The Polestar 3 Got a Completely New Heart Without Changing Its Face
All three reviews make the same point about this 2026 update: from the outside, almost nothing has changed since the car launched in 2024. Underneath, practically everything has — new batteries, new motors, an all-new 800V electrical architecture and a completely fresh onboard computer.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A Facelift That Skipped the Face Entirely
Most mid-cycle refreshes focus on visible changes buyers can immediately spot. Reviewers keep noting Polestar took the opposite approach here, pouring the update almost entirely into hardware nobody can see, but everybody can feel.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Five-seat electric SUV |
|---|---|
| Versions | Rear Motor (333bhp), Dual Motor (544bhp), Performance (680bhp) |
| 0–62mph | 6.5 sec (Rear) to 3.9 sec (Performance) |
| Claimed range | Up to 394 miles official |
| Max DC charging | Up to 350kW (800V architecture) |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear praised the new 800V core for enabling significantly faster charging to keep pace with BMW's Neue Klasse and Hyundai Group rivals, rating the interior as techy, spacious and lovely with a calm, premium feel throughout. They found the touchscreen-heavy control layout genuinely frustrating on the move despite sharp graphics, though noted this heavy mid-cycle refresh suggests Polestar is willing to keep adapting based on what buyers actually want.
What Car?
What Car? rated the Single Motor as a neat, confidence-inspiring handler that only starts to feel its 2.4-tonne weight once pushed hard, and praised the mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, akin to a Porsche Macan Turbo Electric, for helping every version tackle a twisty road with genuine confidence. They found adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors requires a fiddly combination of touchscreen and buttons, similar to a Tesla, though noted each family member can save their own settings to avoid repeating the process.
🎬 Watch: 2026 Polestar 3 review (same video, watch above ↗)
evo
evo praised the new BorgWarner dual-clutch torque-vectoring rear axle, a first for any EV, for making the car feel genuinely neutral and composed when pushing on, with progressive throttle response regardless of drive mode. They found real-world range fell well short of the claimed 368 miles on a mountain-road test route, returning closer to 230 miles, and rated the steering as short on outright feedback but reassuringly weighted with good off-centre response.
🎬 Watch: 2026 Polestar 3 review (same video, watch above ↗)
Trims & Engines at a Glance
The 2026 update switched the whole range to a new 800V electrical architecture, boosting charging speed — but the single-motor Rear Motor variant lost the standard air suspension that all-wheel-drive versions keep.
| Derivative | Engine | Power | Transmission | Body | 0–62mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear Motor | Single electric motor, RWD | 333bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 6.5s |
| Dual Motor | Dual electric motors, AWD | 536bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 4.5s |
| Performance | Dual electric motors, AWD | 680bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 3.9s |
Rear Motor uses a 92kWh battery for up to 374 miles; Dual Motor and Performance share a larger 106kWh pack for up to 402 and 373 miles respectively. Air suspension comes only with all-wheel drive. Check Polestar's UK configurator for current pricing.
Strengths
- Dramatically faster charging following the 800V update
- Genuinely composed, confidence-inspiring handling for the size
- Premium, spacious cabin with excellent build quality
- Novel torque-vectoring rear axle improves both efficiency and agility
Weak points
- Touchscreen-dependent controls remain frustrating on the move
- Real-world range can fall well short of official claims
- Genuinely heavy, with weight apparent during hard direction changes
- Non-Dual-Motor versions miss out on standard air suspension
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want a genuinely premium, well-resolved electric SUV alternative to the BMW iX and don't mind a heavily touchscreen-reliant interior. The Dual Motor is worth the extra outlay for standard air suspension, which every review rates as a meaningful step up in ride quality over the entry Rear Motor.
More Polestar Reviews
Watch the Reviews
Polestar 3 review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)