Our Luxe columnist Bob Arrora shares his review of Polestar 3, where electric power meets sleek design and pure driving thrill
I’ve been watching a programme called Run Away and I’ve really enjoyed it. Aside from the brilliant storyline and strong acting, the car, driven by James Nesbitt, was the real star of the show for me. The car in question was the Polestar 4. It looks incredibly futuristic and, after watching the programme, I was itching to drive one myself.
So when I was asked to test drive a Polestar, I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel. The model I was given was the Polestar 3, and the first thing that struck me was its sheer size. It’s a premium family SUV that absolutely oozes quality. The design reminds me of the kind of concept cars manufacturers showcase at motor shows.
From the sleek styling and sloping roofline to the massive alloy wheels, it looks stunning. The Polestar 3 has real presence. I found myself glancing back at it every time I parked, simply because it’s such a good-looking car.
It’s hard to believe it’s closely related to the Volvo XC90 because, visually, the two are worlds apart. Its main competitors are a strong trio of Germans: the BMW iX, Audi Q8 e-tron and Mercedes EQE. In my opinion, the Polestar beats them all with its distinctive and sporty appearance.
The entry-level Polestar 3 comes with a single motor and rear-wheel drive. It produces 295 brake horsepower and, despite the car’s weight, still manages 0 60mph in 7.5 seconds. For those wanting more performance, the dual motor version delivers 483 brake horsepower. With four-wheel drive, this model reaches 60mph in just 4.8 seconds.
Impressive range meets Scandinavian sophistication
Depending on the model you choose, you can expect a range of between 350 and 438 miles. Anyone who has driven an electric car before will know that switching on the air conditioning usually eats into those all-important miles. That wasn’t the case here, which came as a pleasant surprise.
My few days with the car were a good mix of town and motorway driving, and despite having the heating on constantly due to the horrid weather, the battery range didn’t suffer – unlike some other electric cars I’ve driven.
The Polestar 3 really oozes sophistication. The materials and switchgear all scream quality, with highlights including air suspension, a head-up display, Bowers & Wilkins speakers, electric seats and a panoramic sunroof. It’s a very nice place to eat up the miles. The sound quality from the speakers is exceptional – I’d even say it rivals what you get in a cinema.
A large 14.5-inch infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, while in front of the driver there’s a crisp 9-inch display showing everything you need, including battery status, power usage, speed and a map in the background.
There’s just one physical button on the centre console – a dial that pauses the radio and also controls the volume. The lack of buttons helps give the interior a clean, uncluttered feel.
Review of Polestar 3: comfort, control and safety
On the move, the air suspension soaks up potholes with ease, and speed bumps don’t bother the ride quality at all. On country roads, the torque vectoring system sends power to whichever wheels need it most. Overall, it’s a very comfortable place to be, especially on long journeys, thanks to both the suspension and the extremely supportive seats.
Being part of the Volvo family, you’d expect the safety credentials to be excellent – and they are. Features include automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, post-impact braking, blind spot warning and lane-keeping assistance. The Polestar 3 has been awarded a five-star NCAP rating and is the first car ever to achieve a 93% child occupant protection score – the highest rating ever given.
Prices range from £69,000 to £91,000, so it’s not the cheapest car on the market. However, if you’re looking for something a little different and still relatively rare on the roads, I’d definitely recommend heading to the Polestar garage at Silverlink and taking one for a test drive.
It’s certainly one of the nicest electric cars I’ve driven.
Car supplied by Stoneacre Polestar Silverlink.
