Compare the2025 Lexus RZVS 2025 Polestar 2

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the RZ are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus RZ has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Lexus RZ comes with a standard Panoramic View Monitor with a rear camera washer to provide all-weather visibility, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the RZ and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus RZ is safer than the Polestar 2:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus RZ is safer than the Polestar 2:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RZ’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RZ’s reliability 32 points higher than the Polestar 2.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 142 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the RZ gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

The RZ has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Polestar 2 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better traction and acceleration, the RZ has larger rear tires than the Polestar 2 (255/55R18 vs. 245/40R20).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RZ’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (112.2 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

The RZ 450e Luxury handles at .86 G’s, while the Polestar 2 pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Polestar 2’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RZ has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Polestar 2 (7.9 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the RZ to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Lexus RZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has 1 inch more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RZ’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 2’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RZ Premium/Luxury’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RZ offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RZ has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The RZ is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Lexus RZ outsold the Polestar 2 by over two to one during 2024.