2025 Polestar 3 First Drive Review: Upending The Segment In The Best Way

Polestar has lastly launched the extremely anticipated Polestar 3, a totally electrical premium sporty crossover. The preliminary pleasure of driving electrical vehicles might have subsided, however the introduction of a brand new automobile from a comparatively younger automaker decided to push issues ahead is completely price sitting up and taking discover of. As we shift our focus to the long-term recreation, Polestar is steadfast in its mission to create a definite identification separate from its father or mother firm, Volvo.

Polestar is carefully associated to Volvo, however not like a Volvo electrical crossover, the Polestar 3 comes out of the field with efficiency options like a wealth of energy, massive wheels and tires, aggressive brakes, and sport modes. Like a Volvo, for higher or worse (and relying in your opinion), it additionally comes with the identical really feel and degree of consideration to the inside and exterior design motifs.

Take a look at the rear-side silhouette; it is an up to date tackle the basic aspect of Volvo’s design language. The Polestar 3 is available in two flavors: with or with out the Efficiency Pack. All fashions include a rear-bias twin motor setup however with a spread and energy distinction, and a hefty price ticket – the Polestar 3 begins at $73,400. That is steep, however for the primary mannequin 12 months, it comes commonplace with Polestar’s feature-rich Plus Pack and Pilot Pack.

We spent a few days with Polestar within the upscale cowboy city of Jackson Gap as a base to drive out into the huge Wyoming countryside in each variations of the Polestar 3, and returned with lots to speak about.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a automobile in a restricted surroundings underneath sure time constraints. Regulate CarBuzz for our complete Take a look at Drive evaluate which can observe quickly.

Exterior: Polestar’s Greatest – So Far

All through our time with the Polestar 3, we appreciated its styling a bit of extra every time we checked out it – notably the rear quarters that evoke, intentionally or not, the C30 and V40 hatchbacks. The styling shouldn’t be retro, although. It is aggressive but polished, with carved-out fenders and quick overhangs that convey its dedication to highly effective sportiness. And that is earlier than you discover there is a entrance wing constructed into the hood to go together with the rear aero blades and a rear wing built-in into the spoiler.

It is large and comes from the manufacturing facility with 21-­inch wheels, a full­ size panoramic glass roof, all­ LED lighting (in and out), and people standout Swedish Gold coloured Brembo brake calipers.

Commonplace exterior options embrace:

• Panoramic glass roof with illuminated Polestar image
• Energy tailgate with soft-closing and hands-free opening
• Privateness acoustic laminated glass
• LED headlights with energetic excessive beam
• Full-LED rear lightbar with gentle signature
• Welcome lighting and retractable door handles

Inside: Swedish Sophistication

Inside, the Polestar is roomy, ethereal, splendidly trendy, and the supplies and particulars are instantly putting. Nonetheless, it is not completely simple. The primary choice Polestar has made that we’re fighting is to take away as many bodily switches and controls as attainable. Shoving every little thing else, together with the wing mirror and steering wheel controls, into the infotainment display appears like a trying-too-hard-to-be-a-techie transfer. It makes essentially the most minor tweaks annoying, as you actually should cease the automotive and go right into a menu simply to maneuver your wing mirror out a fraction of an inch.

There’s absolutely an argument to be made for the way typically individuals really modify driving place, and that reminiscence capabilities will imply it is not a problem for a lot of, but it surely does not make for an excellent first impression when it takes a studying curve to regulate the aspect mirrors. The quick excellent news is that the person interface is well-thought-out and simply as properly carried out, notably the contextual controls. For instance, while you come to a cease and put the automobile in park, the steering wheel choice turns into obtainable on the highest layer and replaces an icon that was related whereas driving.

You will additionally discover that, trying on the inside switches that stay on the steering wheel, there stay fully unmarked. It actually provides to the slick look of the inside, and it should not take lengthy to study by way of possession, but it surely requires the proprietor’s handbook to get began. We’ll have a look at that extra fastidiously when doing a full take a look at drive evaluate as every week must be lengthy sufficient to internalize them. Whereas it goes towards our basic perspective of “if we have now to open the person handbook to carry out easy capabilities, it is badly designed,” we’re not wholly towards the concept if properly carried out.

