Polestar 3 Review

How much does it cost?

Polestar names its cars sequentially in the order that it launches them. So, while the 3 is the largest car the brand builds and sits above the Polestar 4 coupe-SUV, it was the third car it launched, hence its name.

It’s the second most expensive car Polestar offers in the UK, being priced above the 2 and 4 but beneath the 5 grand tourer. Prices start at £70,000 for the Rear motor model and rise to £92,000 for the Performance, with Polestar offering its cars in one trim level – customers choose the powertrain and the specification is pegged to those powertrains.

The Polestar 3 is only just starting to appear on used car platforms such as AA Cars, with prices starting at around £45,000 for 2024-registered cars with around 5,000 miles on the clock. Dual-motor Performance cars are in the region of £50,000.

Engine and performance

Overview

The Polestar 3 originally came with just one battery option, a 111kWh (107kWH useable) pack, twin electric motors and two power outputs – 483bhp in the Long range Dual motor, and 510bhp in the Long range Dual motor Performance.

Polestar added a cheaper rear-wheel drive version powered by a 295bhp electric motor soon afterwards. This entry version, called Long range, managed a claimed 438 miles between charges, while the dual-motor cars were rated at 392 miles (Long range Dual motor) and 347 miles (Performance).

In 2025, for the 2026 model year, Polestar comprehensively overhauled the 3's hardware. It received a 800v electrical architecture, slashing charging times by 25% thanks to 350kW maximum DC charging rate, and new batteries – 92kWh for the Rear motor and 106kWh for Dual motor/Performance variants. There was also a significant hike in power – 329bhp for the entry Rear motor model, 536bhp for the Dual motor, and 670bhp for the Performance. Polestar claims a range of between 368 and 394 miles for the new Polestar 3. A heat pump comes as standard.

Out on the road

It may be an SUV but you sit in the Polestar 3 rather than climb up into it – it's in keeping with the performance character Polestar likes to think of itself as.

Once you've mastered how to adjust the steering column – which is done via the touchscreen rather than a lever or a button – it's very easy to get an excellent driving position that affords good visibility. It's comfortable, too – Polestar has learnt how to make very supportive seats thanks to being the sister brand to Volvo.

From the first few metres from moving off, it's clear the Polestar 3 is a premium car. It feels impressively refined and composed. It's easier to drive around town than you might think, thanks to light controls, good visibility, and an excellent suite of cameras for those tight manoeuvres.

On the motorway the refinement levels just move up a level – it's eerily quiet with hardly any wind or tyre noise disrupting the silence. Meanwhile, on twistier country roads, the 3 does an amazing job of giving the driver a thrilling driving experience despite the car's size and heft.

Entry-level versions deliver more than enough punch, but acceleration is quite linear and measured. This will be fine for most, especially those who will be using the 3 as a family SUV, but, in keeping with the performance credentials of the brand, there are much faster versions available. The dual-motor cars offer some pretty potent power, with lightning fast acceleration. The 2026 model year cars only exaggerate this with their even greater levels of power.

Ride and handling

Cars with smaller wheels deliver a very composed ride with excellent body control, but Performance models, with their massive 20-inch wheels and stiffer damping settings, do suffer from pretty poor ride control on broken surfaces, but feel sharper as a result. The dual-motor cars, including the Performance, get air suspension as standard that does a great job at keeping the car's weight and size in check in twisty corners. These cars can raise their ride height for some light off-roading, too.

Unlike some rivals, the Polestar 3 doesn't have a fancy electronic torque-vectoring system to improve cornering traction. Instead, it relies on a different way and sends the motors' torque from one side of the axle to the other. It works very well and gives the Polestar 3 impressive cornering abilities.

Interior and features

Interiors

The Polestar 3's interior is exactly what you’d wish for in a premium Scandinavian brand: minimalist, plush and relaxing.

The design is clean and uncluttered, and there's a strong focus on premium materials and technology. The quality of the materials used is all very high, and there's some lovely detailing. There's a mixture of tactile materials and metals for an upmarket feel, and a real focus on sustainability – many materials used around the cabin are recycled.

The minimalist feel is courtesy of a vast 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen. It's sharp and crisp, and the Google operating system is well integrated – especially Google Maps and voice control. However, it does take some getting used to as virtually everything is controlled through it, even including switching the headlights on and opening the glovebox.

The touchscreen-heavy cabin won't be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying that the interior feels relaxing and very different from German premium rivals.

Boot space and practicality

The Polestar 3 is a large SUV so you might expect it offers vast interior room, but that's not necessarily the case.

There will be no complaints from backseat passengers as knee room is very generous. A pair of very tall passengers will have space to stretch out, and you can fit three across thanks to wide seats and a flat floor.

However, boot space is a little disappointing. Considering this is a large SUV, it's surprising to note that the smaller Polestar 4 has more boot space than the 3. The 3's boot is square and well-shaped, but shallow – there's only 484 litres on offer, which is down on rivals, and folding down the back seats sees this swelling to 1,411 litres. There is some handy underfloor and under-bonnet storage, though.

Features

The Polestar 3 only comes in one trim, with customers choosing which powertrain they want instead.

The standard level of specification is very generous, though, with features such as a panoramic glass roof, 20-inch alloy wheels, powerful Brembo brakes, active LED headlights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a full suite of Google connectivity features, and more. Extra equipment is included in options packs.

Trim and colour options

As previously mentioned, the Polestar 3 only comes in one very highly-specified trim level.

The standard single-motor and dual-motor cars get a vast array of standard equipment with features such as 20-inch alloys, powerful Brembo brakes, active LED headlights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a full suite of Google connectivity features. Polestar also throws in a number of packs free of charge, which brings heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, a Bowers and Wilkins audio system, a head-up display, soft-close doors. Performance models add a number of upgrades including Polestar Engineered damping control, 22-inch alloys, and gold exterior detailing.

The Polestar colour range is very subdued. There's one silver option, one grey, one black, one white, and one dark blue – and that’s it.

Safety and reliability

Perhaps unsurprisingly considering Polestar's sister firm is Volvo, the Polestar 3 holds a full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. It achieved very high scores for adult and child occupant protection – 90 and 93 per cent, respectively – vulnerable road user protection came to 79 per cent, safety assist was awarded 83 per cent thanks to the long list of safety kit fitted as standard.

The Polestar 3 is a little too new to appear in reliability surveys, but the Polestar brand has. Some industry surveys rank the company very highly, while others deem the brand to be more of a mid-table player. The best advice is to check surveys yourself and check out owners' forums for the most accurate reliability information.

MPG, emissions and tax

While it is an EV and therefore attracts VED of £10 in the car's first year of registration, because it's a premium car and has high list prices, years two to six (since first date of registration) are £620 a year.

The electric range will depend enormously on temperature and driving style, but a real-world range of between 300 and 350 miles should be achievable.