The world of large electric SUVs is one fiercely contested market.
You have the BMW iX, the Mercedes EQE SUV, the Audi Q8 E-tron, and now the Polestar 3.
This is set to become the biggest car in the Swedish brand's line-up, and something of a flagship product that will arrive ahead of other, smaller models.
Somewhat confusingly, these all receive larger numbers - those being 4, 5 and 6 - and are set to arrive by 2026.
What isn't so confusing is that this is the biggest Polestar we’re going to get for quite some time. Built on Volvo's latest SPA2 platform, it is a sister car to the new Volvo EX90 and is assembled at Volvo's factory in South Carolina in the US. Despite the fact that Polestar is a Chinese brand, the 3 will not be built in China.
What else is surprising is the way this car is designed, because it's not like many other large SUVs on the market today.
With a low roofline and small frontal area for better aerodynamic efficiency, the Polestar 3 sports a low-slung, lean silhouette that makes it quite striking when you see it in person.
This distinctive shape also means it has an all-electric range of 300 miles in the real world, which puts it ahead of several key rivals such as the BMW iX and Audi Q8 E-tron (despite those cars being older and costing similar money).
It's inside where the real developments have occurred, however. One of the first things you notice is the 14.5in portrait-oriented touchscreen that has the ability to receive software updates and sport all kinds of digital technology.
For example, you can adjust the door mirrors and fog light controls using the screen, as well as the air conditioning and radio controls. This, however, means that it is left with so much to do that it can be distracting on the move.
Having said that, the quality of the materials inside is quite impressive and somewhat understated. Moreover, the cabin itself feels like you're sitting in a much bigger car: something that large SUV buyers will like.
What about performance? From launch, all cars come with two electric motors producing either 483bhp or 510bhp. The more powerful model is only available if you select the optional Performance Pack, which adds other sporting goodies such as bigger brakes and re-tuned air suspension.
Even if you go for the 483bhp car, however, performance is brisk. With 620lb ft of torque, 0-62mph takes 5.0sec and its top speed stands at 130mph. What's more, it's quite efficient, promising energy consumption figures as low as 2.9mpkWh.
The Polestar 3's chassis is more than up to the job of handling this power. It has been fitted with a clutch-based torque-vectoring differential which helps the car to feel nicely balanced under power.
What's more, the steering feels gentle and consistent, and its body control (despite weighing 2548kg) is composed even at speed.
Overall, we believe the new Polestar 3 is a spacious, relaxing and classy electric SUV that has a dynamic character clear enough to set it apart from such a tough crowd. What's more, the breadth of its dynamic ability makes it a compelling prospect even for keen drivers.
