2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance EV - Bottom Line Review

AXIALLY ALIGNED BRIGHT STAR : Not long ago Scandinavians perceived petrol Vagns (Volvo) and Combis (Saab) as the mechanized successors to grass fed reindeer drawn sleds for excursions to the north polar region.

This year an all-electric brand, split from the mild hybrid Vagns maker, can navigate families past Fjords, into the vast arctic Tundra, towards the Northern Lights and many other paths, by way of the Polaris bright star affixed to an all new 2025 Polestar 3 Performance crossover utility EV.

WHAT: 2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance EV is an all-battery electric 2-Row crossover SUV, joining the Polestar 2 compact sportback. It shares underpinnings with Swedish sibling Volvo's EX90 Scalable Product Architecture 2.0, co-developed with parent, Geely Motors.

Electric Propulsion: 360V synchronous AC traction & reverse polarity regenerative charging motor(s) + 1 x Motor Gear Drive Unit single (1) speed gear reduction drive x 2 E-Motors

• Dual Motor, Performance: 517 horsepower (150 kW) @ 4919 - 11,100 rpm / 671 lb-ft @ 0-4350 rpm
  • E-Motor 1, Rear: 268 hp (200 kW) @ 4350 - 13,900 rpm / 243 lb-ft @ 0-4350 rpm
  • E-Motor 2, Rear: 268 hp (200 kW) @ 4350 - 13,900 rpm / 243 lb-ft @ 0-4350 rpm

Electric Supply:

• Battery: blockchain traced Nickel Manganese Cobalt*, 111 kWh nominal, 400V, 296 amp hr, Volvo in-house manufactured, heat pump
• On-Board Charging Ports
  • 10.9 kW SAE J17772 (AC, Levels 1, 2)
  • 250 kW CCS Combo 2 (DC, Level 3)

Charging Duration (rated): Level 3: 250 kW ^{(PEAK SPEED)} 480V 125A DC 225 amp = 20 minutes, 0-80%

WHAT (A) STYLING (DIFFERENCE):  The new Polestar Three Dual Motor Performance five-door crossover SAV departs farther from the Volvo inspired styling of the Polestar 2.

A sharp raked hood, with creased center valley, is the first from the Polestar brand to boast a Dodge Charger EV styled front wind fairing, resulting in tall fender lines. The middle fascia runs a lateral contrasting gloss black valley widening to a bow tie fold at the ends.

Utility Cues: √ Graphite cladding along entire bottom perimeter, rising at lower body mid-section; √ enormous wheel arches; √ Lower air-dam rising in the center, fitting an egg-crate inlet; √ Higher ground clearance

Sporty Look: √ Radically sloped windshield and tall beltline form slim greenhouse; √ Smooth barrel fuselage; √ Gloss darkened B & C pillars, interior A pillar, roof slope accent; √ Dramatic rising wide D-pillar for fastback floating roof effect; √ Rear quarter panel fang fairings

√ Extra overhang body color upper and gloss black lower roof spoiler shades slim Kammback liftgate; √ Cladded lower bumper cover, with center license plate bowl and corner lateral reflectors.

Illuminating: √ More prominent inboard lateral boomerang front lights; √ Retains trademark Volvo amber horizontal directionals horizontal and vertical white DRLs "Thor's Hammer; " √ Full width upper LED bar, descending into an inboard run, sandwiching amber directionals on either side.

• Polestar Badging - exterior:
  • Cross-split four-point star hood, liftgate
  • Front upper nose white tag
  • lower front door Power rating

WHY:   First crossover SUV from all-electric Swedish brand, is a tour de force of esoteric Scandinavian design with Polar performance instinct.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Autumn 2024

WHERE: Polestar.com/us, Polestar Spaces

WHERE MADE: Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A. (20% U.S., Canada sourced components excluding critical minerals, battery components)

WHERE TO: available (in U.S.) dual electric motor drive unit constant 40/60% front / rear torque; Selectable "Crawl" Off-Road mode aided by ABS descent control; 8" clearance = Inclement weather beater & light off-roader

HOW ROADWORTHY: Decals at the lower front doors, consistent with the brand, proclaim the power and battery rating. Five hundred horses and 600 pound-feet of twist, modulated between front and rear axles, bury the sheer mass of the thing. Whether off the line or out of the slot, the 2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance can throw itself against the wind the way only high-r.p.m. ICE supercars previously could.

The silent Volvo motors make the rush of speed deceptively placid. The throttle is responsive, though with meaty resistance. Single pedal driving in the P3 Performance is civilized and a cinch to modulate. Since there are neither steering wheel paddles nor center console lever, doing the EV one-step in the Polestar 3 is a matter of tapping an icon at the bottom of the media screen. Delving into the Settings-Drive sub-screen on the Android Automotive R display accesses Performance mode and the kill for stability control.

The Performance App renders a large G force graph. Launch control and a street acceleration timer, however, go full nanny, requiring the "Google User" to disclose their location prior to initializing.

