Polestar 3 review: A luxury electric SUV that delivers

Join us as we take a closer look at the Polestar 3, a luxury, fully-electric SUV that packs a punch.

Get ready to meet the Polestar 3, an electric luxury SUV that’s not just about sleek looks, but has a performance that could leave some petrolheads wondering why they haven’t made the switch yet.

Owned by Volvo and Geely Holding, you can see the minimalist Scandinavian inspiration throughout the design of the car – both interior and exterior.

Rivalling big names such as the BMW iX and Jaguar I-PACE, it’s got a lot to live up to.

What we drove:

• Model: Polestar 3 380kW 111kWh LR DM [Performance/Pilot] 5dr Auto
• Transmission: Dual motor
• Power: Electric
• Colour: Space
• Price: £81,500
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.5 sec
• Max Torque (2000-4000rpm): 840 Nm / 620 lbf-ft

*Prices correct at the time of publication

Starting from £69,900, the Polestar 3 is positioned as a premium choice in the electric SUV market.

But does it live up to the price tag? Let’s find out.

Sleek, smart & surprisingly spacious

The Polestar 3 is all about minimalism, inside and out. Its sleek roofline and futuristic vibes scream "iPad kid" with the sheer amount of tech onboard.

Like many modern cars, it’s ditched buttons—but Polestar takes it further by making the few that remain a bit of a puzzle.

There’s a mystery knob with a play/pause symbol and some multifunctional steering wheel buttons. No meaningful symbols here. Instead, you control what they do by choosing in the settings.

Legroom is a win, especially if you’re in the six-foot-and-over club—stretch out and enjoy.

Comfort is key in the back seats, but the middle seat is a squeeze. Polestar compensates with a fold-down table featuring cupholders, which is a real win for road trip snacks.

Rear passengers also get their own heating controls and two USB ports for charging, so no fighting over cables.

Sustainability is a big deal here—most materials are recycled, and Polestar is upfront about the car’s CO2 footprint. The 3’s under 25 tonnes CO2-equivalent, meaning on UK electricity, it repays its manufacturing debt in under two years.

Now, on to the exterior.

Polestar sneaks in some clever aerodynamic tricks to boost efficiency. That oddly shaped bonnet? It’s an S-duct, reducing drag for a smoother drive. Tiny wing mirrors help too—though they won’t save you from the great British rain.

And that panoramic sunroof? Ideal for a cheeky selfie. Though less so when it’s drizzling (which is most of the time).

Tech overload – Smarter than your average EV

The touchscreen infotainment system is Google-based—just type “food” into Maps, and nearby restaurants pop up instantly.

Handy, right? Well, mostly.

We had to use Maps to get to our photoshoot location and found it frustrating that the display didn’t realign to face the right direction.

Cue a wrong turn. But hey, at least it rerouted quickly.

As mentioned, buttons are scarce. The steering wheel has some, but with no clear labels.

We only figured out that they can adjust the wing mirrors, among other things, through the settings. Not exactly intuitive.

This lack of buttons also makes certain functions a hassle while driving.

Cruise control? Not obvious at all.

You have to select the cruise control type (SL, ASL, CC, ACC, or Pilot Assist) in the centre display before activating it with a steering wheel button. Not the most user-friendly setup, and definitely not one you can just wing.

And then there’s the indicator noise. Instead of a standard blink, Polestar opted for a popping sound.

Unique? Sure. But we kept thinking our ears were popping every time we turned.

The Polestar 3 is packed with cool tech—you just need to know how to use it. Which it's not completely intuitive, when you've driven around for a bit, you'll be able to get it all set up the way you like.

Take the key card, for example. Always losing it? Just add it to your phone’s wallet.

You can lock, unlock, and start the car with your phone, no hassle.

The main driver can even share digital keys, and the car remembers settings for up to six drivers.

Smooth, silent, and seriously quick – The driving experience

We jumped into the Polestar 3 at Carparison HQ, and after a couple of minutes of fumbling around trying to start the engine (pro tip: make sure the keycard is in its holder), we were off.

