- The Polestar 3 will start at $83,900, plus $1,400 for delivery.
- It includes some of Volvo’s most advanced safety tech packed into a shapely body with up to 517 horsepower.
Electric automaker Polestar
PSNY,
today revealed its third product — a sleek, sporty SUV with up to 517 horsepower and a targeted range of 300 miles between charges. The Polestar 3 will start at $83,900, plus $1,400 for delivery.
It will be Polestar’s first vehicle built in the U.S., though its starting price will prevent it from qualifying for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
What is Polestar?
Polestar is an all-electric automaker that started out as a tuner shop building high-performance Volvos
VLVLY,
The company struck out on its own to build electric cars.
So far, it has offered two cars. The Polestar 1 is a luxury hybrid performance coupe that has sold out and ended its production run. The Polestar 2 is a high-riding all-electric fastback sedan with up to 270 miles of range and a starting price of $48,400 (plus a $1,400 destination fee).
The company has plans for several more, including a Polestar 5 luxury sedan and a Polestar 6 roadster.
The 3 is the next step in that plan.
Also read: The opulent 2023 Genesis G90 goes toe-to-toe with its German rivals BMW and Mercedes
Gorgeous, functional look
At first glance, the Polestar 3 is lovely. It looks long and lean, with huge 21-inch alloy wheels that lend it a slipperier look than its size might suggest.
The Polestar 3
Polestar
The style, though, hides aerodynamic optimization everywhere. Designers included “a front aero wing integrated into the hood, a second aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler, and rear aero blades,” Polestar says. Pinched-in rear shoulders carve a distinctive line, but we wonder if they’ll limit rear visibility. We’ll need time in the seat to know.
Sustainable materials, advanced tech throughout
The Polestar 3
Polestar
The cabin is lovely Scandinavian minimalism, with an emphasis on sustainable design. Materials, Polestar says, “include bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery, animal welfare-certified leather and a fully traceable wool upholstery” option. The huge central infotainment screen (14.5 inches in portrait orientation) handles all entertainment and climate functions, Tesla-style. A trim digital instrument display sits in front of the driver and doesn’t compete for size and complexity like in many 2023 cars.
See: Vegan is trending in the auto industry, and it’s not just about leather
Two power ratings, standard air suspension
At launch, Polestar will offer the 3 in all-wheel drive, with an electric motor on each axle. That combination is good for 489 horsepower. They draw power from a 111-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Polestar says it should earn an EPA rating of about 300 miles of range. Polestar says that setup gets from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
An available Performance Pack increases horsepower to 517 and decreases that 0-60 time to 4.6 seconds. Polestar estimates that it trims about 30 miles off the range for the added power. Performance Pack-equipped SUVs also get an air suspension system tuned for sportier handling and 22-inch wheels.
That air suspension, by the way, is standard equipment. A dual-chamber system, Polestar says it, “allows the SUV to alternate between comfort and dynamic suspension characteristics.” The dampers adjust once every 2 milliseconds to keep the ride steady on changing surfaces.
Polestar similarly introduced the 2 sedan with two motors, later adding a lower-price single-motor version to the lineup. We wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar step with the SUV.
See: Polestar says on track to meet full-year delivery target of 50,000 vehicles after strong Q3
Volvo’s latest safety tech
The Polestar 3 offers one of the most extensive suites of driver assistance features we’ve seen, courtesy of the company’s Volvo roots. It includes some features Volvo will be premiering on its own upcoming EX90 flagship.
Five radar modules, five external cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors support a full suite of electronic driver aids like automatic emergency braking and lane-centering assist. Two internal cameras “monitor the driver’s eyes and can trigger warning messages, sounds and even an emergency stop function when detecting a distracted, drowsy or disconnected driver.”
Polestar explains, “This includes the latest innovation — interior radar sensors that can detect sub-millimeter movements in the interior of the car, to help protect against accidentally leaving children or pets inside. The system is also linked to the climate control system to avoid heat stroke or hypothermia.”
The Polestar 3 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2023.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
