We got an early look at the coolest new electric SUV you've never heard of. See inside the $84,000 Polestar 3.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV.Tim Levin/Insider
- The Polestar 3 is one of the coolest new electric SUVs.
- The SUV costs $83,900 to start, and you'll start seeing them on the streets in late 2023.
You may not have heard of Polestar yet, but just give it time.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
The fresh-faced electric-vehicle brand has been quietly growing since its launch in 2017, and it's about to drop its most important model yet.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
The Polestar 3 will be the startup's very first SUV when it hits streets later this year.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
It'll be crucial for snagging the attention of US buyers, who, as we all know, love their SUVs.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Polestar brought the 3 to Manhattan for its US debut this week, where Insider was among the first to get up close and personal with the striking SUV.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Here's a tour of the $83,900 Polestar 3 and all it has to offer:
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
The Polestar 3 follows up the Polestar 1 (a $155,000 hybrid two-door) and the Polestar 2 (a wonderful electric sedan) as the company's third model.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
It'll be built in China to start (Polestar is jointly owned by Volvo and its Chinese parent company, Geely) and additional production will start in South Carolina in 2024.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
It doesn't look like your everyday SUV.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Just like the Polestar 2, the Polestar 3 is defined by sharp angles, chunky features, and exaggerated proportions.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
It's remarkably long, squat, and wide — almost more like a lifted station wagon than a tall, conventional SUV.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Unique touches like a front wing (for aerodynamics) make the Polestar 3 all the more eye-catching.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
But the Polestar's distinct styling isn't just for turning heads. It's also for reducing drag and boosting range. Despite all the boxy edges, the SUV slips through the air better than a Porsche 911, Gregor Hembrough, head of Polestar USA, told Insider.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Polestar is all about minimalist design — chalk that up to its Swedish DNA — which means its cars don't come with all the busy badging you'd normally expect.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
There are just a couple of cryptic logos and some teeny-tiny stickers that give more details. It adds to Polestar's mysterious allure.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
The all-wheel-drive EV makes an impressive 489 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, allowing for a breezy 0-60-mph time of 4.9 seconds, according to the brand.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Buyers who opt for the $6,000 Performance Pack can expect even more power and torque, plus a slightly quicker sprint to 60 mph.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Polestar pegs range at around 300 miles, but that hasn't been EPA-verifed yet.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Inside, the Polestar 3 offers five roomy seats with a cool, perforated design.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Faux-leather upholstery comes standard, or buyers can upgrade to leather and wool (which Polestar says are vetted for their sustainability). The vehicle I saw had the latter.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
There's generous headroom and legroom thanks to a flat floor. But you sit low and stretched out, rather than upright like in most SUVs.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Up front, the driver gets a small display instead of regular gauges.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
And they get a big, 14.5-inch touchscreen running a Google-developed operating system, which is remarkably easy to read and use. It helps the interior feel uncluttered and open.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Polestar packed the 3 with all sorts of other advanced tech, like interior radar sensors that detect "sub-millimeter movements" and ensure you don't accidentally leave your pet or child inside.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Powering its driver-assistance and safety tech are five exterior radars, five cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Much of that is housed in the "SmartZone" on the Polestar 3's nose.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Lidar technology, which creates a 3D map of the environment surrounding a vehicle, will be an option and should help Polestar offer "unaided driving on the highway," as Hembrough puts it. No US cars currently offer lidar, though Mercedes is also introducing it soon.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
Despite the emphasis on cutting-edge tech, Hembrough said he doesn't expect the brand to get rid of buttons altogether. There's still a nice, big volume knob, which customer surveys said was a must.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
The Polestar 3 should be in customers' hands toward the end of 2023, and a cheaper model is on the way after that.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV. Tim Levin/Insider
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