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Just ahead of first deliveries in the US later this year, Polestar has introduced two additional variants of the 2025 Polestar 3 SUV, including a new base-level dual motor version that starts at a price of $73,400. Other updates include add-on packages that are now standard and eligibility for lease incentives.

The 3 from Polestar ($PSNY) is the third model from the Geely-owned automaker and its second fully-electric option behind the popular Polestar 2 sedan. The 3 debuted in October 2022 as Polestar’s first crack at an SUV and the first branded EV to be built on US soil; a lot is riding on the success of the 3 SUV.

When launching in China a year ago, Polestar said the 3 would start at a price of $83,000 in the US, with deliveries scheduled to begin in late 2023. Since then, we’ve seen the 3 face production delays, citing more time required to finalize software development from Volvo Cars, which has since announced selling its majority stake in the EV brand.

After recently acquiring $1 billion in external funds, Polestar 3 production is now underway in China, with US builds expected to follow later this year. Before those deliveries begin, however, the Polestar 3 has seen some additions to its available variants as well as revised prices. Here’s the latest.

Polestar 3 price
The Polestar 3 / Source: Polestar

Polestar 3 gains new lower price, dual motor variant

When initial US sales of the Polestar 3 began in January, the automaker only offered two options at a higher price than today’s news.

Customers could reserve a Long Range Dual Motor variant with Polestar’s Pilot Pack and Plus Pack included for $78,900 or choose the same drivetrain configuration that also includes a Performance Pack upgrade for $84,900 (not including $1,400 in destination fees).

Today, the EV automaker has introduced two additional variants of the Polestar 3, available at two separate prices below each of the original options. Here’s how the four choices of the 2025 Polestar 3 now compare by configuration, performance, and, of course, price:

Polestar 3 Variant Long Range Dual Motor w/ Pilot Pack Long Range Dual Motor w/ Pilot and Plus Pack Long Range Dual Motor w/ Pilot and Performance Pack Long Range Dual Motor w/ Pilot, Plus, and Performance Pack
Drivetrain AWD AWD AWD AWD
Battery Capacity 111 kWh 111 kWh 111 kWh 111 kWh
Max Charging Rate (DC) 250 kW 250 kW 250 kW 250 kW
EPA Estimated Range 315 miles 315 miles 279 miles 279 miles
Power 489 hp 489 hp 517 hp 517 hp
Torque 620 lb-ft 620 lb-ft 671 lb-ft 671 lb-ft
0-60 mph Acceleration 5.0 seconds 5.0 seconds 4.7 seconds 4.7 seconds
Starting Price* $73,400 $78,900 $79,400 $84,900
* – Prices do not include $1,400 in destination fees / Source: Polestar

The bolstered Polestar 3 portfolio now includes a standard Long Range Dual Motor version of the Polestar 3, with the Pilot Pack add-on, but no Plus or Performance, starting at a price below $73,500.

The Pilot Pack remains standard on all Polestar 3 variants and includes Lane Change Assist, Park Assist Pilot, and a head-up display. US customers can also now opt for an SUV variant priced between the two initially announced options that include the Pilot and Performance upgrades, but not the Plus Pack, which includes a 25-speaker audio system designed explicitly for Polestar 3 by Bowers & Wilkins, MicroTech, or animal welfare wool seats, 21-inch Plus wheels, and heated seats in the rear. That variant of the Polestar 3 starts at a price of $79,400.

In addition to better power, torque, and acceleration detailed in the chart above, the Polestar Performance Pack includes chassis tuning, 22-inch Performance forged wheels, and “Swedish gold” accents throughout, including its seat belts.

As we reported in January, all variants of the new 2025 3 SUV also qualify for the Polestar Clean Vehicle Incentive of $7,500 for customers who choose to lease. US customer deliveries of the Polestar 3 will begin in Q2 2024, beginning with the $73,400 standard version. Starting today, new variants with revised pricing of the 2025 Polestar 3 are available to configure and pre-order.

