Polestar 3 review: the design-led large EV SUV finally comes of age

How the Polestar 3 fits in 2026

The Polestar 3 is the Swedish-badged, US-built flagship that finally gives the brand a credible large electric SUV — one aimed squarely at the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Audi Q8 e-tron and its own showroom sibling, the Volvo EX90. It landed in Australia in 2024 as an AWD-only Long Range Dual Motor, then broadened in 2025 with a cheaper Long Range Single Motor and a Performance flagship. Polestar has since re-priced the range: the Dual Motor now opens at $131,100 list.

We’ve focused on the Long Range Dual Motor for this review. It’s the trim Polestar markets as the hero, the one most third-party Australian reviewers have driven, and the one whose air suspension underwrites most of the car’s driving character. For prices and specs across all three variants — Rear Motor, Long Range Dual Motor and Performance — see the full Polestar 3 lineup on its model page.

What’s good

The chassis is genuinely resolved. CarsGuide’s Australian first drive scored the Dual Motor 8.1 out of 10 and specifically singled out the air suspension for composure over broken country roads. Chasing Cars, reviewing the cheaper Single Motor on steel springs, called that variant’s ride “knobbly” in town — which reads as an implicit endorsement of the Dual Motor’s air setup. If you value ride quality, the Dual Motor is the version to have.

The cabin lands where the price says it should. Across CarExpert, CarsGuide and Chasing Cars, the consensus is that the materials, seating and Bowers & Wilkins audio system (optional, but almost universally fitted to press cars) put it inside German-rival territory. Active noise cancelling makes it “delightfully quiet” per CarsGuide.

The 2026 charging spec is class-leading. 350 kW DC peak and a claimed 10–80% in 22 minutes puts the Polestar 3 ahead of the BMW iX (200 kW), Mercedes EQE SUV (170 kW) and Audi Q8 e-tron (170 kW) on paper. The battery warranty — 8 years or 160,000 km — matches Volvo’s and beats BMW’s.

What’s not

The touchscreen is a running complaint. CarsGuide described the software as glitchy enough to feel like “driving a phone, rather than a car”, and CarExpert’s test car briefly lost the infotainment screen entirely. Almost every physical control has been buried in the 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen, including basic climate functions — a decision even Polestar-friendly reviewers push back on.

The options list is where the real price lives. The $131,100 Dual Motor list gets you into the car, but the Plus Pack alone is $9,000 and, per CarsGuide, “fully loaded” test cars land north of $180,000 drive-away. Buyers cross-shopping the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV need to compare like-for-like specifications, not headline prices.

Real-world efficiency lags the WLTP claim. CarsGuide observed 20.4 kWh/100 km on the Dual Motor Performance Pack against a 21.9–23 kWh/100 km claim — better than expected — but their broader first drive returned 25.9–27 kWh/100 km, which is a long way off. Expect real-world range in the 450–520 km zone at highway speeds, not the 635 km on the sticker.

Boot space undersells the footprint. At 405 litres behind the second row, the Polestar 3 gives up meaningful cargo capacity to the Volvo EX90 and the BMW iX. Reviewers consistently flag this.

Where it lands among rivals

Polestar 3 vs Volvo EX90. Same underpinnings, same Swedish safety story, and the EX90 opens $11,200 cheaper at $119,900 list — plus it seats seven. If you need the third row or want a lower entry price, the EX90 is the rational pick. The Polestar 3 answers with a sharper drive and the 350 kW charging peak.

Polestar 3 vs BMW iX. The iX xDrive45 M Sport sits at $142,900 list — a $11,800 premium — and is quicker (5.1 seconds to 100 km/h vs 4.7 for the Dual Motor). But the Polestar 3 outpoints it on charging speed (350 kW vs 200 kW) and, per almost every AU reviewer, matches it on cabin quality. The BMW dealer network is bigger.

Polestar 3 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The 350 4MATIC lists at $136,600 with 660 km WLTP — the longest quoted range in this cross-shop. The Mercedes wins on badge weight and range; the Polestar wins on drive quality and charging speed.

Who should buy one

• Buyers cross-shopping the German premium SUVs who want something less predictable in the driveway.
• Long-distance drivers who’ll actually use the 350 kW DC charging.
• Households already inside the Volvo/Polestar service ecosystem.
• Anyone prioritising ride comfort over outright badge value.

Who should pass

• Seven-seat families — the boot’s tight and there’s no third-row option; the EX90 exists for a reason.
• Value-focused shoppers who cannot ignore how quickly options push the price past $150,000.
• Anyone allergic to touchscreen-buried climate and vehicle controls.
• Buyers in regional Australia far from a Polestar Space or Volvo dealer for service.

Verdict

The Long Range Dual Motor is the version of the Polestar 3 that earns the badge. Air suspension, a genuinely premium cabin, class-leading 350 kW charging and a 5-star ANCAP rating slot it neatly into the segment’s top bracket alongside the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV. Just walk into the configurator with a clear head — this is a $130,000 car that becomes a $180,000 car very quickly.