Menus which are sensibly grouped, and touch icons large and colored orange when selected, reflect a thinking out of Göthenburg granting operators choices but suggesting defaults. As the enthusiast's choice for battle, Polestar overrides Volvo's self-imposed top speed limiter of 112 miles per hour.

+/- New steering column right stalk drive position selector replaces center console toggle lever from Polestar 2.

-1 Digital key card must be placed on inductive wireless charging shelf to engage drive. (Driver seat weight, depressed brake pedal and shift lever engaged start.)

-1 No variable synthesized cabin EV sounds, except for "sonar" beep crawl & backing sound

Polestar's first 2-row mid-size SAV has stiff bones and taut muscles still capable of flexing with grand touring civility. The Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance air springs read the road for telepathic smoothing of the irregularities, then stiffening in corners, while the variable rate dampers cleverly respond with the appropriate speed. It takes a lot to upset the smooth ride, and even then it's barely noticeable. While the rear biased torque split is fixed, torque vectoring inhibits serious understeer. G-forces shooting up or down from abrupt one-pedal throttling, belie squat and dive resistance.

Meaty Pirelli treads respond to the hefty P3 Performance chassis stability with sharp consistency to helm inputs. Mid-corner one pedal throttle lift-off Learning corresponding motion relative to accelerator release is second nature in the P3 Performance. As rare as it may be on the street, snapping the gold Brembo monoblocs to is guaranteed to garner fares' attention.

HOW FAR: 88 mpg-E combined miles per gallon; 2.6 miles / kWh; 280 nominal / 310 miles range, (cabin climate off) @  95% state of charge.

• Charge Event(s)
  • Tesla V3 Superchargers, Metro Chicago, IL
  • NACS to CCS adapter, 250 kW rating, 580 VDC @ 420 amps
  • 44% initial state of charge, 18^o deg. Celsius, $0.56 USD per kWh ($0.28 off-peak)
  • 45 kWh added in 25 minutes, 84% end state of charge, 180 kW peak speed*

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: Where the Polestar 2 sportback is compact cozy for four acceptable seating spaces, the Polestar 3 mid size SUV footprint is commodious for five. While front perches remain narrow, the second row stands out with a fully flat floor, notable knee room and reclining seat backs.

√ 5 Occupant 2+3 seating; -1 tight 2nd Row legroom trails competition; Rakish roof slope clips Row 2 entering heads

- For Comparison's Sake:

• 117.5"-inch Wheelbase: 3.7" > Audi SQ6 e-tron, " 4.5" < Cadillac Lyriq EV
• Nominal cargo capacity: 30% < Audi SQ6 e-tron, 25% < Cadillac Lyriq EV
• 2nd Row legroom: 1.8" > Audi SQ6 e-tron, 0.4" < Cadillac Lyriq EV
• Tow Rating, 3500 lbs.: 900 lbs. < Audi SQ6 e-tron, = Cadillac Lyriq EV

HOW USEFUL: Cargo Bay: √ Variable height power liftgate; √ cockpit power released 2nd Row 60/40% split folding seat backs; √ 2nd Row center pass through; √ Heavy duty chrome steel floor anchors; √ Mid height cargo bay wall carpeting; √ Deep 3.2 cubic feet sub-floor bin; √ Power load height adjustment

Front Cargo Bin (Frunk): split partitioned, un-lined with a weighted folding cover

In Cabin: √ 1st Row floating center stack w/ floor mount shelf & expanding connected device pocket; √ Deep, long rubber-lined front door pockets; √ Carpeted glove box; √ Cup holders x 4, Bottle holders x 4;

-1 No overhead console sunglasses bin or shelf

HOW SAFE: √ 10 airbags; √ Pixel LED auto headlamps + DRLs; √ HD rear camera;

Advanced Driver Assistance (standard): √ City Safety traffic pedestrian & cyclist avoidance; √ Adaptive cruise control -full; √ Blind spot, rear cross traffic & lane departure warning & avoidance braking; √ Auto parking brake hold; √ Auto high beam headlamps; √ Run off road protection & mitigation; √ sonar front & rear Park Distance Control; √ Power 2nd Row door child locks

• -1 Thick rear pillars and small backlight make optional surround view cameras nearly imperative, No overhead console sunglasses bin or shelf.

Available (included on tested car) - Pilot Pack:

• adds ♦ Pilot Assist (full adaptive cruise control & lane keep assist); ♦ Lane Change Assist; ♦ 360° cameras with 3D view; ♦ Road Sign display; ♦ high pressure headlamp washer

Available (included on tested vehicle): ♦ Pilot Pack & LiDAR from Luminar

• ♦ Laser scanned 3D understanding of surroundings; ♦ 1 x long-range 8 MP camera - SmartZone; ♦ 2 x rear-view 8 MP cameras - door mirror arms; ♦ Automatic camera lens cleaning; ♦ Heated windshield wiper blades
• NVIDIA DRIVE Orin™ core computer, 254 trillion operations / second capability

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: The NEW exclusive EV Swedish brand doesn't shuns showy pebbled leather, natural woods, hammered, turned aluminum and crystal glass interiors. Instead, the 2025 Polestar 3 Performance boasts a more subdued premium Scandinavian cabin, often suggesting sustainability (as advertised on each upper seat back).

