Polestar’s First Dedicated EV Platform Delivers
Polestar has released three models in America, with variants, beginning with the company’s last gasoline engine propelled car, the limited production sublime 2021 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid. Next was the efficient all-electric 2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor Rear Wheel Drive EV, followed by the 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor EV Performance Plus with all-wheel drive. Then in 2024, came the Polestar 2 with a larger single electric motor and then company’s first SUV, the midsize 2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor AWD. Now, here, we are reviewing the rear-wheel drive 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor.
Simple naming aside, all Polestar models offer highly developed electric technology and performance. The 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor is above average in everything that counts—handling, power delivery, ride efficiency and practicality.
What is Polestar?
Polestar and Volvo were acquired by Geeley, a major Chinese automobile company, in 2010. Polestar was founded in 1995 for the purpose of performance-tuning Volvos. Volvo brought them in-house in 2015 when Polestar badging appeared on Volvos, designating performance was awaiting the driver. A few years later Polestar became its own stand-alone car company, quickly becoming an EV-only brand.
So what is a Polestar 3? Polestar says it is an “SUV that drives like a sports car.” What we found was this all-electric five-passenger midsize SUV with eye-catching looks was comfortable and enjoyable to drive, delivering a feeling early-on that it was going to be good week.
Power and Range
The 2025 Polestar 3 comes in three variants: Long Range Dual Motor, Long Range Dual Motor Performance and the Long Range Single Motor, which Clean Fleet Report drove. The 220 kW single motor drives the rear wheels with 299 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque. In a few 0-60 mph runs we averaged a respectable 7.5 seconds, which felt quick and merged us onto the freeway with a whoosh. For comparison, the Polestar 3 Dual Motor is rated at 4.8 seconds while the Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance takes about 4.5 seconds.
The EPA rates the Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor at 350 all-electric miles (AER) with an efficiency of 35 kWh per 100 miles. We took delivery with 300 AER, but after 259 miles of combination highway and freeway driving, we had only 70 miles left on the dash read-out. In the 486 total miles we drove during our week we averaged 33.5 kWh per 100 miles. Another way to look at the efficiency for this car is 3.5 miles per kWh of battery. We consider 3.5 miles per kWh to be very efficient considering we spent some of our time at 70+ mph, which an EV’s battery does not like.
Battery and Charging
When slowing or stopping, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. The level of regeneration can be set on the touchscreen, opting between Light, Standard and Firm. We selected the latter in conjunction with the Standard setting for One Pedal Driving with the Creep Mode turned off. I like the regen to be strong, and even though the Firm mode was not as strong as I like it. The combination resulted in predictable recharge feel and a fun way to drive with limited touch of the brake pedal.
The 111 kWh, liquid cooled lithium-ion battery is charged through an 11.0 kW onboard charger. These are the estimated charging times.
- 240V (Level 2) 0-100% in 11 hours
- 480V DC Fast Charging 10-80% in 30 minutes (at 250 kW)
Out on the Road
Nearly 500 miles behind the wheel provided a true feel for the Polestar 3. Something different is no start button, as the Polestar 3 turns itself on when entering when the key is in the cabin. All you do is press the brake pedal, select the gear on the right side steering wheel stalk and off you go. The seats are comfortable for long trips and hold the driver tight when cornering. The electronic power steering, with three modes (standard, firm and light) is agile and has enough welcomed power to handle the 5,445-pound SUV.
The car had smooth and even power, with a quick throttle response. The performance was exactly what the Polestar 3 has been designed to do—be an efficient midsize SUV that offers room for four and their gear on a weekender or longer road trip. Or, lay down the 60:40 rear seat and the cargo space goes from 40 inches to a very useable 74 inches.
The suspension utilizes BWI passive dampers and coil springs designed to improve ride, handling and comfort. Traction control and staggered 21-inch wheels ($1,200 option) shod with Michelin Primacy Tour all-season 265/45 on the fronts and 295/40 on the rears were a good combination for ride comfort, low noise and cornering grip. The turning radius was a tidy 38.8 feet.
Polestar continues to call on its heritage as a performance brand with a passive suspension stiff enough to control body roll around corners, but not so stiff to prevent a comfortable ride. Polestar found a happy medium of balance between the two.
A small camping or bicycle trailer can be towed if under 2,000 pounds. There is even a trick optional retractable semi-electric tow bar hitch that, with the push of button, drops from under the rear bumper.
Exterior: Familiar for an SUV, But With a Different Wing
The Polestar 3 front wing defines the design theme as it combines the elements and helps create a sleek silhouette. It balances the rear wing, sitting high atop the glass on the power hands-free lift gate, and drops the nose to increase aerodynamics. You don’t see the front wing at first; it takes inspecting the hood to see realize how it will increase downforce and be a part of the low 0.29 coefficient of drag.
We appreciate the clean design that is void of cladding, has minimal chrome accents and no design gimmicks. Nothing radical is going on. The Polestar 3 has the reassuring feeling of a tasteful, practical SUV that will become a favorite as a daily driver. My only suggestion is to take the next step from premium to luxury—tuck the rear wiper under the spoiler.
The Polestar 3 has five exterior colors: Space (black), Thunder (light gray), Magnesium (silver), Jupiter (bronze), and Midnight (metallic blue) and Snow (white) which is what we drove.
The pixel LED head lights have active high beam detection, automatic leveling and corner illumination that turn the lights up to 15 degrees, at speeds to 25 mph. The LED lighting design continues in the turn indicators, tail and brake lights. When the brakes are applied quickly and hard the brake lights will flash a warning sequence four times per second to alert any following drivers. The puddle lamps are a nice touch.
