Premium electric SUV offers lots of cabin space, superior fit and finish, as well as respectable performance

The Polestar 3 has issues. Software issues, to be precise.

- Christopher Tan

They had delayed the launch of the car by more than a year. And even now, they are not fully resolved.

But if you are patient, Polestar says an upcoming software update should set things right. That seems to be increasingly the norm with makers of electric vehicles (EV) these days. The "build first, fix later" strategy started by Tesla has followers apparently elsewhere.

found Still, Polestar must be quite confident of its latest product to allow for test drives before all kinks are ironed out. And there is some basis for that confidence.

The Polestar 3 is the most refined electric car to come from the Geely-owned Swedish company.

Despite measuring 4,900mm long, 1,968mm wide and 1,614mm tall, and weighing more than 2.5 tonnes, the car moves with the calmness and agility of a smaller, lighter car.

Which is commendable, since most full-size sport utility vehicles (SUVs) tend to amble around like pregnant elephants. Compared with the Polestar 4 SUV-coupe tested in September, the 3's higher level of sophistication is obvious.

Not only does it convey a more settled ride, it is also more manoeuvrable. Whether you are making a U-turn or negotiating a carpark ramp, the 3 is more effortless than the 4. In a built-up city, these considerations are crucial.