Polestar 3 2025 swing for efficient performance

news7g2 weeks ago

3 7 minutes read

Polestar 3 2025 swing for efficient performance

Two-row, five-seat electric SUV
Estimated range: 279 miles (Performance Package), 315 miles (base)
0-60 mph, 4.8 seconds (base); 4.5 seconds (Performance Pack)
Price: $80,300, Launch Edition; may qualify for Federal incentives

Polestar’s new electric SUV has been launched delayed due to software problemsand it has seen sister brands Volvo has cut fundingleaving the fledgling EV brand behind to forge a new path on its own.

But that path appears to be brightly lit now that we’ve driven the 2025 Polestar 3. It’s not the most efficient electric SUV on the road; the Tesla Model Y easily get over it there. However, this sleek new electric vehicle stands out for its performance and interior qualities, which sets it apart from that groundbreaking, best-selling model.

Polestar sees the 3 as a rival to the hybrid-enabled Porsche Cayman as well, and it’s clearly on the same page as its platform mate, the upcoming Volvo EX90. But if nothing else, the 3 reminds me of an XC90, with refinement and low gloss—with a decade’s worth of structural and performance improvements documented like the code revision.

If someone in your family refuses an electric car, this could be the means to change their mind.

2025 Polestar 3 Performance Package, test drive, Madrid

How does the 2025 Polestar 3 perform?

111 kwh battery pack (107 kwh usable), 180 kwh twin motors
Range: 315 miles; Performance Package, 279 miles
0-60 mph: 4.5-4.8 seconds (Basic Package vs. Performance Package)
2.2-2.6 miles per kwh (our estimate)

During a recent test drive from central Madrid to Segovia and back, the Polestar 3 accelerated along the highway and rushed through corners among high hills, leaving only positive driving impressions. It has plenty of weight to give it the feel of a luxury car but leaves little room for precision.

The basic layout of the all-wheel-drive, dual-motor Polestar 3 is identical 180 kw motor at the axes, frame frame a 111 kwh battery pack with 107 kWh of energy used. Polestar rates the setup at 489 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torquepushed the SUV forward 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Add the Performance Package for $6,000 and Polestar cracks the battery and motor for an additional 28 horsepower and 51 pound-feet of torque. There are more suspension tweaks and subtle cosmetic changes like gold-painted Brembo brake calipers and gold seatbelts, but bragging rights here mainly extend to a 0-60 mph acceleration time is 4.5 seconds. Top speed remains at 130 mph.

All that hustle comes at a price. The SUV can decouple the rear electric motor to improve performance and in doing so can drive up to 315 miles of Polestar’s estimated range, But that number drops to 279 miles with the Performance Package. These numbers are on par with the standard Model Y, but less than the Tesla’s performance version, in part because it’s about 1,500 pounds heavier than that car, at 1,500 pounds. £5,886 in its best configuration.

But the Polestar 3 offers a distinct advantage over the Tesla in its ability to hold the road without losing its grip. It’s configured for agile yet compliant handling, with quick-ratio electric steering, a dual-clutch rear axle for simpler power distribution than a third motor, and in this model, dual air springs. mode and adaptive damping. There’s precious little extra steering motion here—the Polestar 3 picks up directions quickly—and it handles the road admirably, even on vehicles with 22-inch wheels. Tesla’s sometimes brittle ride quality cannot cope with this sophistication; it also doesn’t suffer the power-hungry range penalty of an air suspension system.

by Polestar One-pedal driving mode Leave the rubber band regenerative braking for other vehicles. It’s smooth, perhaps too slow at the start, even in the riskiest rebound setting (there are three). Its friction brakes work well together and there are 15.8-inch ventilated discs up front to tow a heavy vehicle. Performance Package cars get four-piston Brembo brake calipers and tighter tuning, but we only spent a short amount of time with one and will have to wait for a longer, road-based drive in the United States before saying more.

Drivers can toggle their Polestar 3 through driving modes to conserve battery or be conservative during range. All 3 also have driver-selectable modes for assured handling and steering, but they’re all hidden behind an all-important touchscreen icon.

The firm suspension and steering settings certainly don’t have much of an impact on its poised handling — but it’s annoying to have to stop to safely switch to another mode.

