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Polestar 2 vs VW ID.5
Selected trimStandard range Single motorChange trim344 mi · 70 kWh · £45,210
At a glance
In this comparison, Polestar 2 stays competitive across the board, while the VW ID.5 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
Polestar
6.2
VW
7.4
Motorway RangeVW
Polestar
4.7
VW
6.7
FamilyVW
Polestar
6
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Polestar
4.1
VW
5.7
Cost Per MileVW
Polestar
6
VW
7.5
City DrivingVW
Polestar
4.9
VW
6.3
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £45,210 | £36,995 (better) |
| Official range | 344 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 407 L | 539 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 26 min (better) | 29 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.4 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
Size Comparison
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Polestar 2
VW ID.5
Length
Polestar 24,606mm
VW ID.54,599mm-7mm
Width
Polestar 21,859mm
VW ID.51,852mm-7mm
Height
Polestar 21,479mm-139mm
VW ID.51,618mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,606 mm | 4,599 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,859 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 1,985 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,479 mm | 1,618 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.5 m | 10.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 541 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 2 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 407 L | 539 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1097 L | Not available |
| Frunk | 41 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,500 kg (better) | 1,000 kg |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor |  VW ID.5 Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.61m | 4.60m-7mm |
| Width | 1.86m | 1.85m-7mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 1.99m | Not available |
| Height | 1.48m | 1.62m+139mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.73m | 2.77m+36mm |
| Ground Clearance | 151mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 407L | 539L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1097L | Not available |
| Frunk | 41L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.5m | 10.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,995kg (better) | 2,128kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1,500kg (better) | 1,000kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 70kWh | 79kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 344 mi | 352 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 180kW (better) | 165kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £45,210 | £36,995 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £45,210 (not eligible) | £35,495 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | SUV |
| Available | 2024+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 344 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 231 miles | 293 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 26 min (better) | 29 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 180 kW (better) | 165 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 149 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 70 kWh | 79 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Standard (better) |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.4 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
| Power | 200 kW | 210 kW (better) |
| Torque | 490 Nm | 545 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.5 Pro Essential
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
Owners love
- Excellent build quality and interior materials, notably superior to Tesla and ID.4 alternatives
- Outstanding Google infotainment system with intuitive interface, useful voice assistant, and no lag
- Improved range (350-409 miles WLTP) and efficiency reduce long-distance charging stops
Watch out for
- Performance Pack suspension is unrelenting on poor UK roads, compromising daily comfort and refinement
- Significant winter range loss of 15-30% in cold weather; real-world winter efficiency often disappoints versus WLTP ratings
- Excessive touchscreen reliance for basic controls like mirror adjustment and glove box access creates safety concerns
Owner tips
- Consider non-Performance Pack variants or request Ohlins free first setup service to optimize suspension tuning for your driving conditions
- Verify real-world winter range expectations before purchase; plan for 15-30% range loss during cold months and budget charging infrastructure accordingly
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Owners love
- Owners praise the design, interior quality and the roomy rear with no centre tunnel.
- It is easy to live with as a first EV, with a comfortable ride and low servicing costs.
- The adjustable regenerative braking works well for everyday driving.
Watch out for
- Touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard are easy to press by accident.
- Some owners report app problems, such as wrong charge or range readings when used with smart chargers.
- One owner reports key fob batteries draining within about a month.
Owner tips
- Test the touch controls carefully on the test drive.
- Set charging schedules in the car rather than through several apps at once.
Buying options
Get a quote
Polestar 2
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Polestar 2
- £27,7662024Car360View
- £21,9992024Browns of RichmondView
VW ID.5
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Polestar 2 worth the extra £8,215 over the VW ID.5?
The Polestar 2 costs £8,215 more than the VW ID.5. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The VW ID.5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 132 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Polestar 2 or the VW ID.5?
The VW ID.5 is £8,215 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £152 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.5 comes out roughly £8,255 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 231 miles for the Polestar 2 and 293 miles for the VW ID.5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.5 goes roughly 62 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 26-29 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Polestar 2 or the VW ID.5?
The two are within 7 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.5 and about 541 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 2. The VW ID.5 also turns in a 1.3 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Polestar 2 or the VW ID.5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the Polestar 2 and 84% for the VW ID.5. That gives the Polestar 2 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Polestar 2's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the VW ID.5's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among long-range EVsWhere the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Polestar 2 and VW ID.5 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
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Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .