2025 Polestar 3 RWD First Drive – same package, more savings and efficiency
Polestar invited us up to the hills above Malibu for a drive of its new Single motor RWD Polestar 3, a lower-priced version of the brand’s all-electric SUV.
The RWD Polestar 3 is the new more efficient, longer-range version of the brand’s electric SUV with a lower starting price. It recently started production in the US, and is available now and even being shipped out for export to other markets.
Previous versions of the Polestar 3 were both dual motor – the 489hp Dual motor version and 517hp Dual motor Performance version.
The Single motor version deletes the front motor and uses only the rear motor, with 299hp (the number isn’t exactly half because total horsepower is also a function of the amount of power the battery pack can put out).
As a result of this, the Single motor version does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds, quite a bit slower than the 4.8 and 4.5 seconds of the other models.
It is however nearly 400lbs lighter after deletion of the front motor, and change to coil spring suspension, rather than air suspension on the upper models – and a lighter weight does have its own performance benefits.
These modifications make the Single motor model much more efficient, with 350 miles of range, compared to 315 miles for the Dual motor and 279 miles for the Performance version. All three models use the same hefty 111kWh battery, with the same 250kW peak DC charging rate, capable of charging from 10-80% in 30 minutes.
Polestar called the Single motor 3 “the most efficient Polestar yet” in its presentation to us, which didn’t sound right for an SUV – but it turns out, it does have the same ~350Wh/mi energy consumption rating as the smaller Polestar 2 and 4.
It also shaves nearly $6k off the price, starting at $67,500, compared to $73,400 for the Dual motor or $79,400 for the Performance model.
But how do those differences feel in the real world?
We had a couple hours with the Single motor car, and only a very short drive up and down PCH with the Dual motor Performance as a quick back-to-back comparison. We didn’t get a chance to charge the cars, or to do any sort of realistic range testing.
But we did definitely feel the huge difference in power between these models.
The Performance version predictably has pretty bonkers levels of power, and will really throw your head back when in performance mode.
The Single motor version is much more sedate by comparison. It still has snappy throttle response like one would expect of an electric car, but power was much weaker, especially at higher speeds.
As a result, merging performance was not as exceptional as in other EVs. One great thing about instant torque is that it makes it very easy to get exactly where you want to be, when you want to be there during merges or lane changes.
Regenerative braking also could be stronger. Less motor power also means less regen capacity, and while Polestar did retune regenerative braking for the Single motor version, it didn’t quite feel strong enough to me. I like very strong off-throttle regen, but found myself hitting the brake pedal much more than I’d have liked. Regen is adjustable, but even on the strongest level, I’d have liked more.
However, perhaps unexpectedly, I might have even liked the feel of the throttle more on the Single motor than the Performance. I’ll attempt to explain why.
One thing that Dual motor vehicles often do is put one of the two motors “asleep” when traveling at a consistent speed in order to increase efficiency. Then when power is called for, the car wakes up the second motor.
On the Performance model, if you have “performance” mode turned off, this wakeup takes a second or so, which means pressing the accelerator leads to a ramp-up effect in power delivery. The car’s software smooths this out, but it still feels a little strange.
If “performance” mode is turned on, both motors are always powered – so there’s no ramp-up effect, just unbridled power. But in that case, the car has so much power that it can feel a little jumpy on the throttle.
Meanwhile, with the single motor version, there is no sleeping of the motor, but since the motor is weaker, rough throttle inputs from the driver’s foot are mediated by the fact that there simply isn’t as much power there to jerk you around.
As a result, the Single motor ends up giving a more sedate, but more comfortable driving or riding experience.
On roads as twisty as the ones we drove on, I’ve had poor drive experiences in the past with co-drivers who are perhaps less accustomed to the instant torque of an EV and have a shaky throttle foot. But this time that wasn’t an issue at all – probably due partially to the EV experience of my co-driver, and also partially due to the Single motor’s more sedate character.
