Complete configuration comparison

2026 Lexus ES vs. 2025 Polestar 2

TrueCar puts these two within $205 of each other, a $51,095 MSRP for the Lexus ES against $51,300 for the Polestar 2, and frames the real choice as fuel type: the Polestar 2 delivers 320 miles of EPA range on electricity, while the hybrid ES returns 48 city/44 highway mpg on gasoline. DriveDuel separately says the Polestar 2 is clearly quicker from 0-100 km/h than the ES. Choose the ES if you want gas-station refueling and don't want to plan around charging; choose the Polestar 2 for EV range and quicker acceleration at essentially the same starting price.

Which to choose, and why

Price and how you fuel

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says if starting price matters most, the Lexus ES has the edge, with a $51,095 MSRP against $51,300 for the Polestar 2, a difference of just $205, and that how you fuel is the real fork in the road: the Polestar 2 delivers 320 miles of EPA range, while the Lexus ES returns 48 city and 44 highway mpg.

Acceleration

DriveDuel (opens in a new tab) says when accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Polestar 2 is clearly quicker, completing the sprint in 4.2 seconds, while the Lexus ES takes 8.9 seconds.

Questions buyers ask

Which is quicker, the Lexus ES or the Polestar 2?

DriveDuel (opens in a new tab) says the Polestar 2, reaching 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds against 8.9 seconds for the ES.

How close in price are the Lexus ES and Polestar 2?

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says just $205 apart, $51,095 for the ES against $51,300 for the Polestar 2.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Lexus ES: 6 records · Polestar 2: 5 records.

Decision field	Lexus ES	Polestar 2
Exact EPA records	6	5
Model / option labels	6	5
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, Electric motor / not listed	Electric motor / not listed
Transmissions	Automatic (A1), Automatic (AV-S6)	Automatic (A1)
Fuel types	Electricity, Premium	Electricity
EPA classes	Midsize Cars	Midsize Cars
Combined efficiency	44–127 MPG/MPGe	91–114 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	272–307 miles	254–314 miles
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$600–1800 per year	$650–850 per year

Head to head

Lexus ES vs. Polestar 2: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Lexus ES	Polestar 2
Starting price (KBB base)	$48,795	$66,200
Top trim price (KBB base)	$60,195	$66,200
Horsepower	244 hp	421 hp
Torque	175 lb-ft	546 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	5.1-7.4 sec	4.5 sec
Curb weight	4,035-4,883 lb	n/a
Length	202.3-202.4 in	181.3 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in	107.7 in
Cargo volume	13.3-18.2 cu ft	n/a
Seating	5 seats	5 seats
Basic warranty	4 years	4 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2026 and 2025 model years); prices are KBB base prices.

The Lexus ES starts $17,405 lower: $48,795 against $66,200 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Polestar 2 leads: 421 hp against 244 hp.
On peak torque, the Polestar 2 leads: 546 lb-ft against 175 lb-ft.
The Polestar 2 is quicker to 60 mph: 4.5 sec against 5.1 sec.
On length, the Lexus ES leads: 202.4 in against 181.3 in.
On wheelbase, the Lexus ES leads: 116.1 in against 107.7 in.
Both list the same seating capacity: 5 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 4 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Lexus ES and the Polestar 2.

2026 Lexus ES

The Lexus ES is a luxury sedan marketed since 1989 by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, across multiple generations, each offering V6 engines (except for the eighth generation) and a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout (all-wheel drive is optional for latter generations). The first five generations of the ES used the Toyota Camry platform, while the latter generations are more closely related to both the Camry and the Avalon.

Safety: Eighth generation (XZ20; 2025) The eighth-generation ES was unveiled on 23 April 2025 at the 2025 Auto Shanghai. While most markets will receive ES models built in Japan, Lexus has announced production will also occur at a new plant near Shanghai for the Chinese market. This will be the first Lexus made in China.

Source: Lexus ES (Wikipedia)

Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)

October 2025, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
February 2024, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Mirai, Lexus LS500, LS500H, 2023-2024 Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, 2024 Lexus LC500, and LC500H vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Due to incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic control… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

2025 Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 is a battery electric 5-door liftback, classified as a sedan and manufactured by Polestar, an affiliate of Geely Holding and Volvo Cars. Based on the CMA platform, production began in March 2020 at the Luqiao CMA Super Factory in Luqiao, Zhejiang, China.

Safety: The Polestar 2 is designed to protect the battery pack during an impact and automatically disconnect it after a collision. On both front ends a SPOC (Severe Partial Overlap Crash) block is attached to mitigate the crash forces and prevent any material entering the occupant compartment. The Polestar 2 also features a centre airbag to protect from far-side impacts.
Recalls and problems: In October 2020, Polestar issued a recall on all Polestar 2 models due to a software defect that caused loss of power to the vehicle whilst driving. As the vehicles were not capable of OTA software updates at that time it required all of the vehicles to be recalled to a service centre for a manual software update.

Source: Polestar 2 (Wikipedia)

Specifications. From September 2021 to March 2022, the Polestar 2 Single Motor Standard Range with a 64 kWh battery and 165 kW power, 224 hp was available in Europe. The battery for this version was made by CATL. The 64 kWh and 165 kW power version is available until now in China, as the only Single Motor Standard Range version.

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Lexus ES6 configurations →02 · 2025Polestar 25 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

14 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2025 Polestar 2?

Efficiency

The 2025 Polestar 2 lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (102.5 vs. the 2026 Lexus ES's 85.5 MPG/MPGe).