Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack review: Sporty electric SUV that's big in performance and price, Lifestyle News

AsiaOne

2 days ago

Polestar is a brand that likes to do things a bit differently it seems. It first debuted in Singapore in late 2021 with the Polestar 2, a Tesla Model 3 rival but with a raised ride height that made it look like a strange mixed breed between sedan and SUV.
It then took over two years before it released its next new model. That was the Polestar 4, a sleek crossover that came with no rear windscreen. It's supposedly meant to be a sporty coupe-SUV, but its bold design choice seemingly defies definition.
Thankfully, we didn't have to wait that long for its next product to come along, which is the Polestar 3 tested here. On the surface, it looks like a somewhat more 'normal' car compared to its fellow brand siblings. But is it really? What is the Polestar 3?
The number suggests a car that fits in between the Polestar 2 and 4, but in reality, the Polestar 3 doesn't differ too much from the 4, at least in terms of size.
The Polestar 3 is actually longer than the 4, but the difference is only about 60mm or so. It is also taller by about 70mm, but that's mainly down to the more traditional SUV roof design over the 4's sleek sloping roofline.
Thus, if the Polestar 4 is meant to be a sporty coupe-SUV, then the Polestar 3 could be seen as its more practical SUV counterpart.
That said, there are still some interesting design details on the Polestar 3, like the aerodynamic 'holes' hidden in the bonnet, and the rear roof spoiler that hint at the car's underlying sportiness.
Certainly, while the Polestar 3 is positioned as a more sensible offering when compared to its Polestar 4 sibling, it is definitely no fuddy-duddy family car, as the driving experience reveals. How does the Polestar 3 drive then?
The version tested here is the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack. It is quite a mouthful, but what you need to know that it is the top spec model with a whopping 510hp and 910Nm of torque.
Those are supercar slaying numbers, and it allows the car to blitz from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds, and hit a top speed of 210km/h.
Trying to do that in a two-tonne electric SUV feels a bit surreal, to say the least, but the Polestar does try to smoothen things out through its power delivery.
Sure, there's that initial burst of inertia when you accelerate hard, but once it gets up to speed the Polestar 3 settles down into a comfortable and soothing cruiser that eats up miles effortlessly without too much drama.
And while the Polestar 3's size and weight is hard to ignore, Polestar has tried their hardest to imbue some sportiness into the drive. The steering is accurate and well-modulated, while the premium Brembo brakes offer tremendous stopping power - vital for a car this large and powerful.
As a result, it doesn't feel that cumbersome to drive, and the suspension is set on the firmer side to compensate for the heft. It does mean that the ride can be slightly bumpy over rougher roads, but it's not too harsh to the point of being uncomfortable.
For the record, you can also get the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor without the Performance Pack, which drops the output down to 483hp and 840Nm of torque. There is also the Long Range Single Motor version with 295hp and 490Nm of torque for those who don't need their Polestar 3 to outrun sports cars.
All three come with a 111kWh battery pack, but the varying performance outputs means that range differs across the board. The least powerful Single Motor variant has the most range at 706km, and it tapers down accordingly, with the Dual Motor offering 632km of range, and the Performance Pack rated at 560km. What is the Polestar 3 like inside?
The interior of the Polestar 3 follows the minimalist style of its fellow siblings, with a giant portrait-style screen dominating the centre of the dashboard, and a lack of physical buttons, save for a circular volume control knob down on the centre console.
Almost every other feature is accessible via the large 14.5-inch touchscreen only. While this seems to be the way to go for many new EVs these days, the Polestar does try to redeem itself by incorporating capacitive shortcut buttons on the steering wheel for quick access to adjust certain things like the mirrors.
At the back, the Polestar 3 offers plenty of space, thanks to its lengthy 2,985mm wheelbase. Rear passengers get generous legroom and headroom, even though the car is not that particularly tall at 1,614mm.
The small windows do make the ambience a little bit claustrophobic though, albeit somewhat better than the rear windscreen-less Polestar 4. You can mitigate that anyway by opening the full-length panoramic sunroof and letting all the light in.
Boot space is pretty decent too, with 484 litres available, expandable to a voluminous 1,411 litres if you fold the rear seats down. As an additional bonus, the Polestar 3 also comes with a handy 32-litre frunk, perfect for keeping small items like cables or a first aid kit. Is the Polestar 3 worth buying then?
That depends, because it certainly is not cheap. In this top-spec Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack form, the Polestar 3 costs a staggering $532,000 with COE (as of June 2025), which is a hell of a lot of money to pay for a car from a fledgling brand like Polestar.
Of course, you could opt for the lesser-powered versions, with the non-Performance Pack Dual Motor going for $478,000 with COE, and the Single Motor variant retailing at $425,000 with COE. That makes it slightly more palatable perhaps, but it's still a sizeable price to ask.
It's clear though that Polestar is aiming high with this car, and the Polestar 3's pricing puts it firmly within sight of cars like the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron. Those cars sit at the top of their hierarchy of their respective brand's EV lineup, and the Polestar 3 will certainly have a tough task trying to convince customers to jump to its side.
That said, the Polestar ethos is meant to appeal to those who want to stand out from the masses anyway, and if that is something that speaks to you, then the Polestar 3 is definitely a large and fast electric SUV that's worth checking out.
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