Polestar 3 large EV SUV faces luxury test

Part of being a Polestar 3 owner is knowing that almost everyone you'll meet will ask you what a Polestar 3 is.. But the other part is knowing you have what I think is one of the most exceptional electric SUVs on the planet.. Print this out on a piece of paper and hand it to people who ask:.

Stuff you don't have to tell them is that this one, the one we've tested, is the cheapest Polestar 3 at $116,700, before on-road costs, and that's because it's the kind with just one motor (at the rear for rear-wheel drive) and the smaller battery at 92kWh.. Still, that battery in this updated Polestar 3 is bigger than the 82kWh battery in the previous version and that price is less than you would have paid for this SUV last year ($118,420, BOC).. This updated Polestar 3 brings some substantial changes and if you're thinking about buying one your timing is good..

Not only has the battery size gone up and the price down, the electric architecture has increased from 400V to 800V, which now allows it to charge at a super-fast 310kW for the Rear motor.. Even higher spec Polestar 3s can charge at 350kW now.. There aren't a great deal of 350kW chargers around yet but the Polestar 3 is future-proofed against being outdated by new tech quickly..

We only had the Polestar 3 Rear motor variant for a week and despite daily driving with plenty of urban roads and motorways the 604km range (WLPT) was way more than we needed and we handed the SUV back with 350km of range and 68 per cent charge left in the battery.. That equates to an energy efficiency of 15.4kW/h/100km.. I've become used to seeing 20kWh/100km for large SUVs, so this is outstanding..

Polestar says you should see between 17.6-21.6kWh/100km, so we did well.. The Rear motor variant might be the most affordable Polestar 3 but it has more range than the priciest Performance grade (593km) and a smidge less than the all-wheel drive Dual Motor (635km).. This entry-grade Polestar 3 is good value considering it's a prestige car and a rival to the closely related Volvo EX90 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.  The standout standard features include:.

You'd be wise to also check out the Zeekr 7X because it's made by the same Chinese company that owns Polestar - Geely.. Yes, Polestar is branded as a Swedish company and while its cars are designed in Sweden this Polestar 3 is made in China.  Geely owns Polestar, Volvo and Zeekr.. The brands share the same tech, but with different designs although I think Polestars and Volvos look the most similar..

You can see that especially in the front and rear lighting designs and also in the minimalist interior styling.. Polestars are more avant garde than Volvos and nothing proves this more than the Polestar 3 which is this brand's version of Volvo's tall, boxy and conservative looking EX90 SUV.. There are elements to the Polestar 3's design that make me go "ooohh" and other bits which make me go "huh?"..

Things that make me go huh?. The integrated spoiler on the bonnet is the biggest one, but so is the side profile and the rear quarter panel treatment.. I don't find it appealing and I think the sloping roofline reduces practicality and the boot's cargo capacity..

But there are lots of "ooohs" as well.. I do love how futuristic and prestigious the Polestar looks and there's also a beefy toughness to the exterior with the muscular rear haunches and the wide body look.. That image here of the boot open from the rear shows off how wide this beast is.  That width isn't an illusion - the Polestar 3 is 1968mm across and that's not including the wing mirrors which when added bring the total to 2120mm..

That's like Bentley-Bentayga SUV wide and the 2985mm wheelbase is also long and limo-like.  And that does equate to a roomy cabin, with enormous amounts of legroom and headroom in the second row even for me at 189cm tall.. Boot space behind the second row is 575 litres which is about 100 litres less than the boxier EX90, but there is a 24-litre front boot, too.. I love the interior..

Not only is it practical with an excellent use of space for storage but the cabin is sumptuous, comfortable and modern.. The quality feel is better than so many higher priced rivals.. That comfort extends into the serene and effortless driving experience.  Yes, the 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds acceleration time of the Rear motor variant we tested isn't as brutally quick as the Dual motor's 4.7sec or the Performance's 3.9, but it's definitely not slow..

That long wheelbase means ride comfort is lovely, and dynamically the Polestar 3 feels stable and planted thanks most likely to not being a tall top heavy traditionally shaped SUV and more station wagon with a bit of extra ground clearance.. The Polestar 3 really benefits from its Volvo connection when it comes to safety, scoring the maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2025 with 94 percent for child occupant protection and 90 per cent for adult occupant protection.  There's AEB (the forwards, rear and junction kind), lane keeping assistance and blind spot warning with steering assistance.   There are also nine airbags, five exterior cameras, one radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors.. The Polestar 3 is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, while the battery has an eight-year/160,000km warranty..

That isn't outstanding compared to mainstream brands.. The good news is servicing for the first five years or 100,000km is complimentary with five years' roadside assistance also free of charge.  The Polestar 3 Rear motor is the best value pick for this model.. This large SUV is the Volvo EX90's avant garde sibling with all the ultra modern tech and luxury blended with its own personality and flair..

Effortless to drive with excellent range and future-proofed battery tech..