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Polestar 5 vs Tesla Model S (2014-2016)
Selected trimDual motorChange trim421 mi · 112 kWh · £89,500
Selected trim70D · 2015-16Change trimNot available · 70 kWh · Not available
At a glance
In this comparison, Polestar 5 leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed, while the Tesla Model S leads on family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Polestar 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 fastest charging of these options
Choose the Tesla Model S (2014-2016) if...
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Polestar 5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValuePolestar
Polestar
4.7
Tesla
0
Motorway RangePolestar
Polestar
5.6
Tesla
0
FamilyTesla
Polestar
2.2
Tesla
6.2
ChargingPolestar
Polestar
7.4
Tesla
1.2
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 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £89,500 | Not available |
| Official range | 421 miles | Not available |
| Boot space | 365 L | 745 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 22 min (better) | 40 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.1 sec | 5.5 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Align by:
Polestar 5
Tesla Model S
Length
Polestar 55,087mm
Tesla Model S4,979mm-108mm
Width
Polestar 52,015mm
Tesla Model S1,964mm-51mm
Height
Polestar 51,425mm-20mm
Tesla Model S1,445mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,087 mm | 4,979 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 2,015 mm | 1,964 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,063 mm (better) | 2,189 mm |
| Height | 1,425 mm | 1,445 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.3 m | 11.8 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 385 mm spare | 436 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 2 | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 365 L | 745 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1128 L | 1645 L (better) |
| Frunk | 62 L | 150 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,800 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Polestar 5
- A 62 L frunk, one of 23 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 62 L or more.
- Peak DC charging of 350 kW, faster than 80% of saloon EVs in our catalogue.
- At 5,087 mm, longer than 85% of saloon EVs we track.
Tesla Model S
- 1st-largest boot among saloon EVs in our catalogue at 745 L.
- A 150 L frunk, one of 4 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 150 L or more.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Polestar 5 Dual motor |  Tesla Model S 70D |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.09m | 4.98m-108mm |
| Width | 2.02m | 1.96m-51mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.06m | 2.19m+126mm |
| Height | 1.43m | 1.45m+20mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.05m | 2.96m-94mm |
| Ground Clearance | 149mm | 137mm-12mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 365L | 745L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1128L | 1645L (better) |
| Frunk | 62L | 150L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.33m | 11.8m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,481kg | 2,108kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 1,800kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 112kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 421 mi | Not available |
| Max DC Charge | 350kW (better) | 120kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £89,500 | Not available |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2026+ | 2015–2016 |
* Polestar 5: Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-05. Limited-production / halo / pre-launch / new-brand models are typically rated some time after general sale.
* Tesla Model S: NEDC-era estimate — official WLTP not published for this variant
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 421 miles | Not available |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 309 miles | Not available |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 22 min (better) | 40 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 350 kW (better) | 120 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 178 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 112 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NCA |
| Battery architecture | 800V (better) | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.1 sec | 5.5 sec (better) |
| Power | 550 kW | Not available |
| Torque | 813 Nm (better) | 430 Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Polestar 5
Dual motor
Tesla Model S
70D
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
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 5 Dual motor
Polestar 5 Dual motor
Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-05. Limited-production / halo / pre-launch / new-brand models are typically rated some time after general sale.
Euro NCAP - Tesla Model S 70D
Tested 2014
Adult Occupant82%
Child Occupant77%
Vulnerable Road Users66%
Safety Assist71%
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model S70D |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 240,000 km (better) |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Polestar 5
Dual motor
Owners love
- Striking, attractive design with sleek proportions and sharp styling that stands out among EV competitors
- Exceptional handling and ride quality with supercar-rivalling torsional rigidity from bonded aluminium platform and refined passive suspension
- Outstanding brake modulation with best pedal feel of any EV tested, delivering confident stopping performance
Watch out for
- Virtual rear window creates ugly appearance from behind and poor visibility for following traffic, with no actual rear window despite premium positioning
- Severely limited boot space of 365 litres (plus 62L under-bonnet) makes it impractical for families despite being a massive 5.1m vehicle—comparable to much smaller cars
- Bland, restricted colour palette limited to pale 'Blandi Scandi' tones with no vibrant options or personalization available
Owner tips
- Choose the Dual Motor (748hp, £89,500) over the Performance variant (884hp, £105k)—delivers ample performance, superior passive suspension composure, and saves £15,400 for minimal acceleration gain
- Plan for real-world range of approximately 350 miles rather than WLTP-certified 421 miles, and verify 350kW ultra-fast charging infrastructure availability in your region before purchase
Tesla Model S
70D
Owners love
- Owners of high-mileage cars report them still running well past 125,000 miles, with modest battery loss (around 5-15%).
- The Supercharger network makes long trips straightforward, and some early cars carry free Supercharging.
- Running costs per mile stay low even on older cars, with little routine servicing.
Watch out for
- Repair bills climb once the 8-year battery and drive unit warranty has ended, and parts can take weeks.
- Front suspension parts, air suspension and drive shafts are recurring wear items on older cars.
- The original media control unit's memory chip fails and blanks the centre screen (a recall covered many cars).
Owner tips
- Budget for suspension and electronic repairs: most of these cars are now outside the battery warranty.
- Ask whether the car has free Supercharging and confirm it with Tesla before you buy.
Buying options
Get a quote
Polestar 5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Tesla Model S
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Polestar 5
No active listings.
Tesla Model S
- £27,9952015EVHEROView
Frequently asked questions
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Polestar 5 or the Tesla Model S?
The Tesla Model S is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 51 mm narrower than the Polestar 5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 436 mm of total clearance for the Tesla Model S and about 385 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 5. The Tesla Model S also turns in a 0.5 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Polestar 5 or the Tesla Model S?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Polestar 5 and 85% for the Tesla Model S. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. 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.
More Polestar 5 comparisons
More Tesla Model S comparisons
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 5 and Tesla Model S rank among the best family EVsWhere the Polestar 5 and Tesla Model S rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Polestar 5 and Tesla Model S rank among the best city EVsWhere the Polestar 5 and Tesla Model S rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Polestar 5 and Tesla Model S rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Polestar 5 and Tesla Model S rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .