TEST Polestar 3: a notable arrival in S…

Polestar is a young and modern electric car brand owned by a Chinese automobile group Geely. It was launched in 2019 by Polestar 1 hybrid coupe as an appetizer, clearly based on the example from the sister brand Volvo. And “2”, a 100% electric sedanThe Polestar story has really taken off and, quietly, it has also moved away from Volvo to fully build its own identity.

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Polestar 3

Retard

For this, of course you need a solid range. And this took a long time to come. THE SUV “3” was announced last year, but due to production issues, it won’t be released until the next few months. in autumn, cross “4” is also expected in showrooms. And for the next few years, “5”, a GT sports sedanand road “6” are announced again to complete the series. A recent capital injection of $1 billion is expected to support these growth prospects.

At the same time, Polestar 3 it is ready for production and will be delivered to the first customers by summer. This model is a solid 4.9 meter long SUV with an eccentric line characterized by elegant optics at the front and a very sloping roofline that culminates, thanks to the spoiler, in the rear with a generous profile. It is clear that the Polestar 3 has character and that it is not the same mass of models as many models in this segment.

Polestar 3

Basic Volvo

Technically, the Polestar 3 shares its underpinnings with the Volvo EX90, but stands out for its more generous and angular character and also offers seven seats. 3 can accommodate five people, but the seven-seat variant cannot be excluded later. The trunk holds 484 liters of luggage, a capacity that can reach 1,411 liters when the rear seats are folded: it is sufficient, but not revolutionary. Extra belongings (or charging cables) can still be stored up front in the 32 liter trunk.

Polestar 3

Propulsion is provided by two electric motors located on front and rear axles, which develops the standard power of 482 hp and 840 Nm in the basic version, and even 510 hp and 910 Nm with the Performance Pack. Come on power trains allowing to go from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.0 and 4.7 seconds respectively, while the maximum speed is limited to 210 km / h. There lithium-ion battery 400 V de CATL, with a capacity of 111 kWh, can be used to travel up to 610 km according to the WLTP cycle. Charging can be done with 11 kW AC or 250 kW on a DC fast charger, which takes half an hour (10-80%).

Polestar 3

Air suspension and torque vectoring

On the technical side, the Polestar 3 offers a few other interesting features. For example, pneumatic suspension and active wear and tear is standard and has different settings to achieve more comfort or driving dynamics, while the length of the ride can also be adjusted if you want to do some All Themes, For example. Regarding maintenance, work of Torque Vectoring Dual Clutch (TVDC) on the rear axle offers a definite added value to ensure stability on the one hand, while increasing agility on the other. In fact, this system redistributes the power to the wheel with more grip, which ensures better acceleration, higher speed in corners and better traction on slippery surfaces, making the Polestar 3 easier, more pleasant and safer to drive.

We were able to confirm this on the basis of experiments in The Great North, where the Polestar 3 underwent final modifications before production began. The SUV has already covered thousands of test kilometers, mostly in normal conditions, but also indoors bad situationfrom +40°C in the desert to -40°C here in Jokkmokk, Swedish Lapland.

Joakim RydholmPolestar’s chief test engineer, explains the importance of these measurements in the snow : “Here, the temperature drops below zero. Then, if everything works perfectly, the new model is obviously adopted for production. In addition, on frozen lakes we can adjust the handling on slippery terrain to achieve a safe, predictable and sporty behavior in all conditions, which is typical of Polestar, even for SUVs like 3. »

Like a kart

Joakim Rydholm’s test team set up a course on a frozen lake in Jokkmokk where we were able to put the Polestar 3 through its paces for the first time. It was still about examples, but it is slightly different from the production version that has been on the production line ever since. So the interior was already in the condition of the exhibition models, with a modest style and high finish that we always find in the cars of the Swedish-Chinese brand. The dashboard is dominated by two clear screens, which control the most important functions and settings in the cabin. Here again, the number of buttons is kept to a minimum.

Polestar 3

On the ice and snow of the lake, the slippery track is a little challenging, but Polestar 3 it always stays on course thanks to the driver assistance systems (ESP) and the torque vectoring function (TVDC). This last feature makes it possible to drive this SUV, although it is long (4.9 meters) and heavy (2.6 tons) and simplification and simplicity, as if it were a kart. So it is clear that the Polestar development team has succeeded in giving this SUV a very good and even sporty character.

Polestar 3

Later we take a snow track and it’s a pleasure to drive the Polestar 3 down the steep slopes on the frozen lake. The SUV responds immediately to every steering movement and the torque vectoring function ensures that there is always enough traction to drive the car in the right direction. You might be wondering what it’s like every day on the tarmac? Well, if the car is driving in a way very strong and it is very handy in these very low trap situations, it is certainly in the normal situation that you will usually meet in our regions.

Polestar 3

Advanced position

The Polestar 3 is a high-end electric SUV with a very comprehensive equipment, which has almost every imaginable gadget in terms of comfort, connectivity and safety, and whose finish is also very solid. This Polestar 3 costs at least 89,900 euros, while the price of the Performance Pack version reaches 95,200 euros. The electric SUV will be a strong competitor forAudi e-tronfrom BMW iX and cousins Volvo EX90 and can now be ordered.

Polestar 3

Conclusion

The Polestar 3 it is a well-born car that can support the necessary growth of the new Sino-Swedish manufacturer. This SUV will definitely be a a terrible actor in the section of The cost of an SUV, where the competition is very strong but for many well-known products. Unfortunately, it is not available to everyone, at a high price, once again showing the high expectations of this manufacturer.

Polestar 3