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Kia announces EV5 prices, offering up to 329 miles of range

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Kia announces EV5 prices, offering up to 329 miles of range

The Kia EV5 has officially arrived in the UK. Boasting up to 329 miles of range, Kia opened orders for the new Sportage-sized electric SUV on Monday. Here’s a breakdown of Kia EV5 prices, range, and other specs for the UK market.

Kia EV5 prices and range in the UK

Kia calls the EV5 “a cornerstone” of its electrification strategy. The midsize electric SUV is about the size of a Tesla Model Y and loaded with Kia’s latest tech, software, and sleek new styling.

After opening EV5 orders in the UK on Monday, Kia now offers an SUV across every powertrain in Europe’s most competitive segment.

The EV5 is available in three trims: Air, GT-Line, and GT-Line S. All three variants are powered by an 81.4 kWh battery, offering a range of up to 329 miles. Based on a 400V platform, Kia said the electric SUV can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.

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All three are powered by a single front-mounted electric motor, capable of producing up to 214 horsepower (160 kW) and 295 Nm of torque. The EV5 can go from 0 to 62 mph in 8.4 seconds.

Kia-EV5-prices-UK
Kia EV5 GT-Line (Source: Kia UK)

The interior features Kia’s new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), which includes a three-screen infotainment system.

Kia’s ccNC infotainment features dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 5.3″ climate control display. A customizable 12.3″ Head-Up Display (HUD) is available on higher trim options.

At 1,875 mm wide, 4,610 mm long, 1,675 mm tall, and a wheelbase of 2,750mm, the EV5 is 10mm wider, 70mm longer, and 30mm taller than the Sportage.

Prices for the base Kia EV5 Air start at £39,295 ($53,000), on-the-road (OTR). Upgrading to the sporty GT-Line model, which gains exclusive trim exterior and interior design elements, is priced from £42,595 ($57,800). The range-topping GT-Line S starts at £47,095 ($63,700).

Starting Price
(OTR)
Driving Range
(WLTP)
Kia EV5 Air £39,295 ($53,000) 329 miles
Kia EV5 GT-Line £42,595 ($57,800) 313 miles
Kia EV5 GT-Line S £47,095 ($63,700) 313 miles
Kia EV5 prices and range in the UK

The EV5 joins the EV3, EV4, EV6, and EV9 as Kia expands its electric vehicle lineup in the UK. Kia’s EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first half of 2025.

Can its bigger brother, the EV5, top it? Pre-orders are now open, and Kia plans to deliver the first customer vehicles later this year.

As a sibling to the Sportage, Kia’s global, European, and UK-wide best-selling vehicle, it might actually have a chance. Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

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Tesla reduces price of new Model 3 in China weeks after launch, amid sales slump

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Tesla reduces price of new Model 3 in China weeks after launch, amid sales slump

Tesla has reduced the price of the Model 3 RWD Long Range, a newly launched version of the popular Model 3, amid a sales slump.

As we reported last week, China has reached a tipping point of EV adoption: the majority of new car sales are electric.

Yet, Tesla, which was once the largest EV company in China, is not benefiting from the surge in EV sales in China.

As of last week, Tesla’s sales in China are down 6.3% year-to-date based on insurance registration data compared to 2024.

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Electric vehicle competition is intensifying, and Tesla is struggling to keep up.

Over the last few weeks, Tesla has launched two new versions of the Model 3 and Model Y to help stem the decline in China.

For Model 3, Tesla launched a new Long Range RWD version in early August for 269,500 yuan.

Today, Tesla slashed the price by 10,000 yuan just weeks after the launch – indicating that demand was lower than anticipated.

Furthermore, Tesla is also offering a series of incentives on top of the price reduction:

  • Participate in the referral bonus promotion and place an order before September 30th to receive an 8,000 yuan bonus on optional paint.
  • Order select models (excluding the High-Performance All-Wheel Drive version) before September 30th to apply for a limited-time 5-year 0% interest financing plan. Order
  • select models (excluding the High-Performance All-Wheel Drive version) and receive delivery before September 30th, along with partner insurance, to receive a limited-time subsidy of 8,000 yuan.

