Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV: Full Comparison, Which One Wins?

Key Points

• Polestar 4 offers a luxury hybrid SUV coupé design with a 94kWh battery pack, providing up to 372 miles of range and fast charging capabilities.
• Chevy Bolt EUV is an affordable electric SUV with a 65kWh battery, offering up to 247 miles of range and a more modest design.
• Both vehicles feature semi-autonomous driving, compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and various safety features.
• Polestar 4 is expected to have a starting price of around $60,000, while Bolt EUV starts at $28,795.
• Polestar 4 and Bolt EUV cater to different needs and budgets, with the former offering luxury and performance, and the latter focusing on affordability and practicality.

With the US government planning to phase out fossil-fueled vehicles by 2035, EVs are the future of mobility. The future looked grim due to the high upfront cost and low operational range of electric cars. Things have changed for the better in recent years, though. New players like Polestar now redefine how luxury EVs must look like. At the same time, popular family car brands like Chevrolet started to launch their electric cars. The gap between these two market segments remains steep. If you want to pass from gas to electric, you might wonder which category is worth it. This head-to-head between the Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV should help you decide.

Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV: Side-by-Side Comparison

Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV: What’s the Difference?

One of the newest players in the electric vehicle market, Polestar is a former Volvo brand established as a standalone company in 2017. Volvo and its Chinese partner, Geely, co-own this premium EV company. Volvo is known for its luxury vehicles, while Geely has a majority stake in various automotive companies, including Mercedes-Benz. Like its parent company Volvo, Polestar EVs don’t come cheap, but they impress with outstanding performance and innovative features.

Polestar 4 is the newest entry in the brand’s lineup. Some of its highlights include the hybrid design, the lack of a rearview window, and the digital rearview mirror developed to increase safety. However, all these features come at a cost.

Chevrolet entered the EV market in 2016 with the Bolt EV. In 2021, the company launched Bolt EUV, a refreshed model of its first fully electric car. The top selling point of this SUV is the affordable price tag. You also get plenty of space and a comfortable ride, but the performance is average. However, considering that General Motors plans to discontinue the Bolt line in 2023, this might be your last chance to get your hands on a brand-new one.

Design

The Polestar 4 and the Bolt EUV are SUVs, but the similarities end here. The former is a luxury vehicle with a hybrid SUV coupé design. This car features sleek lines and exudes a sporty elegance that works in all contexts. A sloped rear end and upgraded taillights compared to the Polestar 3 add visual interest. The vehicle’s interior is just as eye-catching as the exterior.

A minimalist cabin design with no unnecessary frills enhances the appeal. Upholstery options include an eco-friendly textile material made from recycled plastic, but you can also opt for higher-end finishes, such as Nappa leather. Similar to Tesla vehicles, the Polestar 4 features a fixed sunroof that floods the cabin with light and increases comfort for the rear passengers.

Chevy Bolt EUV is a classic SUV, but its looks are bland. It has a good size and fits five passengers comfortably. While it might even make some heads turn, those passionate about all things automotive know it’s only an SUV for the roads.

You can choose from two trims available in standard and Redline editions. The former brings upgrades such as jet-black leather upholstery, red accents on the wheels, and a black and red Bolt EUV badge. All these upgrades aren’t costly and are well worth the spend if you want an affordable vehicle.

Performance

Design aside, what truly matters in a car is its performance. As it usually happens, a low price tag means you have to compromise on features, but the Bolt EUV is a promising town car. While it’s not blisteringly fast, the RWD drivetrain and 200 hp give you enough power to tackle rush hour traffic. The acceleration and top speed are in line with the power output but not disappointing.

This compact SUV goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in seven seconds flat and can reach top speeds of up to 92 miles per hour. Handling might not be particularly thrilling, but the vehicle is competent overall. The only downside is it doesn’t come in an AWD variant.

Polestar 4 also comes in two trims, but the differences are minimal. The entry-level model is a single-motor RWD that produces 268 horses and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. This model can hit 60 in a respectable time of around six seconds.

The AWD model outputs 544 horsepower and over 500 lb.-ft. of torque. Various driving modes allow you to choose between maximum performance or maximum range, and you can rest assured you’ll have enough stamina to tackle tricky terrains. Acceleration-wise, the Polestar 4 AWD can complete the zero to 60 sprint in 3.8 seconds, but the top speed is limited to 124 miles per hour.

