Polestar 3: Electric SUV on a new basis

Highlights

• Up to 610 km WLTP
• 489 or 517 hp
• From China and USA
• Coming fourth quarter 2023

The Polestar 3 is the logical consequence of the Polestar 2 and not only in name, because if you really want to score in this branch of sport, you cannot avoid an SUV and this is the only correct addition to the sedan where the sporty sub-brand from Volvo scores so well.

Thanks to thick, contrasting sills, the side view looks quite slender and low, with the enormous C-pillar standing out again. The headlights come from old Thor’s toolbox and thus form a nod to mother Volvo. In between is not a grille, as since time immemorial, but the so-called Smart Zone, a panel behind which hardware for the ADAS is hidden. The rear view also looks fairly low and slender, which is achieved by keeping the lines low and horizontal.

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Interior

Inside, it’s all typical Swedish design, with soft, cool colours, natural-feeling materials and, above all, a lot of minimalism. The primary functions are in the small display that has supplanted the old clocks, everything else is hidden behind the huge upright display in the middle. The infotainment works on the basis of Google. Using ecologically certified materials such as bio-Micro Tech (leather with a focus on animal welfare, which is remarkable because Volvo has completely banned leather for new models) Polestar aims to reduce the footprint of the 3. Interior sensors detect the slightest movement, which should be a relief for people distracted enough to accidentally leave their child or dog in the car. Furthermore, Polestar exults, the climate control ensures that you do not become hypothermic or suffer from heat stroke; a rather cumbersome way of saying that the Polestar 3 has automatic air conditioning. Standard with three zones, by the way. The luggage compartment measures 484 litres, expandable to 1,411 litres. You can also store another 32 liters of luggage in the frunk.

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Motorization

The Polestar 3 is the first car to feature an all-new electric platform developed by Volvo. It has two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear, making it 4WD. Not always, by the way, because the rear can be switched off to do a bit longer with a battery charge. The system power is 489 hp and the maximum torque is 840 Nm. If you want just that little bit extra, choose the Performance Pack with 517 hp and 910 Nm. Then it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, compared to 5.0 seconds for the regular version. In addition, the (standard) air suspension with dynamic damping is just a bit more sporty and you get 22 instead of the standard 21-inch wheels. In both cases, the top speed is 210 km/h.

If you stay far enough away from that, a range of 610 km (560 km for the faster version) should be possible with the 111 kWh (107 effective) battery pack. It can be charged AC with 11 kW (from 0 to 100 percent in 11 hours) and DC with a maximum of 250 kW (from 10 to 80 percent in half an hour) and vehicle to grid is possible. The degree of regenerative braking when the throttle is released can be adjusted to your own taste to one pedal drive position.

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When

Got excited? Then comes the patience course for advanced riders, because we have to wait another year for the Polestar 3 to actually hit the road. Even more remarkable is that we already know the price. For the first year, the Polestar 3 will come standard with Pilot Pack and Plus Pack (options later). Then it costs €89,900 and for that money you have a 360-degree view, a mountain of ADAS, electrically operated tailgate, electric seat control and heating and three years of internet. The Performance Pack costs €6,600 extra.

Production of the Polestar 3 will start in Chengdu, China, in the middle of next year, and a few months later in Ridgeville, South Carolina, in the US.

At the time of this article being published, we are making a video of the Polestar 3 in Copenhagen. It will appear on this site one of these days.