Competition in the EV sector is tough in China. New models are being launched every week, and prices are incredibly competitive.

Tesla is still performing well in the premium segment, but its most popular models are, by far, the cheaper Model 3 and Model Y in RWD versions. Meanwhile, Chinese EV automakers have launched numerous vehicles in these segments.

Electrek’s Take

Add this to the numerous red flags regarding Tesla’s declining sales worldwide.

For Tesla, Europe is almost a thing of the past. China is in a steady decline, while the US is expected to experience only slight growth.

The level of competition in China is simply too high, resulting in Tesla selling many vehicles in the market for virtually 0% gross margin.

This is not sustainable and will likely result in Tesla starting to lose money in 2026 without some major changes.

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Volkswagen is about to unveil its most affordable electric SUV

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Volkswagen is about to unveil its most affordable electric SUV

With just a week left until its official debut, Volkswagen is giving us a sneak peek of its most affordable electric SUV, the ID.2. Here’s our closest look at the new entry-level EV.

The Volkswagen ID.2 is an affordable electric SUV

Volkswagen is revamping its electric car lineup with a new family of entry-level models, starting with the ID.2. The ID.2 is an electric hatch that VW promises is “spacious like a Golf,” yet still “affordable like a Polo.

With a starting price of around € 25,000 ($29,000), the ID.2 will be among the most affordable electric cars on the market.

Shortly after launching the electric hatch, Volkswagen is set to introduce an SUV version of the ID.2, which could be an even bigger hit. The ID.2 SUV will sit below the ID.3 and ID.4 in Volkswagen’s EV lineup as an even more affordable crossover SUV option.

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Although we’ve seen the hatch out testing a few times, the SUV version has been mostly kept under wraps outside of a blurry image from December 2023. That is, until now.

Volkswagen’s design boss, Andreas Mindt, offered a closer look at the ID.2 SUV on Monday, releasing a few new teasers. The images reveal a sleek new look from its current ID models, closer in style to the updated T-Roc, which was unveiled last week.

Mindt said the “design speaks for itself.” The ID.2 and SUV versions will be based on a new MEB+ platform, which will underpin Volkswagen’s upcoming lineup of entry-level EVs.

Volkswagen-most-affordable-electric-SUV
Volkswagen ID.2X electric SUV (Source: Volkswagen)

The hatch will be offered with two battery pack options: 38 kWh or 56 kWh, offering a WLTP range of up to 280 miles. Volkswagen has yet to reveal final prices and range for the SUV version.

According to VW’s tech development boss, Kai Grünitz, the brand’s EV lineup is in line for a major refresh. Grünitz told Autocar that “huge improvements” were coming, including updated styling inside and out.

Volkswagen-ID.2-EV-interior
Volkswagen’s ID 2all EV interior (Source: VW)

The interior will feature the new design, which includes a 12.9″ infotainment and 10.9″ driver display screens and plenty of physical controls. There will also be a few fun added features like the ability to switch between drive modes that resemble Volkswagen classics, like the Golf or Beetle.

Volkswagen-ID.2-EV-interior
Volkswagen ID 2all “Vintage” mode from the Golf era (Source: Andreas Mindt)

Since the ID.4 starts at around 35,000 euros ($41,000) to 40,000 euros ($47,000), depending on the market, you can expect prices to be slightly lower, likely at around 30,000 euros ($35,000).

Volkswagen will unveil the ID.2 SUV next week at the Munich Motor Show on September 7. The German auto giant claims the ID.2 SUV “is another important step towards bringing affordable electric mobility to the masses.” It’s expected to hit the market next year following the hatch version. We’ll learn more at the event.

Although the ID.2 is not expected to be sold in the US, Volkswagen’s current SUV, the ID.4, is actually already one of the most affordable electric SUVs. Volkswagen is currently offering ID.4 leases as low as $129 per month. That’s even cheaper than a Jetta.

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