Range

The main concern when buying your first EV is how far a battery-powered car can take you. An important thing to know is that today’s electric SUVs have decent operational ranges. However, the range differences between the Polestar 4 and Chevy Bolt EUV are as steep as the performance.

Polestar 4 SUV features a 94kWh battery pack, providing enough stamina for up to 372 miles. That’s enough to get you from New York to Ottawa, Canada, or all the way to Virginia. The battery features fast charging up to 200kW, and even though the company hasn’t yet revealed the charge time, you can expect it to go from 10 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes.

All Bolt EUV trims use the same 65kWh battery, providing an operational range of about 247 miles. Charging the battery is also slower than Polestar; half an hour of charge will give you about 95 miles of range.

Comfort

Whether you need an adventure vehicle or a family car, it is essential to get a comfortable ride. In this aspect, the Polestar 4 and the Bolt EUV are pleasant to drive, even though the latter is not as thrilling as the Polestar.

That said, the interior is spacious both at the front and rear. Rear passengers can enjoy ample head and legroom, while a space under the center console provides the front passengers with a place to store a handbag or other essentials. The only minor thing is the trunk, providing only 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up.

Polestar drew inspiration from the Solar System when designing its 4 SUVs. The vehicle’s interior is clean and minimalist. You can expect comfortable seats, smooth ambient lighting, and rear seats that are pushed back to enhance comfort. The panoramic roof is another highlight that gives the cabin an airy feel.

Infotainment

In modern cars, infotainment is the vehicle’s core. Things are no different for the Polestar 4 and the Bolt EUV. Volvo’s former racing division stands out in this department. It has a 15.1-inch touchscreen display allows you to control non-essential car functions, access multimedia, connect with your phone, and more.

The system runs Google’s latest interface. Hence, you can expect seamless pairing to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and access to popular apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant. A digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel displays vital information about the vehicle’s status and the ride.

Bolt EUV comes with a 10.2-inch color touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system. The interface is easy to navigate and includes proprietary apps, including navigation maps. As you can expect, the system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as Alexa and other voice assistants.

Safety

Both the Polestar 4 and the Bolt EUV are crammed with safety features. Pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist are standard from both automakers on all trims. The Chevy and the Polestar feature semi-autonomous driving, which means you can ride hands-free on approved roads.

Sensors and rearview cameras are also present on both vehicles. However, there are some differences between Bolt’s LT and Premier trims. The former only features a rearview camera as standard. The latter has 360-degree view monitoring for safer parking and advanced blind spot detection.

Speaking of blind spots, though, no automaker manages to deal with them as Polestar can. One of the Polestar 4’s top points is the digital rearview mirror. While the car doesn’t have a rear window, two rear cameras keep you in the loop with everything behind the vehicle. These cameras are angled to reduce blind spots.

Price

Polestar 4 and Bolt EUV belong to different market categories. The former is a luxury vehicle expected to have a starting price of around $60,000. Whether this car will be eligible for federal tax credits is uncertain, so you might have to start saving if you want one.

Bolt EUV is one of the most affordable electric SUVs currently on the market. It has a starting price of $28,795, but the most expensive trim is still affordable at an MRSP of $33,790. Currently, this vehicle is eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits, further reducing the price.

Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV: 5 Must-Known Facts

• Polestar 4 is the latest SUV coupé from the Swedish luxury brand. It is expected to be released in 2024.
• Bolt EUV is the SUV version of Chevrolet’s Bolt EV. According to the automaker, this is the last edition. General Motors plans to move in another direction, meaning it will discontinue all Bolt models at the end of 2023.
• Polestar 4 is one of the most promising EVs at the moment. It will come in RWD and AWD variants, with a drivetrain of up to 544 horsepower.
• All Bolt EUV trims have FWD and 200 horsepower. They are ideal city cars, but not so much for adventures.
• Bolt EUV is readily available and a lot cheaper than the Polestar 4.

Polestar 4 vs. Bolt EUV: Which One Should You Buy?

Comparing the Polestar 4 and the Bolt EUV is a bit like comparing apples with oranges. Both vehicles are in different leagues and cater to different needs and budgets. If you want an affordable family EV, the Bolt EUV won’t disappoint. However, don’t expect off-road performance or bolting speed.

Polestar 4 isn’t available yet, but if you don’t mind waiting, it promises to be better than most EVs, including Tesla. Sure, these incredible features come at a cost, but the investment might be worth it.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Maxhdtenda, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.