Mat’s Car of the Day: the Polestar 3 is a brilliant electric car, and you can save over £40,000 on one

This is the Polestar 3, and if you’re after a stylish, comfortable and high-tech electric SUV then it should definitely be on your shortlist.

However, with prices starting from over £71,000 it is rather expensive. Thankfully, I know a way you can waft away in a Polestar 3 for a lot less than that. If you check out used examples through Carwow, you can get one of these cars for the same price as a nicely-specced Peugeot 5008.

Here are three reasons you should consider buying a used Polestar 3, as well as three annoying things which could put you off.

Three things I love about the Polestar 3

1. It’s brilliant to drive

I honestly think the Polestar 3 is one of the best-driving electric cars you can buy. When you’re just cruising around it’s comfortable and quiet, then on a country road it can be genuinely good fun. It does a great job of masking its 2.5-tonne heft.

2. The interior is lovely

Swedish car makers know how to make a good interior, and the Polestar 3 has one of the best. Everything feels really plush and expensive, and I love the little details you can get like the gold seatbelts.

3. It’s spacious in the rear

There is plenty of room in the back of the Polestar 3. Adults will be able to stretch out comfortably, and while he was living with the car our YouTube Producer Rory White managed to fit three child seats across the rear bench without any fuss.

Polestar 3 used prices: why second hand makes the most sense

The Polestar 3 costs a whopping £71,000 from new, rising to almost £90,000 in top-spec Performance trim. However, I think buying a second hand example is the smarter move.

Polestar updates its cars over the air, and our long term test car even went in to get a new computer chip installed free of charge to speed up the infotainment system. This means a used car will have pretty much all the same features as a new one, but for a lot less money.

I found this 2024 Polestar 3 Performance with just over 3,000 miles on the clock for sale through Carwow, and it’s up for £44,000. That’s more than £40,000 less than the equivalent new car, and it’s about the same as a top-spec Peugeot E-5008.

Three annoying things about the Polestar 3

Not everything about the Polestar 3 is perfect. Here are three drawbacks to consider before handing over your cash.

1. Software glitches

The Polestar 3 is heavily reliant on its software. Everything inside is controlled through a touchscreen, and even the key is digital. During our six months with one, we experienced a host of glitches which ranged from mildly annoying to fairly catastrophic, such as when the key fob died and left us with no way of getting into the car without the app. This was eventually fixed with an over-the-air update though.

2. Smaller boot than alternatives

The Polestar 3 has a 484-litre boot, making it around 16 litres smaller than a BMW iX’s and more than 30 litres less than a Mercedes EQE SUV. At least you do get a deep storage area under the boot floor, as well as a big frunk up front.

3. Over-the-shoulder visibility

It’s a good job the Polestar 3 has a good surround-view camera system, because the thick C-pillars create a big blind spot over your shoulders. It makes parking a bit tricky, as well as tight junctions.

Small gripes aside, I reckon a used Polestar 3 is brilliant value for money. The constant updates keep your car feeling fresh, and it’s a properly luxurious EV for the money.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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