The annoying caveat to that is that it could possibly solely work if the bodily buttons and capabilities are severely restricted. It actually could be irritating in case you needed to study the environmental controls with out labels, for instance. The query now turns into, is it well worth the problem to place the vast majority of controls which might be usually bodily operated on a touchscreen for the sake of not having any icons or phrases printed on or round switches? We’re not so positive. Fortunately, we notice, there’s a good massive quantity knob within the heart console.

On the plus aspect, the driving force’s seat adjustment is likely one of the finest we have come throughout. It is one massive wheel situated down the aspect of the entrance seat that is simple to search out and manipulate, and logical to make use of. Nonetheless, guess the place the lumbar help controls are? On the touchscreen.

The second subject we have now is that Polestar has sunk a variety of effort into the inside supplies, whether or not it is ecologically pleasant Nappa leather-based or much more ecologically pleasant vegan and recycled supplies – but the model has chosen, for a premium $70,000+ electrical SUV, to make use of piano black plastic in its heart consoles and on the switches. You possibly can see within the images above how unhealthy it’s for amassing mud and fingerprint smears, and there is a picture we have not included of a change on the steering wheel because the fingerprints on it are so clear it did not appear sensible to place it on the web. There isn’t any excuse for Polestar to be utilizing piano black plastic. None in any respect. We strongly counsel Polestar ought to change it for one thing extra, properly, Polestar-ish.

Expertise: Huge Display screen, Subsequent Degree Tech

Polestar has introduced in Google for its infotainment software program wants, and behind the massive 14.5-inch display, Polestar makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Platform. The Snapdragon Cockpit Platform is the place issues just like the contextual menus are based mostly and powers the infotainment, whereas the Google system provides the person interface (UI) and Google apps.

The Google system does an excellent job of enhancing the person expertise with acquainted and intuitive options. The daring and apparent tiled UI is intuitive and snappy to react in the way in which you count on of a high-end cellphone or pill.

Discovering the settings you want is equally intuitive as you go into the second layer of the menu system, and, in fact, Google apps for almost all of providers you would possibly use are seamlessly in-built. For instance, we choose Tidal over Spotify for music as a consequence of its larger decision recordsdata, and it is only a fast obtain away. The excellent news is that in case you’re not into the concept of Google operating your life and select Apple as an alternative, wi-fi CarPlay is in-built.

Sound System: Calls for Its Personal Subheading

As we talked about within the introduction, the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack come commonplace for the primary mannequin 12 months, and that is an enormous listing of additional options – together with a monstrous and extremely well-integrated 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system with Dolby Atmos.

Utilizing a variety of audio system in a automotive (and 25 is a variety of audio system), then giving the system 1,610 watts might simply be a multitude of sound, however the engineering that is gone into matching the automotive and system is outstanding. You will discover the tweeter on the dashboard is raised, and that is the extent of element Bowers & Wilkins has gone to. The engineers did not need the sound to bounce off the concave windscreen whereas minimizing being muted by the dashboard. The result’s super-clean treble that threatens to be shrill however by no means fairly will get there.

The mids are concerning the fullest and most detailed we have skilled in a automotive exterior of a Rolls-Royce, and the separation of devices generated from a two-channel Spotify standard-res file by way of the 25 audio system is spectacular sufficient (together with headrest audio system), however put by way of a hi-res FLAC file from Tidal and the entire system lights up. The system is extremely cohesive, and we will not wait to get a full week with the automotive and push the system with spatial audio tracks and a full vary of music.

Plenty of automotive audio falls down with the bass, and it finally ends up boomy and overwhelming, it doesn’t matter what music you are listening to. Within the 2025 Polestar 3, it is extremely properly managed to the purpose you would not consider the subwoofer is within the trunk. As a substitute, the sound rises up from beneath and the bass is tight and punchy when it must be; it goes low and proper by way of your physique when demanded by a monitor.

Powertrain: Energy + Vary Or Extra Energy, Much less Vary

It is a easy option to make, and we thank Polestar for it. Polestar advertises a spread of “as much as 315 miles” through it is two electrical motors and a 400-volt, 111-kWh battery. The Efficiency Pack features a software-induced bump from 489 horsepower to 517 hp and with an additional dose of torque – however there’s extra to it than simply that. It additionally features a Polestar Engineered chassis, 22-inch Efficiency solid alloy wheels, Swedish gold valve caps and seatbelts, laser-etched inside gentle ling in gold, and particular Pirelli P-Zero tires.