Now, the Single motor version’s coil suspension should stand to offer less ride comfort than the air suspension of the Dual motor, but we found no particular discomfort with the new coil suspension system.
We had a lot more time with the Single motor than the Dual, and our time with the Dual was on a smooth section of PCH rather than the curvy mountain roads we spent most of our time on, but I will say that both driving and riding in the Single motor was a plenty comfortable experience.
For comparison, I do not like the suspension in the Polestar 2, so either version of the Polestar 3 is a superior experience to that one.
Other aspects of the Polestar 3 Single motor are the same as the Dual motor version which we’ve reviewed before. For some quick takes on the rest:
- The seats are comfortable but I felt the cockpit was maybe a little crowded. I do like the Scandinavian-style sparseness of Tesla cockpits by comparison, and Tesla out-Scandinavian’d the Scandinavians here. If the Tesla cockpit is just a bit too sparse for you, then maybe this will provide the balance you want.
- The user interface is good and snappy, with occasional small hiccups (for example, it took maybe a second to load the page with mirror adjustments on it). I’ve experienced one really rough UI in a Polestar before, in a pre-production version of the 4, and this interface does not exhibit the difficulties of that one.
- We didn’t get a chance to test any driver assist features, other than lane departure warning, which had a fairly well-balanced intervention level. I do think it’s easy to get this wrong and make the interventions too light or too strong, and this car’s worked pretty well but was perhaps slightly lighter than I’d like.
- Can I just point out how much I love this front wing design feature? It reduces frontal area and improves efficiency, adds character, and leverages a benefit that EVs have (smaller engine compartment) to give the car a practical benefit (the Dodge Charger Daytona has a similar front wing, and I love it there too).
It’s not cheap though. The $6k in savings when compared to the Dual motor version are definitely appreciated, but $67,500 is still a steep starting price
That price is higher than the segment’s most popular vehicle, the Tesla Model Y (currently $60k for the Launch Edition model of the Juniper refresh, though once a base model is available, that will go down). Of course, many people wouldn’t buy a Tesla at any price right now, and Polestar’s new CEO sees this as an opportunity. In service of this, Polestar recently initiated a Tesla conquest offer, seeking to lure Tesla owners away (and even better, think of all the money you’ll save on bumper stickers).
Overall, the Polestar 3 Single motor offered a smooth and comfortable ride experience as driver or passenger. If you’re looking at the Polestar 3 but prioritize comfort, efficiency and savings, this new base model offers a compelling package for anyone who knows they won’t be hitting a track or drag strip anytime soon.
The Polestar 3 Single motor is available now for order and configuration over at Polestar’s website.
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Donald Trump signed two executive orders today that walked back parts of tariffs he previously imposed on US automakers ahead of a rally in Michigan to mark his first 100 days in office.
The Wall Street Journal first reported today in an exclusive that Trump was “expected to soften the impact of his automotive tariffs, preventing duties on foreign-made cars from stacking on top of other tariffs and easing some levies on car parts.”
Trump signed an executive order making sure the 25% tariffs on vehicles and certain auto parts won’t stack on top of existing aluminum, steel, or Canada and Mexico tariffs. He also gave automakers a credit to help blunt the impact of the 25% duties on imported parts that go into US-built cars.
Trump’s backpedal comes after weeks of meeting with automaker executives, and a week after a coalition that included GM, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai sent a letter urging him to drop tariffs on foreign auto parts due to land in May.
American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) president Matt Blunt today said in response to the executive orders, “American Automakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis appreciate the administration’s clarification that tariffs will not be layered on top of the existing Section 232 tariffs on autos and auto parts. Applying multiple tariffs to the same product or part was a significant concern for American automakers, and we are glad to see this addressed. We will review the details of the executive order closely to assess how effectively it will mitigate the impact of tariffs on American automakers, our domestic supply chains and ultimately American consumers.” The AAPC represents Ford, GM, and Stellantis.
