Polestar sets world record for production electric SUV driving range

All-new Polestar 3 covers nearly 1000km on a single charge

By carsales.com.au

Polestar has broken the longest distance driven by a production electric SUV on a single charge to set a new Guiness World Record.

A Polestar 3 SUV covered 935.44km before needing to recharge, eclipsing the manufacturer’s claimed WLTP range of 706km and beating the previous record set in 2024 with a Mustang Mach-e by almost 20km.

There is a catch though; the record was set at snail’s pace taking a trio of drivers almost 23 hours to complete at an average speed of just over 40km/h.

The team, which consisted of three efficiency expert drivers – Britons Sam Clark, Kevin Brooker and Richard Parker – drove a 2026 Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor for three-hour shifts across a route that included tight British farm lanes, dual carriageway highways and country roads.

Not surprisingly, they drove in typical British mixed weather conditions, including heavy rain that normally has an adverse effect on long distance range.

To cover the total distance, it took them 22 hours and 57 minutes to average just 12.2kWh/100km – almost half the energy consumption you would expect to see in the large 2.4-tonne SUV in normal driving conditions.

Adjudicated by Guinness World Record judges, the range attempt was independently monitored and then verified thanks to video footage, odometer readings, GPS data and the onboard battery charge level indicators.

According to the drivers, the Polestar was so efficient that when it reached the official WLTP figure of 706km, the battery still retained 20 per cent of its capacity.

Even after the battery was fully drained and displayed the zero per cent charge warning, the large heavy SUV still drove a further 12.8km before stopping.

Conforming with the regulations set by Guinness World Records, the Polestar 3 that took part in the trial was completely unmodified, riding on its standard 20-inch alloy wheels that were fitted with stock Michelin Sport 4 EV tyres.

Commenting on the achievement, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said: "We are very proud to say we have a world record holder in the Polestar family! This official Guinness World Record for range is another proof point that Polestar 3 is setting new standards. We will continue to push the boundaries of technology and electric performance."

The Long Range is the entry-level model in the Polestar 3 line-up, priced from $116,754 plus on-road charges. There are also dual motor Polestar 3 models on-sale in Australia priced from $131,054.

However, Polestar is unlikely to hold the record for very long after Chevrolet set a new unofficial benchmark for EV driving range when a lightly modified version of its battery-powered Silverado pick-up recorded an incredible 1704.6km on a single charge.

Helping it drive almost twice as far as the Polestar 3, the Silverado EV used for the unofficial record came equipped with GM's flagship 205kWh battery – almost double the capacity of the Polestar’s 111kWh.

It also completed the drive in a series of slow one-hour sessions rather than driving continuously.

^{Disclaimer: Images supplied by Polestar.}

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