A tap also taps into Off-Road mode, and that gives the Polestar 3 an extra 2 inches of ground clearance compared to the usual 8.3 inches. Standard self-leveling support with air spring helps it achieve overall efficiency 3,500 pound towing capacity.

2025 Polestar 3 Performance Package, test drive, Madrid

2025 Polestar 3 outperforms Model Y

192.9 inches long
Wheelbase 117.5 inches
The front trunk is 1.1 cubic feet
Cargo space is 17.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats
There’s 49.8 cubic feet of space behind the front seats

Polestar 3 showcases its capable EV hoverboard with passenger space furnished in premium Scandinavian style. That means things are low-shine and minimal fuss—maybe too minimal to some degree.

The slim body creates a specific SUV style, more like a sports car. With all the seams tightened and flattened to reduce drag, the 3 has a special tool in the nose for better aerodynamics: a wing that divides below the hoe logo into three parts, directing the wind over the body and towards the tail, where another wing carries it down. Polestar has no styling rules to break, so why not?

Inside, the cabin more easily complies with Swedish standards, inspired and echoed to a new standard. A single line cuts across almost the entire dashboard, bisecting the soft-touch trim from pieces of wood or aluminum with a strip of vents only partially hidden by 14.5-inch vertical touch screen. The 9.0-inch rectangular display on the steering wheel shows basic information while the head-up display shows more details on the windshield.

Setting up these screens as well as seats, mirrors, and other firmware can be a daunting task. The North Star burying most controls in touchscreen functionsand draw its icons in a thin, pale font. Need to adjust the rearview mirror? That requires a tap or two, then a press of the steering wheel control to move it into the right position. It’s a complicated procedure that future drivers may consider a blessing. The rest of the interior is muted, especially since it’s painted gray and black. On the plus side, these materials are up an order of magnitude or three above Tesla’s norm and some features stand out—like Yellow seat belts on Performance Package car—on the contrary, is much more important.

Polestar’s Volvo cousin has long made a claim some of the best seats in the automotive world, and these are no different, with plenty of adjustment available for the side, rear and lower bolsters. The rear seats benefit from wide door cutouts and deep, well-angled seat bottoms. Upholstery materials range from basic synthetic leather to nappa leather or wool. Folding down the rear seatbacks makes the Polestar 3 nearly ready for car camping, with an interior length of more than 70 inches. That sounds far too practical for a car with doors that close without a clang or a thruster that barely makes the noise required by law. So let’s call it car glamping.

2025 Polestar 3 Performance Package, test drive, Madrid

How much does the Polestar 3 2025 cost?

The The Polestar 3 Launch Edition is worth $80,300 saw a recent price cut to bring it below the qualifying level for $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax incentive, but it’s unclear whether it qualifies for buyers as well as renters. The first versions will come from China, but as of August 1, Polestar will assemble all three in South Carolina. Stay tuned to find out if it becomes a huge success or not.

The Launch trim gets automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, 20-inch wheels, a surround-view camera system and synthetic leather trim. The Launch Edition also includes features that will eventually be divided into Plus Packages and Pilot Packages on subsequent 2025 models — features ranging from a head-up display and air suspension to to the air suspension system. Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker audio system. Polestar’s Android interface means yes no Apple CarPlayalthough the Spotify and Tidal services have native apps.

The Pilot package with lidar with more sensors will expand hands-free driver assistance via OTA updates as those features become available. And all Polestar 3 SUVs come with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty, including three years or 30,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Base Polestar 3 SUVs will cost $74,300 when they arrive later this year. All in all, it’s easy to see a fully loaded model costing just under $100,000.

Polestar is preparing to produce more vehicles, in addition to the already existing 2 sedan. We will tell you more about it Polestar 4 car in a few weeks. ONE North Star 5 and six are also coming on a new platform developed in-house and assembled at the company’s own factory. Polestar then plans a 7…which will one day replace the Polestar 2. We’re not sure about the naming strategy. But so far, these vehicles—while not setting new standards for charging, performance or speed—have achieved the goals of electric vehicle luxury and performance. 1 here, 2 there, and now 3—for Polestar, it’s all starting to add up.

Polestar paid for our travel to Spain so we could bring you this test drive review.

news7g2 weeks ago

3 7 minutes read