Compare the2025 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2025 Polestar 3

Both the Kona Electric and the Polestar 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Hyundai Kona Electric has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Polestar 3 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 27 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona Electric’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 154 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is ranked 35th, below the industry average.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Polestar 3:

The Kona Electric has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Polestar 3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Polestar 3’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 2000 to 2150 pounds less than the Polestar 3.

The Kona Electric is 1 foot, 9.4 inches shorter than the Polestar 3, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric is 5.6 inches narrower than the Polestar 3, making the Kona Electric easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Kona Electric uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Polestar 3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona Electric has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Polestar 3 with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 17.1 cubic feet). The Kona Electric has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Polestar 3 with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 50 cubic feet).

The Kona Electric Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 3’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona Electric, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Polestar 3 has never been chosen.