• The 2024 Polestar 3 is the third model from the Swedish electric performance brand, and it offers up to 671 pound-feet of torque.
  • With a 107.0-kWh battery, Polestar is targeting a range of 300 miles on the EPA test cycle, or 270 miles with the Performance pack.
  • The 2024 Polestar 3 will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2023 with a starting price of $85,300, with the Pilot package and the Plus package included for the first model year.

 

Polestar finally joins the lucrative SUV party with the 2024 Polestar 3, revealed today at an event in Copenhagen. Volvo’s electric performance spinoff initially launched with the 1, a stunning plug-in-hybrid coupe, followed by the 2, a raised liftback that competes with Tesla’s popular Model 3. Now the Polestar 3 takes the Swedish automaker into higher-riding territory and packs a hearty punch thanks to a dual-motor setup pushing out up to 517 horsepower and 671 pound-feet of torque.

Powertrain and Performance

Those impressive figures require the Performance package, but even the standard dual-motor 3 has a stout 489 hp and 620 pound-feet. Polestar claims that is enough oomph to shoot the crossover to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with the Performance pack slicing another 0.3 seconds off that time. Top speed is a claimed 130 mph. The dual-motor setup means standard all-wheel-drive, and Polestar says the system has a rear bias. Dual-clutch torque vectoring for the rear motor should also liven up the handling.

2024 polestar 3

The two permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors are hooked up to a lithium-ion battery pack with a 107.0-kWh usable capacity. The battery is built by CATL, a Chinese firm that also supplies batteries to companies including Tesla, BMW, and Ford. Polestar is targeting an EPA range of 300 miles, with the Performance pack dropping that estimate to 270 miles. Adjustable one-pedal driving is enabled by regenerative braking, and the 3 can also disconnect the rear motor to save battery power.

When the temperature drops, a standard mechanical heat pump will precondition the battery before setting off to help maintain range. Polestar claims the 400-volt system can recharge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes on a DC fast charger at up to 250 kW. The 3 is also set up for bidirectional charging, where the vehicle can return power to the grid.

Size and Design

Polestar had already shown most of the 3’s sleek design, but now we know that the slippery, minimalist bodywork results in a solid 0.29 coefficient of drag. While it’s slightly shorter than a Porsche Cayenne at 193 inches, the 117.5-inch wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than that of the Cayenne. Polestar says the 3 crossover will weigh between 5696 and 5886 pounds depending on the specification, and the 3 will also be capable of towing 3500 pounds, although doing so will likely eat significantly into range.

2024 polestar 3

The Polestar 3 will ride on 21-inch wheels. Its suspension setup incorporates unequal-length control arms up front, air springs, and adaptive dampers. Braking power comes via four-piston Brembos up front and single-piston calipers in the rear. Every 3 is also outfitted with a panoramic glass roof, LED lightning inside and out, and retractable door handles.

Features and Options

For the first model year, Polestar’s crossover comes with the Plus pack and Pilot pack as standard. The former adds a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, soft-close doors, a heated steering wheel, and an electrically adjustable steering column. It also includes heated rear seats, heated wipers, and an interior upholstered in either wool or a suede-like textile derived from recycled polyester. A Nappa leather interior will also be available.

The Pilot pack brings a heads-up display, parking assist, and Polestar’s Pilot Assist system that helps control acceleration, braking, steering up to 80 mph. Starting in the second quarter of 2023, another Pilot package will bring lidar, with three extra cameras and four ultrasonic sensors that can create a 3D scan of the car’s surroundings, which Polestar says will “prepare the car for autonomous driving.”

Along with boosting the power output, the Performance pack includes 22-inch black wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires, a retuned chassis, and gold accents inside and out. The standard 3 wears Michelin Pilot Sport 4 EV rubber.

2024 polestar 3

A 14.5-inch infotainment screen dominates the pared-back but classy cabin and runs an Android Automotive operating system, related to the setup seen on the Polestar 2. Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play Store apps are built in. The interior also features radar sensors that can pick up sub-millimeter movements, designed to help you avoid absent-mindedly leaving kids or pets behind, and Polestar says the system also connects to the climate control to help prevent heat stroke or hypothermia.

An eye-tracker will warn drivers who are distracted or drowsy before activating an emergency stop procedure if repeatedly ignored.

