Holden Acadia vs Polestar 2
What's the difference?

Holden Acadia

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2020 price

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Polestar 2

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2026 price

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Summary

2020 Holden Acadia

2026 Polestar 2

By Laura Berry

By Jack Quick

Safety Rating

Engine Type

V6, 3.6L

Electric motor type

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Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Vehicle type

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Fuel Efficiency

8.9L/100km (combined)

Electric range

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Energy consumption

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Battery capacity

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Seating

Likes

Truck-like looks
Advanced safety tech
Good value

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

Dislikes

2000kg braked towing capacity
Engine needs to rev hard to make grunt
Wireless charging not standard on LT

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

2020 Holden Acadia Summary

If the Acadia had an accent it would be a southern drawl because this big seven-seat SUV is built in Tennessee, USA, and wears a GMC badge when it’s at home.

In Australia of course it wears a Holden one and comes straight from the factory in right-hand drive. So how does it suit Aussie conditions? Does it even know the importance of a sausage on a piece of bread bought outside a hardware store on a Saturday?

All this and more was learnt when the entry grade LT front-wheel drive came to live with my family.

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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.

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Holden Acadia 2026 Polestar 2

Verdict

The Holden Acadia is a proper seven-seater SUV in that it will fit adults in the third row without turning your friends into enemies. It’s also practical and well fitted out with storage places and utilities such as USB ports.

I was particularly impressed with the advanced safety equipment on-board even at this entry LT level. Yes, it’s a V6 petrol and it’s not the most fuel-efficient SUV, but our time with it showed that with cylinder deactivation and the stop-start system it might not be as thirsty as you’d think.

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.

Holden Acadia vs Polestar 2 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Holden Acadia vs Polestar 2
What's the difference?