Summary
The Polestar 3 is a large electric crossover/SUV that became available to order in the UK in 2024, which its manufacturer says offers family-friendly SUV space and drives like a sports car.
Based on the same foundations as the new battery-powered Volvo EX90, UK reviewers have widely praised the Polestar 3 for its classy minimalist interior design and comfortable ride, but many outlets conclude that comparing the SUV to a sports car is not very accurate.
“Sure it’s powerful”, says Carbuyer’s Charlie Harvey, “but there’s not much feel in the driving experience.” Alastair Crooks of Auto Express agrees, arguing that the EV “falls short of Polestar’s sporty claims, as you might expect of a two-and-a-half-tonne family car.”
As a family car though, the British motoring media largely agrees that the Polestar 3 stacks up well against its large electric rivals. That said, Parker’s CJ Hubbard explains that, while the Polestar 3 has a longer battery range, “the BMW iX is a better blend of luxury and utility.”
As of January 2025, the Polestar 3 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B with a score of 66%. Beyond the car’s average to very good review scores, this overall score is impeded by high average running costs.
Polestar 3 highlights
- Class-leading battery range
- Attractive exterior and interior design
- Extensive list of standard equipment
- Sharp driving dynamics
Polestar 3 lowlights
- Not as sporty as the marketing suggests
- Rivals offer more boot space
- Over-reliance on touchscreen for car settings
- Performance Pack models have a firm ride quality
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £69,900 on-road
Launched: Summer 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The Polestar 3 is an impressive debut SUV from the company, which offers plenty of quality and produces performance to match its looks.”
Author: Andrew Charman
Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“When it comes to space, range, charging speed and performance, everything looks great on paper. But in the real world, the Polestar 3 doesn’t quite deliver on all of those fronts. However, the well honed chassis means it’s better to drive than its substantial size would lead you to believe.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 9 / 10
“Polestar brings us its first SUV with sleek space-age looks, the latest tech and a promise of sports car performance.”
Author: Catherine King
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“This is Polestar’s most convincing effort yet, sticking a Swedish cat amongst the Bavarian pigeons. The spacious and well-appointed interior impresses, as does the handling and promised range.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Its minimalist interior exudes a premium feel, albeit in a more understated way compared to many rivals. The ride is comfortable, too, but we think it’s a push to consider the Polestar 3 sporty as per the manufacturer’s claims – sure it’s powerful, but there’s not much feel in the driving experience.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 3 looks great, has a lovely cabin and is great to drive, but alternatives offer more boot space.”
Author: Darren Cassey
Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 3 has a quality feel to it, but this big SUV struggles to fulfil the brand’s sporty promise.”
Author: Shane Wilkinson
Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“This crossover of estate and SUV means it’s more aerodynamic and brings efficiency improvements, but it also makes the 3 more engaging to drive as it has a lower centre of gravity. It’s really spacious too, especially in the back, and the quality is great.”
Author: Tom Barnard
Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Ultra-competitive pricing, a sharp design and strong performance make Polestar’s first SUV a promising new offering.”
Author: Sam Jenkins
Read review
Fleetworld
Model reviewed: Long Range Dual Motor
“With my fleet hat pulled firmly on, the Polestar 3 is a very tempting large EV if you want to pamper yourself. I wouldn’t bother with the Performance Pack or dual-motor versions unless you really need four-wheel drive or crave the added pace. Better to save a substantial amount of money and simply revel in a sleek Swede that runs its key rivals very hard.”
Author: Alisdair Suttie
Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Overall, the Polestar 3 is a pretty convincing and compelling package, as it should be when prices start at around £70,000, and rise steeply as you progress through the various versions.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“It’s a better driving and more special feeling thing than the Mercedes EQE SUV, although the BMW iX is a better blend of luxury and utility.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review
Regit
Model reviewed: Dual motor long range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 3 is a beautifully designed and very practical five-seat SUV that’s big on style, space and performance.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s a full £15,000 cheaper than the cheapest Volvo EX90, which uses all of the same basic mechanical bits. So, you’re getting a sportier, better-looking, reasonably engaging-to-drive electric SUV for less, and all you’ve had to sacrifice are some extra seats and a more voluminous boot.”
Author: Neil Briscoe
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 3 seems well engineered and good-looking, it rides and drives well and is as efficient as any of these giant battery SUVs can be.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“A solid effort from Polestar, and one you should try if the usual brands are beginning to grate.”
Author: Tom Ford
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of January 2025, the Polestar 3 has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Polestar 3 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Polestar 3 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, the Polestar 3 has only just started arriving on UK roads, so we don’t have enough reliability data on the SUV to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Polestar 3, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 381 miles | A | 348 – 403 miles | A – A |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 3.4 m/KWh | E | 3.1 – 3.6 m/KWh | D – E |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 50 | F | 50 – 50 | F – F |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £505 | D |
| Year 2 | £917 | C |
| Year 3 | £1,341 | C |
| Year 4 | £1,535 | C |
| Year 5 | £2,078 | C |
| Overall | £6,376 | C |
The Polestar 3 can be a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The car’s average battery range of 381 miles (ranging from 348 to 403 miles depending on the model you choose) is excellent when compared to the rest of the EV market. That said, it’s not very efficient. It’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) of 3.4 m/KWh is lower than average, but large rivals like the BMW iX and Kia EV9 are just as inefficient.
The car’s insurance premiums are also in the most expensive bracket, and its predicted five-year servicing and maintenance cost total of over £6k can also be considered expensive, especially as the servicing total for the Kia EV9 is estimated to be over £1k cheaper.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Polestar 3
As of January 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Polestar 3. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Polestar dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Polestar 3, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
BMW iX | Hyundai Ioniq 7 | Hyundai Santa Fe | Kia EV9 | Land Rover Defender | Land Rover Discovery | Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV | Range Rover plug-in hybrid | Tesla Model X | Volkswagen ID. Buzz | Volvo EX90
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Polestar 3 at The Car Expert
Buy a Polestar 3
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Polestar 3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Polestar 3
If you’re looking to lease a new Polestar 3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Polestar 3
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Mycardirect.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more