Deliveries of the Polestar 3 will commence in the fourth quarter of next year, with production initially coming from a plant in Chengdu, China. Starting in the middle of 2024, Polestar 3s meant for the North American market will originate in Volvo’s Ridgeville, South Carolina factory. The 2024 Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor will start at $85,300, with the Pilot pack and Plus pack included and the Performance pack running an extra $6000.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 HD

2024 Polestar 3 Starting at $85,300

2024 polestar 3

Overview

With a handsome design and the requisite high-riding seating position, the 2024 Polestar 3 joins the flood of electrified SUVs pouring into the market. Volvo’s spinoff-EV brand has produced only cars to date—though the Polestar 2 could be seen as either a tall car or a low-riding SUV. There will be no such confusion concerning the 3, which will go on sale sometime in 2023. We’ll admit to being smitten with its streamlined roofline, prominent fenders, and dramatic wheel arches.

The SUV’s cabin looks rich too, with a clean design and high-end materials. Power is more than ample in the base model, which is propelled by a 489-hp, dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain. For speed freaks, the optional Performance trim boosts it to 517 horsepower and adds unique 22-inch wheels, summer tires, and a tweaked suspension system.

The driving range is a decent 300 miles per charge for the standard model and 270 miles for the Performance, and both models can be charged quickly via a DC fast charging connection. It’s also equipped with an array of active safety features, and Polestar has future enhancements planned that include Volvo’s lidar technology, which will supposedly enable full self-driving sometime in the future. The company is also planning a second SUV called Polestar 4, which we expect will be a fastback-bodied version of the 3.

What’s New for 2024?

The Polestar 3 is the third entry in Polestar’s slowly expanding lineup and the brand’s first SUV model. The 3 will also be the first Polestar built in America, joining the S60 sedan and next-gen XC90 SUV at Volvo’s new plant in South Carolina.

 

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Dual Motor
$85,300
Dual Motor Performance
$91,300

Although the tuned-up Performance model sounds enticing, we’d stick with the standard Dual Motor model, which at 489 horsepower isn’t likely to be a slouch. Its range is longer than the Performance model’s and it also comes standard with a generous list of standard features for its first year on the market, including the contents of the Pilot and Plus packages.

That means tech features such as adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and a head-up display are on every model and high-end luxury touches such as a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo and soft-closing doors are too. If the Polestar 3’s pricing seems steep, consider that rivals such as the Jaguar I-Pace and BMW iX are similarly costly.

 

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

A dual-motor powertrain is standard on the Polestar 3, but it’s offered in two strengths. The base setup makes 489 horsepower but the Performance trim gets bumped to 517 ponies. Polestar has said that the powertrain is rear-biased even though all-wheel drive is standard. With the more robust electric motors on board, Polestar says the 3 will sprint to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

Every 3 will come with an adaptive suspension system with active dampers, but the Performance package includes a sport-tuned version of the suspension. When we get a chance, we’ll take the new Polestar 3 for a test drive and update this story with driving impressions.

2024 polestar 3

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

All models come with the same 107-kWh battery pack that can charge at up to 250 kW on a DC fast charging connection. Polestar says that is enough to get the battery charged from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes. Once charged up to full, the standard model is said to deliver about 300 miles of driving before needing to be re-juiced; the more powerful Performance model’s estimated range is slightly lower at 270 miles per charge.

 

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The EPA hasn’t released fuel efficiency estimates for the Polestar 3 yet, but we expect it to be slightly less efficient than the Polestar 2 sedan. When we get a chance, we’ll take the Polestar 3 on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and update this story with its test results. For more information about the Polestar 3’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Polestar has decked out its first SUV model with plenty of convenience and luxury features. All models come with a panoramic sunroof that bears an illuminated Polestar logo. A power rear liftgate is standard too, as are power front seats with heat, a three-zone automatic climate control system, and an onboard air purifier. The interior design is clean and modern, and it features high-end materials that Polestar says are also eco-friendly and sustainable.

At launch, all models will come with the Plus package, which includes niceties such as a power-adjustable steering wheel with heat and soft-close doors.

2024 polestar 3

Infotainment and Connectivity

A large 14.5-inch infotainment display is standard and runs Polestar’s latest Google-based infotainment interface. A secondary 9.0-inch display serves as the Polestar 3’s gauge cluster. We expect to see Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, but we know that all models will come with in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and four USB-C charging ports.

The first run of Polestar 3s will also come standard with a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo system that’s part of the Plus package which is expected to become optional after the SUV’s first model year.

 

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

A host of driver-assistance features are standard on every Polestar 3 model, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlamps, and a driver-monitoring system. Later on, a LiDAR system will become an option which Polestar says will open up capability for even more advanced semi-autonomous systems.

For more information about the Polestar 3’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

  • Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
  • Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
  • Standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature

 

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Polestar’s limited warranty sticks to the industry standard, on par with that of Tesla. The company also provides competitive coverage for the 3’s electrical components. Surprisingly, Polestar doesn’t offer the same three-year complimentary maintenance program as Volvo, its parent company.

  • Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
  • Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
  • No complimentary scheduled maintenance