Polestar 3 Offers Record Range, but at What Cost…

Polestar has a good image, attractive models, finally the right to sell in France, but for us, the numbers just don’t add up.

Polestar, founded in 1996 as Volvo’s performance division, became an independent brand in 2017 at the initiative of Geely, the Chinese group that owns Volvo. The Polestar 3, unveiled in 2022, is the brand’s first SUV. This fully electric model exemplifies Polestar’s strategy focused on offering premium electric vehicles. In France, this Polestar 3 is unfortunately deemed problematic. In 2022, DS filed a lawsuit against Polestar, accusing the Chinese-Swedish brand of violating its intellectual property rights. DS argued that the grille design of the Polestar 3 was too similar to that of the DS7 Crossback, damaging its brand image and originality. The French justice system made its decision in 2023 in favor of Polestar, but despite that, there has been no commercialization in France since.

The model continues its career in Europe and the United States, where Polestar has started production of the long-range single-motor version of its flagship SUV. This version offers a certified WLTP range of up to 706 km. It uses the same 111 kWh battery as the dual-motor variant, with a maximum charging capacity of 250 kW. This allows charging from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes using a fast DC charging station. While the range is top-notch, you understand that the consumption figures are better kept discreet…

Performance-wise, it’s not spectacular. This Propulsion version develops 300 hp (220 kW) and 490 Nm of torque, allowing a modest 7.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. No problem stopping thanks to Brembo brake system, identical to that of higher-end models.

A rather average copy that isn’t salvaged by a listed price of 61,818 euros in our Belgian neighbors. 15,000 euros more than the reference Tesla Model Y Long Range, that really makes 100 km of extra range quite expensive. As for the comparison with the Peugeot E-3008 Large Range listed at the same price as Tesla, it turns into a slaughter. One wonders if the lion decided to avenge its cousin DS.

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