Until now, the Polestar 3 was only announced in a performance version for the Canadian market. Priced at $100,200, it offers 517 horsepower and 671 pound-feet of torque. The different variations depending on the equipment all gave an acceleration time of less than 5 seconds for 0 to 100 kilometers/hour.
In a world where the Teslas of this world constantly play with the prices of their vehicles, Polestar had to react; either it lowered prices or it expanded the offer for greater accessibility. For the moment it is the second option which is favored. The new base price for the 3 is now $95,900, a reduction of $7,000 compared to the Performance model. However, if we make a concession in terms of looks due to smaller rims, there is a notable gain that is made.
By retaining its 111 kilowatt-hour battery, reducing the size of the wheels and slightly reducing the power, we gain autonomy. Power for these “base” versions is now 489 horsepower, and torque, 620 pound-feet. This is a marginal drop of 28 horsepower and 51 pound-feet. In total, the acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers/hour will pass above 5 seconds. Ultimately, what will be most interesting is the gain of 57 kilometers in autonomy provided by these modifications.
Our opinion
There’s a lot going on at Polestar with the 3 and 4 sedan arriving over the next few months. Today’s electric vehicle world is constantly being turned upside down by Tesla and price swings. For the moment, this strategy of constant price reduction for its different models is forcing other manufacturers to react. It is increasingly common to see price adjustments in the world of electrification. Moreover, to better counter Tesla’s Y, Ford and Chevrolet have both lowered prices for the Mustang Mach-E and Blazer EV.
In the case of Polestar, we understand that the 3 is quite a bit more expensive than the Y and that it is closer to the X in terms of price. However, it makes sense that the manufacturer offers a more affordable version sooner rather than later. The difference is not huge, but it at least allows you to avoid the psychological barrier of $100,000.
We know that the 3, the 4 and the 5 are on the way, but if Polestar aims to do a greater production volume, we will have to offer a compact SUV in the $65,000 to $75,000 range. This is the segment where customers find themselves right now, and there is a good chance that this will be the case for many years to come.
