Polestar 3 Performance Review: Is This One of the Best Luxury Electric SUVs?

Quick verdict 

The Polestar 3 Performance is expensive, there is no getting around that, but after spending a couple of weeks with one it is also one of those rare cars where you begin to understand where the money has gone. It feels beautifully put together, the cabin is exceptionally comfortable, the performance is phenomenal and, perhaps most impressively, Polestar has managed to make a large electric SUV weighing well over two tonnes feel genuinely entertaining to drive. 

There are frustrations. Too many basic controls are buried in the touchscreen, some of the driver-assistance technology can be overly sensitive and there are a few features I would expect on a car at this price that simply aren't there. None of those points, however, changes my overall opinion. The Polestar 3 Performance is a seriously accomplished luxury electric SUV and one that deserves to be considered alongside established premium competitors from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi. After two weeks with it, I was very reluctant to hand the keys back. 

The current Polestar 3 Performance produces 500kW, or 680hp, from its dual-motor powertrain and uses a 106kWh battery with an 800V electrical architecture. That is worth mentioning because the Polestar 3 has evolved since it was originally launched and some older road tests online quote different performance, battery and charging figures. 

Living with the Polestar 3 rather than simply test driving it

My relationship with the Polestar 3 actually began some time before this particular car arrived. I first saw it around the time of its launch and immediately thought it was an impressive-looking SUV. I subsequently drove one around the track at Donington Park and remember climbing out thinking just how remarkable it was that something so big and heavy could behave the way it did. I then drove the Polestar 3 again at a Polestar event at Bicester Motion. 

Those short experiences told me the Polestar 3 had potential, but spending a couple of weeks actually living with a car gives you a much better understanding of it. During my time with the Performance I've driven it around Brighton, taken it across some of the B-roads through the South Downs, travelled from Brighton to Bicester and back, covered plenty of motorway miles and taken it right into central London. Add the earlier track driving into the equation and I've now experienced the Polestar 3 in just about every environment you're realistically likely to encounter. 

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give it is that there wasn't really an environment where it felt out of place. On a motorway it becomes a quiet, exceptionally comfortable long-distance cruiser. In London it is remarkably easy to drive, although you certainly become more conscious of its width when streets and parking spaces become tighter. Find a good B-road, however, and the Polestar reveals another side to its character entirely. That's where it surprised me most. 

What does the Polestar 3 share with the Volvo EX90? 

Underneath the Polestar 3 is Volvo's SPA2 electric vehicle architecture, which also underpins the Volvo EX90. That immediately makes the relationship between the two cars quite interesting, but calling the Polestar a sportier EX90 would be doing it a considerable disservice. 

They are better viewed as siblings rather than twins. The Volvo EX90 puts greater emphasis on seven-seat family practicality, comfort and the traditional Volvo approach to luxury and safety. The Polestar 3 only has five seats, sits lower and adopts a considerably stronger focus on driving dynamics. 

That difference becomes very obvious once you start driving enthusiastically. There may be shared engineering underneath, but the character of the finished cars is quite different. 

The Performance details are relatively restrained. The 22-inch forged wheels look fantastic, the Brembo brake callipers are finished in Polestar's Swedish gold and that colour continues through smaller details such as the valve caps and seatbelts. Those gold seatbelts in particular addsomething to the experience. They're hardly fundamental to the way the car performs, but every time you climb aboard there is a subtle reminder that you're in the Performance model.

There's still something special about genuine Nappa leather 

One of the features I appreciated most was the genuine Nappa leather upholstery. We're increasingly seeing manufacturers move towards synthetic materials, recycled textiles and leather alternatives, and there are perfectly sensible environmental reasons for doing so. Many of those materials are excellent in their own right. 

Even so, there is still something distinctive about climbing into a premium car with proper leather seats. There is a smell, softness and tactile quality that is difficult to reproduce, and in a car operating at this price point I think it contributes considerably to the sense of occasion. 

Polestar uses perforated Nappa leather supplied by Bridge of Weir, with considerable attention paid to traceability and production. More importantly from behind the wheel, it feels suitably luxurious. 

The front seats are exceptionally good 

The seats themselves deserve far more than a passing mention because they're one of the strongest features of the cabin. Beyond the normal electric adjustment for height, reach and backrest angle, you can alter the tilt of the seat base, extend the cushion to provide additional thigh support, adjust how tightly the side bolsters hold you and fine-tune the lumbar support. 

Then there is heating, ventilation and massage. The massage system offers multiple programmes and intensities, while the ventilation is particularly welcome when you're sitting on leather during warmer weather. 

