Loading comparison
Polestar 5 vs Tesla Model S
Selected trimDual motorChange trim421 mi · 112 kWh · £89,500
Selected trimDual Motor · 2023-26Change trimNot available · 100 kWh · £95,480
At a glance
In this comparison, Polestar 5 leads on motorway range and charging speed, while the Tesla Model S leads on value for money and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Polestar 5 if...
- 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 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Polestar 5 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueTesla
Polestar
4.7
Tesla
5.6
Motorway RangePolestar
Polestar
5.6
Tesla
0
FamilyTesla
Polestar
2.2
Tesla
6.4
ChargingPolestar
Polestar
7.4
Tesla
4.6
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 5
Dual motor
- £5,980 cheaper
- 100 kW faster rapid charging
- 9 min quicker 10-80% rapid charge
- 1800 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £89,500 (better) | £95,480 |
| Official range | 421 miles | Not available |
| Boot space | 365 L | 745 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 22 min (better) | 31 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.1 sec | 2.1 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
Polestar 5
Tesla Model S
Length
Polestar 55,087mm
Tesla Model S4,970mm-117mm
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 SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,087 mm | 4,970 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 SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (better) | 0 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Polestar 5
- A 62 L frunk, one of 22 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 62 L or more.
- At 5,087 mm, longer than 85% of saloon EVs we track.
- Braked towing capacity of 1,800 kg, a stronger tow rating than 100% 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 3 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 150 L or more.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Polestar 5 Dual motor |  Tesla Model S Dual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.09m | 4.97m-117mm |
| 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 | 2,256kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 1,800kg (better) | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 112kWh (better) | 100kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 421 mi | Not available |
| Max DC Charge | 350kW (better) | 250kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £89,500 (better) | £95,480 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2026+ | 2023–2026 |
* 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.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 31 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 350 kW (better) | 250 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 178 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 112 kWh (better) | 95 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NCA |
| Battery architecture | 800V (better) | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.1 sec | 2.1 sec (better) |
| Power | 550 kW | Not available |
| Torque | 813 Nm | 1020 Nm (better) |
| 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
Dual Motor
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 Dual Motor
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant94%
Child Occupant91%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist98%
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Polestar 5Dual motor | Tesla Model SDual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 240,000 km (better) |
Buying options
Get a quote
Polestar 5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Tesla Model S
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tesla Model S worth the extra £5,980 over the Polestar 5?
The Tesla Model S costs £5,980 more than the Polestar 5. For that premium it adds 380 litres more boot space and a 4.0s quicker 0-62mph time. The Polestar 5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 100 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Polestar 5 comes out ahead overall.
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 84% 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 .