New Polestar 3 revealed: price, specs and release date

The Polestar 3 is the first SUV from the fast-growing electric car brand 

The new Polestar 3 arrives in 2023 to take on the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron.  

Sitting above the popular Polestar 2 in the range, the new Polestar 3 is the company’s first bespoke ground-up design. An exciting new entrant in the premium electric SUV segment, it will be built in China and the United States, making it a really big deal for this ambitious, design-led electric car company.

New Polestar 3 price and release date

New Polestar 3 prices start from £79,900 and online ordering is open now. The launch line-up is simple, focused around the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor variant. A Performance Pack option is available for £5,600. 

The new Polestar 3 will be released in winter 2023 – more than a year from now – as stocks build up from a scheduled production start in the middle of the year. Although the release date is some time away, if you want one of the first Polestar 3s to arrive in late 2023, it’s best to place your order now.

New Polestar 3: exterior and interior

The new Polestar 3 has a sporty and athletic appearance. It is more flowing and curvaceous than the large SUV norm. It’s also a large machine, measuring 4.9 metres long and more than 2.1 metres wide when the door mirrors are factored in. It is very similar in size to the bold BMW iX.

The new Polestar 3 uses plenty of aerodynamic functionality to improve its electric driving range. There is a front aero wing integrated into the bonnet and another aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler, plus rear aero blades. These all combine to give it a futuristic appearance.

The clean, minimalist front end uses the trademark Polestar ‘dual blade’ LED light signature. All the various sensors and radar systems are hidden behind the bodywork – the numerous functions are depicted by discreet stickers marking out the ‘SmartZone sensor cluster’. This also helps boost the new Polestar 3’s modern feel.

The new Polestar 3 has a full-width LED light bar as the centrepiece of a minimalist rear end. With a squat stance and super-large 21-inch alloy wheels, it is definitely going to turn heads.

Inside, the new Polestar 3 demonstrates more modern minimalism. The design-focused interior has a clean appearance and delicate use of materials such as brushed aluminium. The seats carry more of the trademark Polestar lettering, while cool features such as Swedish gold seatbelts are available as part of the Performance Pack.

The dashboard is dominated by a large 14.5-inch portrait-style centre touchscreen. The new Polestar 3’s infotainment system runs the Android Automotive operating system, so it has built-in Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play store. There’s an additional 9.0-inch digital driver display, too.

It is all powered by a next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from tech giant Qualcomm. Polestar is promising ‘immersive in-vehicle experiences… high-definition displays and seamless connectivity throughout the vehicle’. Even the key has become a next-generation NFC key card, just like you get in a Tesla.

Safety assistance tech is next-generation as well. The new Polestar 3 is the company’s first car to have centralised computing from the Nvidia Drive core computer. This AI brain processes data from multiple sensors and cameras to deliver advanced driver assistance safety tech and driver monitoring. There are even interior radar sensors that can detect ‘sub-millimetre movements’. They’re sensitive enough to pick up children or pets left inside.

The new Polestar 3 is a five-seat SUV, with sporty seats in the front and, we expect, a commodious space for rear passengers. A panoramic glass roof is standard, and includes an illuminated Polestar symbol. Sustainable materials abound, including animal welfare-certified leather and fully traceable wool upholstery.

As well as a 32-litre front storage compartment, the new Polestar 3 has a 484-litre boot with the rear seats up. This expands to 1,411 litres with the split-fold seats folded. The space includes a roomy and useful 90-litre underfloor stowage area. The Polestar 3 SUV can also tow 2,200kg – impressive for an EV.

Standard equipment includes LED interior lighting, retractable door handles with proximity sensing and a three-year subscription to Polestar Connect. For the first year, the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack are also fitted as standard, adding extras such as a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins 3D surround-sound audio system, soft-close doors, a head-up display and Pilot Assist.  

New Polestar 3: engines and gearboxes

The new Polestar 3 will be launched in Long Range Dual Motor guise. The front and rear electric motors give a total power output of 489hp, plus a mighty 840Nm of torque. This means that, despite weighing from nearly 2.6 tonnes, the Polestar 3 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds.

The optional Polestar 3 Performance Pack, which costs £5,600, boosts power to 517hp. Torque improves to 910Nm, while the 0-62mph time is cut to 4.7 seconds. Both Polestar 3 models have a top speed limited to 130mph.

The new Polestar 3’s Long Range battery has a substantial total capacity of 111kWh. This means the regular model can travel up to 379 miles on a single charge; the Polestar 3 Performance Pack will travel 360 miles between charges. The battery will accept super-fast DC charging at up to 250kW, meaning it will recharge from 10-80 percent in 30 minutes.

The Polestar 3 comes as standard with a heat pump, for ultra-efficient climate control and battery conditioning. It also facilitates bidirectional charging, so it’s ready for future vehicle-to-grid and plug-and-charge functionality.

As standard, the new Polestar 3 comes with dual-chamber air suspension. This allows accurate chassis control and fully-adaptive adjustment between comfort and dynamic settings. Polestar says the adaptive damper velocity can be electronically adjusted once every two milliseconds.

The goal is to serve up the company’s trademark performance and precision without compromising the comfort of the daily drive. The new SUV will, we’re told, provide the ‘Polestar feeling’ that has already made the Polestar 2 such a popular machine.

Find a used Polestar for sale

If you like the idea of the new Polestar 3 SUV, but can’t wait more than a year for the release date, why not take a look at a used Polestar 2 on the heycar marketplace?

It’s still a fresh car, so is rare on the second-hand market, but 2021 models are slowly starting to emerge for sale. Prices start from less than £47,000. We spotted a Standard Range Single Motor variant, with just 2,600 miles on the clock, up for £46,990.

Looking for more new car news?

With important new models being released all the time, it’s important for car buyers to keep on top of new car news. Here at heycar, we help you do just that, with recent stories including all the information on the new 2023 Kia Soul EV, the revised DS 3 and DS 3 E-Tense, plus all the essential info on the thrilling new Maserati GranTurismo.