Once more, there’s an enormous quantity of know-how going into the powertrain, together with a torque vectoring twin clutch system on the rear axle which, not like most torque vectoring techniques, does not solely apply brakes to the within wheel. As a substitute, it accelerates the outer rear wheel to sharpen the steering.

When pushing the Polestar 3 round with enthusiasm, the powertrain is biased to the rear motor for that sporty dynamic; when cruising, the rear part is disconnected, so the automotive is operating as effectively as attainable. With the Efficiency Pack improve, going from a cruising velocity of round 40 mph to overhaul with an enormous dose of throttle, there isn’t any clue the entrance and rear have reconnected aside from an instantaneous and relentless burst of energy. Mash the pedal to the carpet from 50 mph, and it is like flicking a change for the ability to return on. It is sudden, and it is manic, however in case you’re a bit extra caring about passenger consolation, then being smoother on the pedal brings smoother outcomes.

On The Street: Swift And Comfy

We headed out on the street with a Efficiency Pack geared up Polestar 3 first, and it has the identical really feel to the way in which it drives because the Polestar 2 sedan. Which means it does not really feel prefer it weighs a chunky 5,886 kilos – which is over 1,000 lbs greater than the Polestar 2. Round city and cruising out into the countryside, it is a pleasure to drive and, once more, just like the Polestar 2, the one-pedal driving expertise is fantastically carried out and straightforward to get used to. And to that time, it is one of the simplest ways to drive a Polestar till you determine to play with the sporty aspect of its character on a again street.

On a again street, the Polestar 3 is properly planted on the street and agile, even earlier than you turn it into sport mode, which is called ‘Agile’ – our favourite identify for a drive mode on any automotive, but. Swap modes on the Polestar 3, and the air suspension stops prioritizing ironing out the street’s imperfections and stiffens as much as maintain the chassis flat by way of enthusiastic cornering. The throttle response additionally tightens up, and you’ll take full benefit of the massive energy obtainable.

For backroad hooliganism, the Polestar 3 does not have fairly the engagement of a full red-blooded fuel efficiency crossover or SUV as, whereas properly hidden, the burden is there and the driving force aids are doing a variety of work for the driving force. Nonetheless, it is not soulless and is a variety of enjoyable to poke round. We’re trying ahead to get it onto extra twisting roads for a correct take a look at drive evaluate.

Switching to the non-performance pack Polestar 3 was not a disappointment. On lengthy, sweeping nation roads, it felt like the identical automotive with much less energy on faucet. It’s miles from too little energy, although – it is swift and there is lots for protected overtaking and freeway cruising. Heading again, we soaked within the luxurious aspect of the Polestar 3 with its airy-feeling cabin and large glass roof; the great Bowers & Wilkins sound system helped by how the cabin suppresses exterior noise; the straightforward but snug seats; and the beautiful journey high quality in Regular mode.

Conclusion: Time To Convey Up Tesla

Scandinavian design isn’t any stranger to minimalism. Volvo has been utilizing a portrait-style display for ages, and automakers have been making an attempt to slide eliminating switches previous us for years. So, there is not any cause to counsel Polestar is copying Tesla’s homework. Nonetheless, that every one makes the Polestar 3 ripe for comparability with a Tesla. The Mannequin X compares higher when it comes to measurement and pricing ($79,990), but it surely’s far more highly effective at 670 hp. The Mannequin Y is considerably cheaper, even in Efficiency guise, the place it makes 455 hp (not fairly as a lot because the Polestar), and prices simply $51,490. The Polestar 3 begins at $73,400, excluding vacation spot, and including the Efficiency Packs takes the worth to $79,400.

Besides, the Polestar 3 is well-built, stuffed with implausible supplies (besides that piano black plastic), offers distinctive journey high quality, high-end and user-friendly tech that does not make guarantees it could possibly’t maintain, and may sort out a nook with enthusiasm. It is also obtainable in quite a lot of fascinating colours, and you will not be behind or in entrance of 1 at each visitors gentle. It is the winner in both comparability by some margin.

Step away from that comparability, and the Polestar 3 does a implausible job of cementing the model as an EV innovator within the premium house. We’re not satisfied by placing the overwhelming majority of switches into the infotainment display, however we will maintain the jury out till we full a full take a look at drive evaluate.

On the worth, our preliminary impression is that there is worth for the primary mannequin 12 months with the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack being added as commonplace. It bumps the Polestar 3 from the premium to luxurious band, and rounds out a tech-lover’s dream automotive.