The Polestar 3, like all EVs, has a mandated audible warning system at low speeds. Using three external speakers, the system generates unique sounds that alert pedestrians and cyclists to know there is a two-ton car approaching. If you have ever been walking in a parking lot or waiting to cross a street, the distinctive sound coming for an electric car is appreciated.
Interior: Scandinavian Minimalism
The seats are trimmed in one of three options.
- Standard is a vegan upholstery created from renewable vinyl and recycled polyester textile.
- Optional is animal-welfare certified yarn upholstery, a fully traceable fabric, meaning every step of the fabric’s production process is tracked, from the raw materials to the final product.
- Optional is Nappa leather, in Zinc (light gray), Charcoal and Jupiter (bronze). It’s animal-welfare traced and adheres to the ASPCA’s Five Freedoms. Note: This last upholstery comes at a $1,100 additional fee.
Front passengers get power adjustments, including lumbar, and heated seats. The rear outbound passengers also get heat with individual controls.
Access was good through with the front (soft closing) and wide-opening rear doors, but the tallest front occupants need to duck just a bit due to the raked windshield design. The rear seat comfortably accommodates two adults and has a ski pass-through. Without an engine up front there is a 1.1 cubic foot front trunk (frunk) for stashing small items, such as the charging cable.
There are three screens to occupy and inform the driver. The graphical head-up display projects onto the windshield, and the 9-inch driver display is configurable with vehicle and road condition information. The wide, floating center console intersects the low slung dash at the 14.5-inch color LCD touchscreen that has LCF (Light Control Film), which is an anti-reflective, easy-to-clean coating.
This screen is where the heart of the Polestar 3 lives: the Google Android Automotive operating system with navigation, apps and Google Assistant. Please note this is not Android Auto. What it does do is allow the driver to operate many functions through voice commands, which is a good thing since, except for the few controls on the steering wheel, there are no buttons or knobs on the dash. The clean Scandinavian design theme thrives in the cockpit.
Our Polestar 3 came with the Plus Pack that included the 25-speaker, 1,610-watt Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system that includes Dolby Atmos, 3D surround, front seat headrest speakers and active road noise cancellation. This easily becomes the best audio system you will own so don’t feel bad sitting in the driveway engulfed in the deep rich tones of your favorite artists.
SiriusXM and FM HD radio are included along with native apps of Vivaldi browser, Tidal and Spotify for streaming through Bluetooth and the 5G network. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging are standard.
Polestar frequently sends out over-the-air updates (OTA) to upgrade or add software that can affect vehicle systems such as touchscreen interaction, driving range, performance and regenerative braking. The OTAs makes it so the Polestar 3 doesn’t need to be taken to a dealer for improvements to features, safety and performance.
Convenience features include Polestar Connect (in case of an emergency, it provides a live representative who can be reached by pressing a button), a 360-degree camera, rain sensing windshield wipers, alarm, keyless entry, digital key, Homelink, 4 USB-C ports, heated wiper nozzles, heated steering wheel, cabin air filtration, adjustable interior illumination, three zone climate control, ambient lighting, and a panoramic glass roof. The glass roof, while tinted, still allows in a considerable amount of light and warmth, so a shade would be a nice addition.
Safety
The 2025 Polestar 3 has not been safety rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), some of which come in packages, include multiple airbags, ABS braking, Pilot Assist and adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning with steering wheel assist, cross traffic alert, low and high speed collision mitigation with automatic braking. Plus many more.
The rear collision warning senses a fast approaching vehicle from behind, and flashes the brake lights rapidly and tightens the seatbelt tension. Post-collision automatic braking locks the brakes so the car comes to a complete stop.
Pricing
The 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor we drove had a base price of $73,000. Add in $1,300 in options and the $1,400 destination fee, the total came to $76,700.
It is unknown, at the time this story was written (May 2025) if the federal tax incentives will be extended by Congress and the Trump administration. Individual states and local electric utilities may have purchase incentive programs that would not be affected by any federal actions. Speak with your dealer and CPA to see if there are any available federal or state tax credits that could reduce the price you pay. The Polestar 3 may also qualify for an HOV sticker in some states, which allows only the driver to use the carpool lanes.
Tariffs are a real thing for the Polestar 3 as it is truly a world car, with parts from several countries: US/Canada 20%; China 46%; Mexico 25%; the engine and transmission are from Sweden and the final assembly is in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Whew!
Warranty
- Basic – Four years/50,000 miles
- Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Motors – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Four years/Unlimited miles
- Corrosion Protection – 12 years/Unlimited miles
- Scheduled Maintenance – Three years/30,000 miles
Observations: 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor
Electric cars and SUVs are getting more sophisticated and remain my favorite driving experience. EVs offer performance, efficiency and, oh yeah, don’t forget the torque that few gasoline engines can match.
The power delivery, smooth freeway ride and above-average handling are all something to treasure, while never forgetting an EV like the 2025 Polestar 3 is also efficient and practical. The cargo area is large enough to handle all the gear for two on a long road trip. Charging will take minutes before you are off again. The Polestar 3 Single Motor is built and designed to meet the driving needs of a variety of lifestyles.
When shopping for a premium all-electric SUV, the 2025 Polestar 3 should be on your shopping list. If you don’t need the crazy power and performance of the Polestar 3 Performance trims or all-wheel drive, the price with all the features and safety systems make the Polestar 3 Single Motor a logical consideration.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
Disclosure
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@ cleanfleetreport.com.
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