it does the midsize SUV will join the 2 lifted sedan and 3 large SUV on the brand’s website and at its experience centres.

Its main rival will be the popular Tesla Model Y but competition will only hot up with the arrival of new flesh such as BYD's Sea Lion 07 and Toyota BZ4x and established name plates like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

We’ll be organising a real-world showdown when the Polestar becomes available, but for an early taste we’ve compared the newcomer with the best-seller – and the results are intriguing.

Read on to find out how the Polestar 4 ($81,500-$108,250) stacks up against the Tesla Model Y ($78,400-$92,020).

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• Dimensions and boot space
• Performance
• Driving range and charging
• Warranty and servicing
• Standard specifications
• VERDICT: which offers the most value?

Pricing

On the face of it, the Polestar 4’s pricing is competitive with the Model Y; the base Long Range Single Motor promises more driving range (though two less driven wheels) than the Model Y Long Range AWD for a $2900 premium.

Of course, there’s also the base Model Y RWD ($65,400 before on-road costs) in the mix, though it features a smaller 57.5kWh battery making it less competitive with the entry-grade Polestar 4.

The base Polestar 4 Dual Motor is even closer to its direct Model Y rival at just $1030 more. However, as with the Polestar 2, there are option packs that need ticking.

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Polestar’s Plus Pack ($8000) has been very popular on the Polestar 2 – expect that to continue with the 4.

It includes a large head-up display screen, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wheel heating and other features detailed below.

There’s the Performance Pack for Dual Motor variants, too, that adds another $7200 to the base price, bringing a well-equipped Polestar 4’s price tag up to $108,250 – not far off a more powerful Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

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Dimensions and boot space

The Polestar 4 rides on a longer wheelbase than the Polestar 3, though it’s an overall smaller vehicle with a more coupe-inspired aesthetic – the Volvo subsidiary names its vehicles sequentially via release, rather than size as most makers do.

Regardless, the Polestar 4 is a handsome vehicle with crisp lines and confident proportions, more than can be said for the egg-shaped Tesla Model Y.

Inside it’s more personal preference. The Model Y’s airy cabin could be described as cheaply sparse or pleasingly minimal depending on your view. The Polestar’s more cocooning cabin will please those who appreciate quality automotive interior design.

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2024 Polestar 4 interior

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2024 Tesla Model Y interior

The Model Y’s odd proportions and sparse interior do make for excellent packaging, as the 854L boot space claim (stacked to the roof, as opposed to the Polestar’s VDA measurement) and generous 117L frunk prove.

Tesla has managed to pack more on-paper space into the Model Y’s smaller footprint. The style-forward Polestar 4 isn’t bad, though, with a 526L boot under that practical liftback.

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* Width including mirrors

** Tesla quotes boot measurements to the roof, covering the window line. The Polestar's measurement is VDA, to the bottom of the window.

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Performance

Both top-spec medium SUVs are blisteringly quick for family transport, the Polestar 4 hitting 100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds just pipped by the 3.7-second Tesla.

If we’re being honest, you’ll struggle to tell the difference between how fast these two are in the real world – anything sub-four is plenty rapid.

At the more affordable end of the spectrum, it’s the Tesla with a significant advantage. An extra 178kW and 150Nm combined with better all-wheel drive grip see the Model Y Long Range hit 100km/h in a claimed 5.0 seconds to the Single Motor Polestar 4’s 7.1 seconds.

Top speed isn’t relevant in Australia, but if you happen to be reading this to select the best Autobahn partner then the Model Y Performance’s ability to hit 250km/h (50km//h faster than either Polestar) will be welcome.

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* Figures obtained from EV Database and government data as Tesla does not market certain specifications.

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Driving range and charging

Polestar is questioning Tesla’s place at the top of driving range charts from all angles.

The heavily updated Polestar 2 shifted its more efficient motors to the rear to make it the longest-range EV on sale in Australia.

Now, thanks to a huge 94kWh NCM lithium-ion battery and 0.261Cd, the Polestar 4 outguns its closest rival from Tesla by 14.5 per cent in driving range stakes, with 610km targeted for the Long Range Single Motor in the combined WLTP cycle.

Raw efficiency numbers, though, prove the Tesla is doing more driving with less battery. The WLTP efficiency rating for the rear-drive Polestar 4 is 17.1kWh/100km, while the all-wheel drive Tesla’s is 14.1kWh/100km. Much of this could be attributed to Polestar’s design-forward approach (no potato-shaped cars, for example).

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The Polestar’s SEA underpinnings mean its high-voltage parts are capped at 400-volts, so although it charges rapidly the new 4 doesn’t match the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6’s 18-minute fast-charge times.

Still, at a peak of 200kW DC, the 94kWh battery can be juiced from 10-80 per cent in 30 minutes on an ultra-rapid charger. The Model Y’s peak DC speed of 250kW is better but only improves rapid charging by three minutes.

With the $8000 Plus Pack, Polestar includes a 22kW AC charger for snappier home and destination charging – it’ll go from flat to full nearly three hours faster than a Tesla if you have the infrastructure.

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* Figures obtained from EV Database and government data as Tesla does not market certain specifications.

** Provisional range targets yet to be confirmed in WLTP

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Warranty and servicing

Tesla covers its cars with a four-year/80,000km warranty which falls short of the industry standard in Australia.

The battery is ensured by its manufacturer to stay over 70 per cent capacity for 8 years/160,000km – that’s the same for the Polestar 4.

Polestar’s warranty is more conventional and covers the 4 for five years and unlimited kilometres. The Polestar requires a trip to a service centre every two years/30,000km while Tesla operates on a conditional basis.

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Standard specifications

The Polestar 4 has caught up with Tesla’s advanced operating system, with the brand offering digital key functionality, over-the-air software updates, and Android Automotive operating system that obliges wireless Apple CarPlay through a 15.4-inch touchscreen.

Polestar includes the Pilot Pack (adaptive cruise control with stop & go up to 150km/h, advanced lane-tracing, blind-spot monitoring) standard on all Aussie-delivered Polestar 4s.

Both vehicles offer optional extras to tailor them to your fancy.

For the Model Y, it’s pretty simple: any colour bar flat white will cost $1500, white upholstery costs $1500, and you can size the wheels up on lower trims for $2400.

Enhanced Autopilot isn’t something we’ve sampled, but promises automatic lane changes while navigating on adaptive cruise and summon commands for $5100. Full self-driving remains a $10,100 option that Tesla is yet to implement in Australia.

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The Polestar 4 offers a lot more customisation, starting with the Plus Pack that’s likely to prove popular. It adds the below features.

Then you can build on that with the sporty Performance Pack or luxurious Nappa Pack – both are detailed below.

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And then come the standalone options for ultimate customisability.

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VERDICT: which looks best on paper?

We’ll reserve final judgement until the Polestar 4 has arrived on Australian shores and we’ve driven it back-to-back with its Model Y rival.

The slightly larger Polestar is more expensive across the board, but then it offers greater customisation and a more design-led approach – all without sacrificing the kind of connectivity a Tesla owner would expect.

Polestar isn’t looking to play in the volume segment, so don’t expect sales to overtake the best-selling Model Y any time soon. Instead, think of the Polestar 4 as an intriguing alternative for those with an eye for design – we hope it drives as good as it looks.

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