There are scuba wet suit leatherette panels and cloth door card uppers. Dust and scratch inviting gloss piano black touch pads & panels are included. However, there is aluminum mid dash framing and an dual color choice illuminated character line running the dash to doors circuit. Optional leather features embroidered perforations and stitching. Blue & yellow cross Swedish flag tags have been replaced by metal tags at certain seams. Genuine open pore dark ash mid-dash wood seems to be reclaimed. Fit is generally commendable.

In a bona-fide BEV brand move, and without a need to know engine speed or oil pressure, Polestar 3 instrumentation has evolved to a variable mode thin landscape panel between upper steering wheel spokes. Steering wheel spoke controls are un-marked, haptic response, raised flat panels. Actions are instead depicted in the cluster. A steering column mounted stalk replaces fully frees up the center console. Traditional center stack and center console buttons have been integrated into a larger portrait infotainment screen. Only a knurled rotary audio control knob remains atop the center console.

√ Supportive, 8-way power driver/ 4-way power front passenger seats, manual knee extenders, massage, 2-setting driver's memory ; √ Power windows w/ full express x 4, variable speed front; √ Heated wing mirrors; √ 3-Zone auto climate control & remote pre-conditioning w/ auto front seat + steering wheel heating; √ Power tilt, telescoping steering wheel; √ 2nd Row privacy glass; √ Heated 2nd Row seats and aft 1st Row center console touch climate control screen; √ Power retracting rear headrests; √ Door puddle lamps x 4; √ Panoramic tinted glass roof; √ Power soft close doors; √ Acoustic rear backlight glass

• -1 Shared driver's power window switch for front and rear windows, Wing mirrors don't automatically power fold upon locking; No panorama roof sunshade or broadcast Polestar symbol (as in Polestar 2)

Cool Gizmo(s): √ 9.0"-inch steering column mount landscape tablet "Progressive Digital Driver Display", MFD, w/ Calm or Navi (map) modes; √ Entire wing mirror housings electrically pivot & tilt per view angle adjustment; √ Power ejecting - retracting exterior door handles; √ Swedish gold-color seatbelts with "1959" buckle inscription - denoting first year three point safety belts were offered in a passenger car (by Volvo)

Details Done Right: √ (Optional) embroidered Bridge of Weir Nappa leather seating; √ Dark open pore repurposed genuine ash center mid dash inlays; √ Aluminum steering wheel, air vent flow knobs, door handle & knurled rotary media knob edging; √ Gloss black center console & steering wheel spoke control pads; √ Swedish flag cross emblem imprinted in metal cabin accent piping.

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Gloss piano black center console control and climate vent bezels

HOW CONNECTED: √ 14.5" portrait tablet, pane-swipe, touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Android Automotive R media interface; √ Rotary audio volume dial, selection, defroster & Home screen switches ; √ Voice recognition command hands-free communications w/ SMS, MMS, Email; √ 3-D HDD Google Maps navigation; √ Qi Inductive wireless charging tray; √ USB-C x 4, 12V x 2 (1 x cargo bay);

• +1 Fast screen response, outstanding resolution
• -1 UI crashes, darkening media display entirely, deactivating, rotary volume knob, and right side steering wheel spoke controls, requiring at least 4 soft resets. Thank goodness for the instrument cluster.
• -1 No Android Auto projection compels Android users to eventually pay for Google Automotive subscription.

Audibly: √ 25 speaker (including 1st Row headrests), 1610 watt Bowers & Wilkins, √ streaming audio, DAB+ HD radio

• Dolby Atmos™, compatible with supported media, active noise cancellation
• Boomy bass notes bias
• 10 speaker, 300 Watt standard streaming audio

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: √ Google Automotive Apps via Play Store; √ Apple CarPlay wireless projection

• +1 Many popular entertainment and even foreign news apps
• -1 Many free apps have advertisements

By Subscription: Polestar Connect, Digital Key, Digital Services Pkg. = Google Automotive Services: Maps, Assistant + Play Store, Remote Services: Climate pre-conditioning, vehicle lock + unlock, Wi-Fi (3 years trial e-SIM); √ SiriusXM satellite radio ( 90 days incl.)

HOW MUCH: $93,100 = as tested 2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor Pilot Plus Performance

• 8 years, 100,000 miles electric propulsion warranty (to 70% state of health) including maintenance.
• Vehicle Updates = lifetime at dealers or 3 years Over the Air (OTA)
• INELIGIBLE for any Clean Vehicle U.S. tax credit, but may be eligible for state tax rebate.
  • (Check here for current Clean Vehicle U.S. tax credit eligibility list and I.R.S. eligibility rules.)

WHAT'S MISSING:  V2L charging, Cargo bay 120 VAC power port, Android Auto projection; Panoramic glass roof shade; Some complimentary DC public charging.

ANY COMPETITION: Audi SQ6 e-tron: traditionalist instrumentation; Cadillac Lyriq V: track app, qualifies for Clean Vehicle Tax Rebate; Genesis Electrified GV70: Quilted seating