Polestar Polestar 4 vs smart #3

The Polestar Polestar 4 starts from $78,500 before on-road costs, while the smart #3 opens at $57,900. That makes the smart #3 the more affordable entry point by $20,600.

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 $86,350 and $63,690 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Polestar Polestar 4 and smart #3 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Polestar Polestar 4 and 90% for the smart #3.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Polestar Polestar 4 packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 8 in the smart #3.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Polestar Polestar 4 and 7 in the smart #3. The Polestar Polestar 4 adds a 360-degree camera that the smart #3 misses.

The Polestar Polestar 4 features a 15.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.2-inch digital dash, while the smart #3 gets a 12.8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Polestar Polestar 4 stands out with ventilated seats and Bowers & Wilkins audio that you will not find on the smart #3. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Polestar Polestar 4 uses a Electric Motor producing 200kW and 343Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed fixed gear to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.1 seconds.

The smart #3 responds with a Electric making 200kW and 343Nm, paired to a single-speed automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the smart #3 is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 100kWh (Polestar Polestar 4) vs 66kWh (smart #3), giving WLTP ranges of 620km and 435km. DC fast charging peaks at 200kW (Polestar Polestar 4) vs 130kW (smart #3).

The Polestar Polestar 4 measures 4,840mm long on a 2,999mm wheelbase, 440mm longer than the smart #3 at 4,400mm (2,785mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Polestar Polestar 4 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 526L in the Polestar Polestar 4 and 260L in the smart #3, giving the Polestar Polestar 4 a 266L advantage.

For towing, the smart #3 leads with a 1,600kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 100kg 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 Polestar 4) vs 5 years / 150,000km (smart #3). Both match on warranty length.