Polestar 3 – Electric Car Review

Overview – Polestar 3

The 2024 Polestar 3 is the brand’s first-ever SUV model, and it’s set to be produced in America at Volvo’s South Carolina plant. It has a striking design and a high-riding seating position. It is powered by a 489-hp dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and can be upgraded with the optional Performance trim to increase its power to 517 horsepower. Following is our Polestar 3 review.

The Polestar 3 has a 111-kWh battery pack, DC fast charging capability of up to 250 kW. It can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge, has an abundance of active safety features and is being designed with Volvo’s lidar technology which aims to enable full self-driving capability in the future.

The Polestar 3 is the third product from the Sino-Swedish upstart brand, debuting as an all-electric SUV for 2024, emphasizing performance, luxury and design. Polestar is a subsidiary of Volvo.

Polestar 3 – Energy And Carbon Efficiency

The Polestar 3 has a carbon emission number of 123 g CO2/mile, which places it towards the higher end of the list of cars provided. Don’t forget that these figures are subject to variations based on factors like driving conditions, battery age, and real-world usage.

Compared to other vehicles in our database, the Polestar 3 has higher emissions than the majority, with only six out of the 28 cars having higher emissions. The Dacia Spring Electric 45 (67 g CO2/mile) and the Opel Astra Electric (75 g CO2/mile) are among the lowest emitters on this list, indicating that they have a smaller carbon footprint.

On the other hand, vehicles like the Audi SQ8 e-tron (142 g CO2/mile), LDV Maxus Mifa 9 (127 g CO2/mile), and Lexus RZ 450e (127 g CO2/mile) have higher emissions than the Polestar 3, indicating a larger carbon footprint.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

The Polestar 3 is equipped with a dual-motor powertrain and can be purchased with two different strengths; 489 horsepower for the base model, and 517 horsepower for the Performance trim. It has an adaptive suspension system and can reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

A dual motor design in the Polestar 3 would likely result in improved performance in terms of acceleration and top speed compared to a single motor EV. Dual motor designs also tend to provide better handling and traction, especially in challenging driving conditions, which could make the Polestar 3 safer and more versatile.

With a dual motor setup, the Polestar 3 might benefit from increased efficiency, as one motor can be used for cruising at lower speeds, conserving energy. This design could also offer more efficient regenerative braking, a feature that is standard in most EVs. Lastly, the redundancy provided by a dual motor setup could improve the reliability of the vehicle, as it could still operate even if one motor fails.

The Polestar 3 boasts eye-widening performance figures, ample range, and plenty of tech. It also adds a sport chassis tune for the standard air suspension, revised steering, 22-inch wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, a range optimization mode, and gold exterior and interior accents. Claimed range for the standard Polestar 3 is 300 miles and for the Performance variant that figure falls to 270 miles.

Interior Comfort and Cargo Dimensions

The Polestar 3’s interior is comfortable and luxurious with power front seats, a three-zone climate control system, and a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo system. It also has a panoramic sunroof with an illuminated Polestar logo and a power rear liftgate.

The interior of Polestar 3 should be pretty roomy. No passenger cabin dimensions have been released just yet, but Polestar says the rear luggage compartment measures 17.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up. With the second row flipped down, there’s a total of 49.8 cubes available for cargo. Polestar also included a small 1.1-cubic-foot frunk for small items.

Infotainment, Tech and Connectivity

The Polestar 3 comes with a large 14.5-inch infotainment display which runs Android Automotive OS with Google applications and over-the-air update capability, a 9.0-inch gauge cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, and four USB-C charging ports. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, as well as in-dash navigation.

It also has a head-up display, automated parking assist, hands-free driving capability, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, soft-close doors, a heated windshield, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. There are also wireless charging, three-zone climate control, a power liftgate, four USB-C ports, and a 360-degree camera view.

Safety Features

The Polestar 3 includes a plethora of driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlamps, and a driver-monitoring system.

The Polestar 3 is still unrated by the IIHS and NHTSA. Nevertheless, it is equipped with plenty of safety gear, such as the Pilot pack, which is a set of safety features that is standard for the first model year and will become an option thereafter. There is also a head-up display, and automated parking assist, all improved by Google HD maps.

The Polestar 3 also has a lidar system for enhanced semi-autonomous driving, as well as a child- and pet-mode that uses a radar monitoring system to detect movements within the cabin.

Warranty Information

Polestar offers a limited warranty that covers four years or 50,000 miles, and electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Unfortunately, Polestar does not offer complimentary scheduled maintenance as Volvo, its parent company, does.

Final Thoughts – Polestar 3 Review

The Polestar 3 is a luxurious and powerful SUV with a handsome design and ample power, as well as a decent range of 300 miles per charge. It is equipped with an array of active safety features and is set to be produced in America for the first time. It is also the first Polestar to come with a LiDAR system, which will enable full self-driving capability in the future.

Polestar’s efforts thus far have been commendable, if not game changing. The Polestar 3 looks good, is pretty quick, and has plenty of tech and safety features. Although the shape looks good and Polestar’s ambitions impress, we still see Volvo vestigial traits —will the Polestar 3 be Polestar enough to solidify the brand as truly its own entity?