Electrek’s Take
The 25% auto tariffs implemented under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act aren’t going anywhere, and most economists say that tariffs will raise car prices and slow auto sales. This White House Fact Sheet is titled, “President Donald J. Trump Incentivizes Domestic Automobile Production.” Where’s the incentive? US automakers are just getting hit with the stick once instead of twice, and they’re thanking Trump for it.
The carrot that worked as an incentive was Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, along with the stability that came with it. All this whiplash is terrible for the US and global economy.
Read more: Killing IRA EV tax credits will ruin US EV and battery industries – Princeton study
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New data suggests that the Tesla Powerwall 3 is significantly disrupting the US solar inverter market.
The home battery pack’s integrated inverter is changing the game.
Tesla acquired its solar business when it bought SolarCity in a controversial deal due to Musk being a large shareholder of both Tesla and SolarCity, and Musk’s cousin led the latter.
The automaker kept the SolarCity operations going for a few years. In fact, it continued until after Tesla shareholders sued Musk over the acquisition, and Musk defended himself by claiming that SolarCity had become an integral part of Tesla.
Shortly after he won the lawsuit, Tesla virtually stopped all operations that came from its SolarCity acquisition, which primarily consisted of residential solar financing and installations.
Tesla even stopped reporting solar deployment. The company’s energy business now consists almost entirely of Powerwall and Megapack deployments.
However, the launch of the Powerwall 3 has indirectly brought Tesla back into the solar business, as the home battery pack features an inverter that works for both solar and storage applications.
EnergySage is a company that matches solar installers with potential buyers, and as a result, it has a wealth of interesting data about the solar industry in the US. Today, it released its Spring 2025 Marketplace report.
In the report, EnergySage revealed that Tesla became the second-most quoted inverter brand in the second half of last year:
Tesla became the most quoted battery brand in H2 2024, occupying 63% of Marketplace share nationwide. Because the Powerwall 3 includes an integrated inverter, Tesla also became the second-most quoted inverter brand. With batteries increasingly being added to solar systems—the national battery attachment rate jumped to 45% in H2 2024, an all-time high—Tesla’s growth was a key driver of the low storage and solar prices seen on EnergySage. In 2025, we are examining whether brand backlash and equipment shortages will affect Tesla’s Marketplace share.
This is also a byproduct of the increased popularity of energy storage systems when deploying new solar systems.
In big solar markets like California and Texas, the majority of residential solar quotes are attached to batteries, and Tesla is not the top quoted brand, thanks to Powerwall 3:
Powerwall was already the preferred home battery pack for many homeowners, and the fact that it now includes a solar inverter has made it even more attractive, as most home energy storage systems in the US are being deployed along with rooftop solar.
The Powerwall 3’s solar inverter integration is pushing solar plus storage costs down quite a bit.
The popularity of the Powerwall 3 has particularly hurt Enphase, a leader in solar inverter. It had 73% of the US market in 2022, and now it is down to 53%.
Despite Tesla driving prices down, Powerwall 3 is not the cheapest battery pack available. Panasonic and EG4 batteries were both priced lower on a per kWh basis than Tesla’s in the second half of 2024, but Tesla won on cost when also replacing the solar inverter.
However, it’s not all good news from Tesla. EnergySage also recently reported an increase in customers requesting alternatives to Powerwalls in 2025, partly due to Elon Musk’s increasing controversy.
If you’re interested in installing solar panels and/or batteries for your home, we recommend using EnergySage. You will be able to get quotes without any hassle and only talk to someone when you are ready to move forward. Within minutes, you can get on the path to producing your own power with solar and battery storage, including with Powerwall.
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Here’s something most people don’t know: In the US, switching to solar and battery-based energy can actually save you money on taxes. And it’s not a future promise – it’s happening right now. Under the US Residential Clean Energy Credit, BLUETTI’s eligible solar systems and home batteries qualify for a 30% federal tax credit through 2032. That means with the right model, like the AC500 Home Battery Backup, you’re not only saving on electricity, you could also get a portion of your purchase back during tax season.
