BMW IX vs Polestar 3

What's the difference?

When the BMW iX first showed up a few years ago, it was a promising look at what BMW seemed capable of when it comes to electric cars.

While mildly flawed, the iX was fast, comfortable and felt properly premium. Now it’s had a decent update, with the iX xDrive45 M Sport here to replace the former entry-level xDrive 40.

BMW claims among other mechanical and tech updates a power increase of 25 per cent, a 30 per cent greater energy content for the battery, a 38 per cent increase in driving range and a 17 per cent faster charging rate.

But in the time since the iX launched, there have been big strides in the premium electric SUV space, including new arrivals from European opposition like the Polestar 3; even a new American in the form of the Cadillac Lyriq.

If you know anything about superheroes, you'll know the biggest and best are always born out of adversity. And while it might not be wearing a cape (though the big rear roof spoiler makes it look a bit like Superman in flight), Polestar is very much hoping its new electric SUV will be the hero it has been waiting for.

Cursed to commence life in Australia with the good but compromised Polestar 2, which launched as a lift-back sedan (remember those?), and which felt a lot like a repurposed internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicle inside, complete with a bulky transmission tunnel that cut rear-seat legroom in half, it has long felt like the second wave of Polestar vehicles would be the one to put the brand on the map.

That wave has at last broken in Australia, with the Polestar 3 finally here. It's a large SUV (good start), but it promises not to drive like one (even better). And in the Long Range Single Motor guise we've tested here, it promises to travel more than 700km on a full charge.

So, is this the vehicle that will kick off the Swedish brand's run in Australia?