The battery-electric 2025 Polestar 3 is the Swedish brand’s first SUV, one that tips its stylistic hat to the Volvo XC40, albeit one that’s been squashed and lengthened. Lower and sportier in style than its Scandinavian cousin, it’s a long overdue stablemate to the somewhat stodgier Polestar 2, and one meant to take on such formidable competition as the Porsche Cayenne and Macan.

But Porsche certainly didn’t come to mind while driving the Polestar 3, a vehicle that shares its underpinnings with its corporate cousin, the Volvo EX90. But the Polestar’s 64-inch height lends it a sportier air, and robs it of some cargo-carrying capacity. Indeed, with the rear seats folded, there’s a mere 49.8 cubic feet of cargo carrying capacity in a vehicle that’s 193-inches longer. Yet despite its leek appearance, driver’s seat height is generous 8.3 inches.

None of this robs the Polestar 3 of its sleek look. This seems appropriate given that the brand was born as Volvo’s high-performance division. Certainly, it seems more apropos than the stodgy, stubby profile of the Polestar 2. And it sports unique styling touches that aid its ability to cheat the wind, such as its sleek profile and front-mounted spoiler.

That said, both Polestar and Volvo are owned by the Chinese automaker Geely.

Inside, you’ll find the Polestar 3 possesses a sleek Scandinavian starkness offset by some raw wood trim. The cabin boasts a pair of screens: a 9-inch instrument cluster and a far larger 14.5-inch center-mounted Android-based touchscreen that handles the car’s functionality, from infotainment to climate. It proves fairly easy to figure out. And, as you might expect, there’s also wireless charging.

The interior has the practical, spare elegance you’d expect. The seats are soft yet supportive in the best Volvo tradition. Legroom is exceptional in the second row. There is no third row, but there is a very spacious cargo area.

The faux leather and raw wood trim are top notch, and the infotainment system is fairly intuitive, although the driving modes are buried, and not accessible quickly while at speed. It takes three taps. This is a major error and a safety concern.

But the remarkably small instrument cluster is a masterpiece of design, supplying a lot of information with a clear, distinct visual hierarchy. Even the small type is legible. And there’s nothing extraneous to distract you.

Cabin space is generous, with seating for five. Rear seat legroom is particularly ample. With all seats occupied, you’ll also get 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to nearly 50 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While that’s not as much as some SUVs of the same length, it’s the tradeoff for the Polestar 3’s sleek shape.

Initially, Polestar will offer the dual-motor Polestar 3 Launch Edition with an output of 489 horsepower, 620 pound-feet of torque and 315 miles of range. Spring for the $6,000 Performance Pack, and you’ll get even more oomph: 517 horsepower, 671 pound-feet of torque and 279 miles of range. We drove the latter.

As is typical of the EV breed, there’s a one-pedal driving mode, which uses energy captured during deceleration to help slow the car and recharge the battery driveline. In the Polestar 3, it’s offered with low and high modes. Using high mode means rarely, if ever, using the brake pedal.

Quiet and refined, the Polestar 3, regardless of trim, is a paragon of refinement. There’s not a lick of road or tire noise. A smooth operator, the Polestar remains unruffled while absorbing the worst that rutted roads can dish out. With a 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds, acceleration is blisteringly quick, but not assaultive. The same is true of this vehicle’s dynamics, which are incredibly sporty, yet pulled back a little bit to deliver comfort. The summer tires provided good drip in cold rainy western weather, better than expected, in fact. There’s an incredible smoothness along with the speed, totally lacking the stomach-churning jerk from the driveline when you let off the throttle that’s typical on EVs.

That said, the Performance model has far less side-to-side rocking than other trims. Its personality and performance are very Scandinavian, which is understandable given where it was designed and engineered.

Initially, Polestar 3s will be built in Chengdu, China, with American production to follow in Ridgeville, South Carolina.

It’s a true treat, albeit an expensive one. While the 2025 Polestar 3 starts at $73,400, and the 3 Performance coming in at $79,400, our First Edition tester came with a $93,100 as tested price. This makes it a rarefied vehicle to be sure, but one that possesses a stoic personality and performance. It’s very Scandinavian, and a true change of pace from much of its luxury SUV ilk.

2025 Polestar 3 Launch Edition

Base price: $84,900

Motors: Permanent magnet synchronous

Horsepower/Torque: 517/671 pound-feet

Range: 279 miles

AC charging time: 11 hours (0-100%)

Length/Width/Height: 193/64/83.5 inches

Ground clearance: 8.3 inches

Cargo capacity: 17-49.8 cubic feet

Front trunk capacity: 1.13 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds

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