Meanwhile, gas generators are quietly costing more
There’s a reason so many people have relied on gas generators: they’re familiar, accessible, and have served us well for years. But as fuel prices continue to rise and usage becomes more frequent, the hidden costs of gas generators are quietly piling up:
- Ongoing fuel expenses, especially during summer or storm seasons
- Routine maintenance and part replacements
- Stricter regulations in certain areas limiting usage times
- Noise complaints and environmental concerns
It’s not about shaming these tools—it’s about recognizing when the cost-to-benefit ratio starts to shift.
Not ready to give up your generator? Start small with the BLUETTI AC60
The move to clean energy doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Sometimes, the right first step is simply trying a lightweight alternative, like the AC60 Portable Power Station (Pioneer 50).
- Compact and powerful: 600W output (1000W surge) covers most outdoor needs
- Historically affordable: Only $269 after subsidy
- Fast charging: 80% charge within an hour
- IP65-rated for water and dust resistance – ideal for outdoor life
- Backed by a 6-year warranty, cutting down on waste and replacement costs
- Expandable to 2,015Wh capacity for powering phones, laptops, and more
Whether you’re into camping, road trips, or just want something for light backup at home, portable power stations like AC60 are an easy way to test the waters – no big commitment needed.
Need something stronger? Apex 300 is built to last
For those looking to level up their home battery backup or long-term savings, the Apex 300 offers a durable, future-forward alternative. With second-gen EV-grade batteries rated for 6,000+ cycles, this power station can last up to 17 years – nearly twice as long as typical models.
More reasons why Apex 300 stands out:
- Ultra-efficient 20W AC idle drain extends fridge runtime by up to 24 hours and boosts CPAP usage by 2.5x compared to typical units
- Built-in 120V/240V dual output with 12,000W bypass that powers 99% of home appliances, even a Tesla EV
- 2-year savings sprint when paired with one Solar X 4K Charge Controller for a massive 6400W solar input
- Whisper-quiet at 40dB, no fumes, no fuel
- Time-of-use savings made easy: Easily schedule and monitor energy usage with a user-friendly app and a clear, intuitive LED screen
- Expandable ecosystem: Add extra B300K batteries or a smart 700W Hub D1 to grow your setup as your needs evolve, from whole-home backup to off-grid RV power
This isn’t about replacing your gas generator overnight. It’s about introducing a better Plan B that’s cleaner, quieter, and built for the long haul.
Thinking about a cleaner future? BLUETTI is offering a little help
In honor of Earth Day, BLUETTI has launched a new Clean Energy Incentive Program. Gas generator owners around the world can submit basic info about their devices and select a clean power product to receive an exclusive subsidy.
The compact AC60 and other select models are already available at subsidized prices through BLUETTI’s Clean Energy Incentive Program – a practical step designed to support a smoother, more affordable transition to greener living.
Meanwhile, early access to the all-new Apex 300 Portable Power Station is now open through May 19, ahead of its official launch on May 20 on Indiegogo.
Going green isn’t about rushing
It’s about small, thoughtful choices that build toward something better – for your home, your wallet, and the planet. BLUETTI believes real change happens step by step, just like the LAFF (Light An African Family) Initiative. By walking the same path as those in need, the team can better understand and manage which solutions will most effectively help families who need affordable, sustainable energy.
So even if your gas generator still works just fine, it might be worth looking at a smarter backup. The future doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. It can start with one quiet step with BLUETTI’s solutions, and this simple step could lead to a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.
About BLUETTI
BLUETTI is a dedicated advocate for sustainability, integrating ESG principles throughout product design and corporate initiatives. Through impactful projects like LAAF (Light An African Family), BLUETTI provides affordable, sustainable energy solutions to communities across Africa. By partnering with Leave No Trace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BLUETTI supports responsible outdoor recreation through clean energy solutions that minimize environmental footprints. This blend of craftsmanship, reliability, and a focus on real-world needs is what makes BLUETTI trusted in over 110 countries and regions.
Follow BLUETTI on Twitter/X here and on Facebook here.
All photos: BLUETTI
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