2025 Polestar 3 First Test Review: Performance and Luxury in an Electric SUV

The 2025 Polestar 3 has arrived as the company’s first SUV, bringing impressive performance credentials to the electric vehicle market. This dual-motor SUV delivers 489 horsepower and boasts an EPA-rated range of 315 miles, making it a serious contender in the luxury electric SUV segment. With acceleration to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, it matches the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe and outpaces the Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV by 0.3 seconds.

Polestar began as Volvo’s performance division but has evolved into a standalone brand with ambitious goals. The Polestar 3 represents a critical step in the company’s growth, built on a new EV platform shared with the Volvo EX90. Its combination of minimalist interior design, dynamic driving characteristics, and competitive range positions it against established luxury SUVs from both traditional and electric manufacturers. The question remains whether this newcomer can truly deliver on its promise to drive as well as its prestigious competitors.

Raw Speed Performance

The Polestar 3 delivers impressive acceleration without any complicated activation process. Just tap the Performance button on the screen, hold the brake, push the accelerator down, release the brake, and you’re off. The acceleration builds smoothly at first, then delivers a strong, steady push for about 3 seconds before slightly tapering off.

What’s notable is the natural sound experience – no fake engine noises, just the actual sound of the electric motor working. The Polestar 3 reaches 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, outpacing several similarly sized rivals:

• BMW iX xDrive50: 4.0 seconds
• Mercedes-Benz EQE500 4Matic: 4.3 seconds
• Audi Q8 E-Tron: 5.2 seconds

Only the smaller Tesla Model Y Performance Dual Motor is quicker at 3.5 seconds.

When comparing to Porsche models, the picture gets interesting. For the same price as a Polestar 3 Launch Edition with Performance Package, you could buy a base V6 Cayenne (5.1 seconds to 60 mph) or an E-Hybrid version (4.3 seconds) starting at $99,195. To match the Polestar’s 3.8-second sprint in a Cayenne, you’d need the GTS model with its V8 engine, which costs over $126,000.

The Macan EV comparison also favors Polestar on value. The similarly priced Macan 4S model likely runs around 5.1 seconds to 60 mph due to its weight-to-power ratio. To beat the Polestar 3’s acceleration, you’d need the Macan “Turbo” model starting at $107,295.

Braking performance is equally strong. The Polestar 3 stops from 60 mph in just 103 feet, with remarkable consistency across multiple stops (varying by only 5 feet). Even more impressive, the 60-to-0 portion of a 100-mph stop was even shorter.

The “Swedish Gold” Brembo brakes handle heat excellently, with no fade issues. The brake pedal has short travel and offers precise control. During hard stops, you can hear the brakes working naturally – a refreshing change from synthetic sounds found in some EVs.

From 100 mph to a complete stop, the Polestar 3 needs just 289 feet – outperforming both V6 Cayenne models by 3 feet. Only the Porsche Turbo GT coupe (273 feet) can beat it. The Tesla and other German competitors need between 296 and 334 feet to accomplish the same stop.

Handling the Curves

The 2025 Polestar 3 shows impressive skill on winding roads. While many electric vehicles excel in straight-line speed, making a heavy EV handle well around corners is much harder. Polestar has succeeded without using complex active anti-roll systems that add weight and drain battery power.

The secret to the Polestar 3’s agility is its clever torque-vectoring rear axle. Unlike most AWD electric cars that simply disconnect one motor for efficiency, the Polestar 3 uses special clutches on each rear axle shaft. This system can fully engage the outside wheel while partially engaging the inside wheel during turns, helping the car rotate more naturally.

This technology lets the wider rear tires (295/35) work together with the narrower front tires (265/40) to reduce understeer. The driver feels more control and confidence through corners as a result.

In testing, the Polestar 3 achieved 0.95 g on the skidpad. This puts it ahead of competitors like:

Vehicle	Skidpad Grip
BMW iX	0.83 g
Mercedes EQE 500	0.87 g
Audi Q8	0.92 g
Tesla Model X	0.91 g

Only the much lighter Porsche Cayenne (812 pounds less) scored better at 1.02 g.

The Polestar 3’s suspension deserves credit too. It controls body movements exceptionally well, preventing excessive pitch, dive, and roll during transitions. The steering feels light and responsive despite the vehicle’s 5,700-pound weight.

Drivers can customize the steering feel (light, standard, firm) and suspension response (standard, nimble, firm) through the car’s settings menu. Most will find the differences subtle, but no setting feels wrong or uncomfortable.

The Sport ESC mode allows for some drift while maintaining safety. This balanced approach to performance gives drivers confidence to push the car harder without feeling like electronic systems are constantly intervening.

On real-world backroads with hills and curves, the Polestar 3 maintains its composed character. The body stays flat and controlled without the harshness that often comes with stiff springs and anti-roll bars. This creates a luxurious yet sporty driving experience.

How Is It To Drive Daily?

The Polestar 3 shows its Volvo family ties through some overly cautious safety features. For example, the cruise control might slow down for mild highway curves, and the lane departure system can be quite vocal with warnings even when you’re deliberately changing lanes to pass slower vehicles.

The highway assist technology has some frustrating quirks. It sometimes turns off without clear reasons and won’t restart until you turn the car off and on again. Lane-change assistance rarely works as advertised, and the adaptive cruise control keeps a fixed – and rather large – following distance that drivers can’t adjust. The cruise control interface is also confusing, with the same lever movement used for both setting and canceling.

Despite these annoyances, the Polestar 3 offers many luxury features that enhance daily driving:

• Comfort features: Five different seat massage options with three intensity levels
• Audio experience: High-quality Bowers & Wilkins Dolby Atmos sound system
• Driving customization: Adjustable one-pedal driving modes to suit your preference

The rear seating area is comfortable though positioned somewhat high relative to the floor. The cargo area is practical with a foldable floor partition that includes three bag hooks. A convenient button allows you to raise or lower the rear suspension for easier loading.

The digital interface is thoughtfully designed with:

• Logical screen organization
• User-friendly menus
• Customizable information displays
• Head-up display visible even through polarized sunglasses
• Quick indicators showing what the unmarked steering wheel buttons control

The exterior design is attractive and well-proportioned. While marketed as an SUV, the Polestar 3’s height is reasonable enough that average-height owners can wash the entire roof without needing a ladder or special tools.

Is This EV Up to Par?

The 2025 Polestar 3 carries a large 107 kWh usable battery capacity, which exceeds what you’ll find in comparable models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and the Macan EV. However, this battery advantage doesn’t translate to superior efficiency.

The Polestar 3’s EPA mpg-e ratings and real-world range fall behind its competitors. The high-performance tires likely contribute to this efficiency shortfall. Another limitation is its 400-volt architecture, which caps charging speeds at 250 kW on paper. In actual testing, charging peaked at only 192 kW.

During charging sessions, the Polestar 3 adds fewer miles per minute than similar luxury electric SUVs. The upcoming 800-volt Macan will likely outperform the Polestar in both charging speed and driving range.

Bottom Line

Our time with the 2025 Polestar 3 Launch Edition left us impressed. This electric vehicle holds its own against luxury competitors.

If parked between two Porsche models like the Cayenne and Macan EV, the Polestar 3 would likely get equal driving time. It serves as an electric successor to the Volvo V70R, combining performance and utility in a compelling package.