The Polestar 1 does 26 mpg combined (22 city, 31 highway), which works out to about $1,477 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other Hybrid cars it sits below the average of 29.8 mpg.
Every Polestar 1 engine, compared
The Polestar 1 was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 22 / 31 | 2020–2021 | $1,477 |
What that actually costs
The Polestar 1 burns a gallon every 26 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 462 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.123 |
| Fuel per year | $1,477 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,385 |
| Against other Hybrid cars | +$188 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,950 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Polestar 1 gives up 9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31 out there against 22 in town, a 41% drop worth $506 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 22 mpg | $1,745 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31 mpg | $1,239 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9 mpg (41%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 1 changed over the years
Combined figure across the 2 model years the 1 was rated in, all of them at 26 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Polestar 1 — 1 engine across 2020–2021. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,950. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Polestar 1 get?
26 mpg combined on average — 22 in the city and 31 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2020–2021.
How much does a Polestar 1 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,477 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,385 over five years, or 0.123 dollars a mile.
Which 1 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 26 mpg.
Is the 1 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Hybrid cars it sits below the average of 29.8 mpg, computed across 1162 ratings.
Are these real-world 1 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Polestar 1 is $2,950 against the $1,477 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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