Having driven the Polestar from Brighton to Bicester and spent long periods behind the wheel on other journeys, this isn't equipment that merely sounds impressive on a specification sheet. The sheer amount of adjustment makes it very easy to find a comfortable position and the seats remain supportive after several hours on the road. Add the heated steering wheel and this feels like a very good car in which to tackle serious distances. 

Polestar 3 Performance

With 670bhp and a 0–60mph time of just 3.8 seconds, the Polestar 3 Performance delivers phenomenal instant acceleration, but its real strength is how well it handles despite weighing more than 2.5 tonnes. Accurate steering, huge grip and excellent body control make it feel surprisingly agile on winding roads, with a chassis that gives the driver genuine confidence rather than simply delivering straight-line speed. Much of this ability comes from its dual-chamber active air suspension, which can adapt constantly to changing road conditions and offers both comfortable cruising and sharper handling modes. Even on the firmer setting, the suspension does an impressive job of controlling the car while smoothing out poor road surfaces, making the Polestar 3 an unusually capable and enjoyable performance SUV.

Polestar 3: Long-Distance Comfort and Urban Driving

The Polestar 3 is particularly impressive over long distances, combining comfortable seats, relaxed air suspension, low road and wind noise, a head-up display, massage seats and the excellent Bowers & Wilkins audio system to make motorway journeys remarkably effortless. At the same time, it remains enjoyable on more engaging roads, giving it a rare balance of long-distance refinement and driving ability. In central London, however, its near-five-metre length and two-metre-plus width become more noticeable, especially in tight streets and parking spaces. Light steering, smooth power delivery and a 360-degree camera make manoeuvring easier, although automatic side-camera views when indicating and kerb-dipping mirrors when reversing would make urban driving even more convenient.

Polestar 3: Driver Assistance

The Polestar 3’s driver-assistance technology is useful but still needs refinement. Its traffic-sign recognition can occasionally misread signs, while the driver-monitoring system can be overly sensitive to natural changes in seating position or head movement. Although these systems are valuable for detecting genuine distraction and fatigue, better calibration would make them less intrusive. Some warnings can be disabled, but certain settings reset at the start of each journey and accessing others requires navigating through menus. More configurable shortcuts would make these systems considerably easier to manage in everyday driving.

Polestar 3: Verdict, Practicality and Competition

The Polestar 3 Performance combines thoughtful everyday features with impressive luxury, technology and performance. Its hands-free tailgate works reliably, the adjustable loading height makes the boot more practical, and details such as the distinctive indicator sound and Apple Wallet-compatible digital key show careful attention to everyday usability. Against rivals such as the BMW iX, Porsche Macan Electric, Audi Q6 e-tron, Mercedes-Benz electric SUVs, Volvo EX90 and Lotus Eletre, the Polestar 3 stands out with a distinctive character of its own rather than simply trying to imitate established luxury brands.

At more than £90,000, the Polestar 3 has to offer more than impressive power, and it largely succeeds through the way its qualities come together. The high-quality Nappa leather interior, excellent seats, outstanding Bowers & Wilkins audio system, spacious cabin, useful technology and sophisticated chassis make it feel genuinely luxurious, while its combination of long-distance comfort and surprisingly capable handling gives it a breadth of ability that few large electric SUVs can match.

What I Liked

The cabin quality, Nappa leather seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio system and exceptional comfort are major highlights. Performance is phenomenal, but the handling and active air suspension make the Performance model particularly memorable. Google built-in and Gemini are genuinely useful, while features such as the hands-free tailgate, adjustable loading height, shopping hooks and digital key add everyday practicality. The Swedish Gold detailing also gives the Performance model a distinctive look without being excessive.

What Could Be Better

The biggest weakness is the reliance on the central touchscreen for too many basic functions. More configurable shortcuts would significantly improve usability, while traffic-sign recognition and driver monitoring still need better calibration. Automatic blind-spot camera views when indicating and kerb-dipping mirrors when reversing would also be welcome, as would an optional opening panoramic sunroof.

Rivervale Verdict

After spending time with the Polestar 3 Performance, it feels much more than a larger Polestar 2 or a Volvo EX90 with different styling. It has developed a distinctive identity of its own, combining understated design and useful technology with a genuinely sophisticated performance chassis. Although the £90,000-plus price means its shortcomings are worth scrutinising, the fundamentals are exceptionally strong: it looks fantastic, feels beautifully made, has an outstanding interior and audio system, excels on long journeys and somehow makes a 2.5-tonne electric SUV genuinely enjoyable on a B-road. It isn't cheap, but the engineering, luxury and breadth of ability make the price easier to understand—and the fact that handing it back was genuinely difficult says a great deal about how successful the overall package is.