Polestar 3: the first electric SUV for the young brand

After the electric sedan, the new brand of Volvo and the Geely group enters the SUV segment with the Polestar 3.

Although the first car was a hybrid coupe, the Polestar 1 coupe, the brand quickly became 100% electric. The inaugural model was the Polestar 2 sedan, a rival to the Tesla Model 3, dating from 2020. Here is the second with a logical given name: Polestar 3.

A Large Premium SUV

If you thought that the new Polestar would be a sign of democratization, think again. This 4.90-meter long SUV is comparable to a BMW iX, therefore one of the very large models on the market. Likewise, with a weight of 2.6 tons, it’s closer to a van than a standard car. And it doesn’t carry much: 484 liters of trunk space, with an additional 90 liters under the floor and a small 32-liter space under the front hood.

The target of this Polestar 3 is to replace the large thermal SUVs from competitors — Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, etc. — with a 100% electric model. It features the new SPA group platform and high-performance components. Already in terms of power, with two motors totaling 380 kW (517 hp) at peak and a torque of 910 Nm, in the top-tier version.

And then, the “Long Range” battery has a capacity of 111 kWh, one of the largest on the market. Only the BMW i7 surpasses it (and before the 123 kWh Vinfast VF9). The range is estimated at 610 kilometers according to the manufacturer, in WLTP mixed cycle, excluding the Performance Pack. For charging, the AC charger accepts up to 11 kW, meaning 11 hours for a full charge. The rapid charge peaks at 250 kW, like on the Tesla Model Y, allowing 10 to 80% in 30 minutes.

Responsible Materials and Onboard Safety

With a touch of contradiction, Polestar claims an eco-responsible design. While the press release unabashedly mentions high-performance aspects and figures, the website aims to be more reassuring, through materials with “a focus on circularity and traceability”, recycled textiles, natural fibers like linen, or chrome-free leather.

As part of the reputation of the parent brand Volvo, safety is a key pillar of this Polestar 3. Using a suite of radars and cameras, the car monitors other vehicles and obstacles on the road, as well as the driver via eye-tracking through an infrared camera.

An Elite Launch Price and Made in China

Symbolic of this electric SUV’s positioning, the launch occurs with a very expensive introductory version. The Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor starts at €89,990, which is 4.5 times the price of a Dacia Spring! The upcoming versions, still unknown, will be more affordable, but expect no less than €70,000 as the base price.

As for production, it only begins mid-2023 for deliveries in the fall. After the end of Polestar’s blockade by Citroën on the French market, this SUV should be able to cross borders. Initially at the Chinese factory in Chengdu, before the American Ridgeville site supports it starting in 2024.