2020 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2020 BMW i3 vs Polestar 1
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 58 MPGe + 26 MPG
The 2020 BMW i3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $805 a year to fuel (113 MPGe), versus $1,720 for the 2020 Polestar 1 (58 MPGe + 26 MPG). That's roughly $915 a year, or about $4,575 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- BMW i3
- Polestar 1
Side by side
| BMW i3 | Polestar 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| $805 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,720 |
| 113 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 58 MPGe + 26 MPG |
| 124 MPGe | City | 55 MPGe / 22 MPG |
| 102 MPGe | Highway | 61 MPGe / 31 MPG |
| 29.8 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 57 kWh |
| 153 mi | Driving range | 470 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 52 mi |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 72 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 4 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 93 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 7 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 9 hrs |
| Electric | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Electricity | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| Electric motor (125 kW) | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| Single-speed | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| RWD | Drivetrain | AWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
BMW i3 vs Polestar 1 across model years
- BMW i3
- Polestar 1
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
The Polestar 1 goes farther between stops: about 470 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 153 miles for the BMW i3.
Per EPA interior volume figures, the BMW i3 has more passenger space (84 vs. 72 cu ft); the BMW i3 has more cargo space (15 vs. 4 cu ft).
Among 39 2020 subcompact cars, the BMW i3 ranks 1st and the Polestar 1 7th for lowest fuel cost.
Because the BMW i3 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Polestar 1; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 BMW i3 or the 2020 Polestar 1?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The BMW i3 is rated 113 MPGe combined and the Polestar 1 58 MPGe + 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 BMW i3 vs. the Polestar 1 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $805 for the BMW i3 and $1,720 for the Polestar 1.
Which has more range?
The Polestar 1: about 470 miles versus 153 miles.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW i3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 4 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW i3 vs Polestar 1 in other years
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