Polestar 3 vs Porsche Cayenne

The Polestar 3 starts from $116,700 before on-road costs, while the Porsche Cayenne opens at $138,800. That makes the Polestar 3 the more affordable entry point by $22,100.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $128,370 and $152,680 respectively.

The Polestar 3 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Porsche Cayenne, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Polestar 3 and Porsche Cayenne hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Polestar 3 packs more ADAS features with 10 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Porsche Cayenne.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera.

The Polestar 3 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 9-inch digital dash, while the Porsche Cayenne gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.6-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Polestar 3 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, ventilated seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Porsche Cayenne. The Porsche Cayenne counters with Apple CarPlay and BOSE audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Polestar 3 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Porsche Cayenne offers leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Polestar 3 and 2-zone in the Porsche Cayenne.

The Polestar 3 uses a Electric Motor producing 245kW and 480Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed fixed gear to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.5 seconds.

The Porsche Cayenne responds with a Petrol making 260kW and 500Nm, paired to a 8-speed auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

The Porsche Cayenne has the clear power advantage at 260kW vs 245kW. In the real-world sprint, the Porsche Cayenne is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Polestar 3 measures 4,900mm long on a 2,985mm wheelbase, 30mm shorter than the Porsche Cayenne at 4,930mm (2,895mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Polestar 3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 597L in the Polestar 3 and 698L in the Porsche Cayenne, giving the Porsche Cayenne a 101L advantage.

For towing, the Porsche Cayenne leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 2,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Polestar 3) vs 3 years / 999,999km (Porsche Cayenne). The Polestar 3 has longer coverage.