Yahoo Autos 2025 Polestar 3 EV SUV Adds a Less Powerful, Cheaper RWD Option
The Polestar 3 lineup is expanding with the addition of a single-motor rear-wheel-drive option.
The rear-drive car gets the same 107.0-kWh battery pack as the dual-motor variants, though power is reduced to 295 horsepower and 361 lb.-ft. of torque.
While Polestar hasn't confirmed pricing for North America, we expect the new trim to start just under $70,000 when it goes on sale here later this summer.
The Polestar 3 is already on sale in Europe, but before it starts to reach U.S. customers Polestar has confirmed that a cheaper single-motor version will be added to the lineup. This variant will join the previously announced all-wheel-drive Long Range Dual Motor and Long Range Dual Motor Performance variants, and it will offer less horsepower but likely more range than either.
With just one motor powering the rear axle, the rear-wheel-drive 3 makes markedly less power than the dual-motor variants. It generates 295 horsepower and 361 lb.-ft. of torque compared to 483 hp in the standard dual-motor setup and 510 horsepower in the optional Performance trim.
What the rear-drive model lacks in power and performance, it should make up for in additional range. It has the same 107.0-kWh battery pack as the dual-motor trims, which is good for charging speeds of up to 250 kW on a DC fast-charging connection. We don't yet have EPA numbers, but Polestar says Long Range Single Motor trim can travel just over 400 miles between charges using the less stringent WLTP testing. That means the RWD car should beat out the dual-motor models' U.S. range ratings, which sit at 315 miles for the Long Range and 279 miles for the Performance pack.
While the rear-drive Polestar 3 ditches one of its motors, it maintains the features and comfort of the more powerful trims. According to Polestar, there's a full options list for the entry-level model. There are six paint options to choose from, with choices for the interior finish. There are also four wheel options including a newly available set of 21-inch alloy wheels as part of the Pro Pack.
Polestar hasn't confirmed pricing for North America yet, but we expect the entry model to start just shy of $70,000 before any potential tax incentives it may get for being built in South Carolina. That figure would put it $5000 below the Long Range Dual Motor trim and more than $10,000 below the Performance model. According to the manufacturer, North American production is expected to start this summer with deliveries beginning later in the year.
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