Ford Everest vs Polestar 2
What's the difference?

Ford Everest

$58,990 - $83,417

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Polestar 2

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2026 price

View pricing & specs

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Summary

2026 Ford Everest

2026 Polestar 2

By Marcus Craft

By Jack Quick

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L

Electric motor type

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Fuel Type

Diesel

Vehicle type

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Fuel Efficiency

7.1L/100km (combined)

Electric range

—

Energy consumption

—

Battery capacity

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Seating

Likes

Comfortable on-road
Capable off-road
Solid value-for-money

Fun and agile to drive
More efficient and quicker charging
Amazing (yet optional) Bowers & Wilkins sound system

Dislikes

Doesn't have '4Auto' mode
Doesn't have Rock/Crawl drive mode
Doesn't have a 360-degree camera view

Cabin space and storage still compromised
Options add up quick
No cover for panoramic glass roof

2026 Ford Everest Summary

Hold back your tears. The Ford Everest Ambiente and Trend have been dumped and a new variant, the Active, is now the entry-grade in a revamped Everest line-up.

The Active has a newly offered 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which produces less power and torque than the twin-turbo engine it replaces – down 29kW and 95Nm, respectively.

So, does the new engine make the Everest any better or worse on- and off-road? And does it yield improved fuel economy?

Read on.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Polestar 2 Summary

The Polestar 2 was one of the first electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia to break through to the mainstream, however it has always been relegated to the Tesla Model 3’s shadow.

As a result Polestar is constantly playing catch up, releasing update after update for this premium-pushing electric liftback. The most notable was a major mid-life update in 2024.

Two years after this, Polestar has just rolled out the 2026 model year (MY26) update which introduces a range of subtle changes, largely under the surface.

It comes as Polestar is now introducing newer models, there’s mounting pressure from legacy carmakers who are only now catching up to EV tech, and Australians are moving away from buying passenger cars to SUVs.

Has this latest update improved the appeal? Read on to find out.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2026 Ford Everest 2026 Polestar 2

Verdict

The Ford Everest has always been an impressive 4WD wagon, with useful day-to-day driveability and real off-road capability.

As standard, it has a lot going for it. It’s quiet and refined on-road, very capable off-road and it’s packed with features.

The 2.0-litre single-turbo Active is a solid entry-point into the Everest line-up and, though it lacks the polish of its higher-spec stablemates and doesn’t yield the kind of improvement in fuel economy you might have hoped for, it makes a strong case as a touring vehicle with plenty of aftermarket-build potential.

Verdict

This latest update for the Polestar 2 is lovely, but driving the original is a reminder of how solid this car has always been if you overlook the inherent impracticalities of being an EV on a combustion-engine platform.

The fact you still get steady flow of over-the-air software updates bringing new features, plus you can now upgrade to the new Qualcomm processor chip, saving some coin and getting a second-hand model that’s a couple of years old isn’t a bad option at all.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Ford Everest vs Polestar 2 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Ford Everest vs Polestar 2
What's the difference?