We took it slow at first, getting used to the lack of a brake pedal needed—thanks to regenerative braking.

It even charges the battery as it does, saving you money on top-ups.

Activate one-pedal drive, lift off the accelerator, and the car slows swiftly to a stop.

Magic? Almost.

Then we hit the A38 and let it rip. Not that we tested it, but you can easily see how it hits 0-60mph in under five seconds.

And that hill my combustion engine dreads? The Polestar 3 flew up it like it was nothing.

Polestar claims, “Yes, it's an SUV. And it drives like a sports car.” They’re not wrong. It doesn’t feel like any old SUV—it’s light, nimble, and packed with space.

The best of both worlds.

One thing to note: the wing mirrors have no edges—they’re just fully mirror. This means when the typical British weather hits, they take the full brunt of the rain.

Visibility suffers, and you’ll struggle to see through them.

While this model hasn’t had a Euro NCAP rating yet, the Polestar 2 boasts a 5-star rating. So, we’re guessing it’ll follow suit. But there’s no surprises here seeing as Volvo is known for its safety.

Charging, range, and efficiency – How far can it really go?

With a claimed range of a whopping 438 miles (WLTP Comb), the Polestar 3 puts range anxiety firmly in the past.

The regenerative braking only adds to this.

In the driver’s display, it shows how many miles you have left, but we found it wasn’t always spot-on.

After a 4-mile journey, it dropped by 10 miles.

Not a major issue, but something to keep in mind—estimated range in many cars isn't always 100% accurate.

As mentioned earlier, Polestar is refreshingly transparent about the materials they use and their carbon footprint. They even share the specific materials used in the seats, on the seats.

Family-friendly features – Practicality meets luxury

The Polestar 3 is an ideal family car. Remember how in older cars you’d have to manually turn the child lock on or off by putting the key in the door?

The Polestar 3 has made this a breeze—it’s all available in the settings on the infotainment system.

In older cars, raising or adjusting your seat usually involved a pump or lever. The Polestar 3? It’s as simple as turning a dial on the seat to adjust it up, down, forwards, or backwards.

There were a few things we couldn’t figure out. But hey, we’re marketers, not car experts like the rest of Carparison HQ.

Every time we needed the boot open during the photoshoot, we had to dive into the settings to open it. We later learned it can be done with the keycard, but we needed the engine running at the time, so that was a no go.

Speaking of the boot, it’s seriously spacious. With the seats up, you get 597L of storage. Fold them down, and that jumps to 1,411L, including the handy 90L underfloor compartment.

Not only this, it has pop-up shopping bag hooks which are surprisingly practical.

Frunk? Of course. There’s 32L of extra space up front—perfect for stashing charging cables, whether you keep them there or in the underfloor boot storage. Plenty of choice.

Typically, it rained on our shoot day, and we struggled to get the rear wipers working.

There’s a stick where you’d typically operate the wipers, but instead, you twist it, and the driver’s display shows whether it’s set to auto or another setting. However, we couldn’t figure out how to activate the rear wipers.

But the parking camera? A game changer with its 360-degree view—though it does make anyone standing next to the car look a little peculiar.

Final verdict

The Polestar 3 is a seriously stylish, high-tech SUV that’s a joy to drive. With its premium feel, spacious interior, and impressive 438-mile range, it’s perfect for anyone looking for luxury and performance in one sleek package.

It’s fun, fast, and eco-friendly—everything you want in a modern car.

While the minimalistic design is stunning, it does come with a few quirks.

The infotainment system takes a bit of getting used to, and the lack of physical buttons can be a little frustrating at times. Once you know what you’re doing, it’s a tech-filled beast. But the usability is lacking.

But overall, this car is a win for tech-savvy, eco-conscious families who want a standout electric vehicle that combines luxury, space, and fun driving.

The Polestar 3 is definitely worth the drive.