As a digital technology expert with a passion for EVs, I‘ve been closely following the development of the Polestar 3 electric SUV. With its sleek Scandinavian design, powerful dual-motor AWD setup, and cutting-edge infotainment system, the Polestar 3 aims to make a splash in the competitive battery-powered luxury crossover segment.
However, after digging into the specs and analyzing the underlying technology, I have some serious reservations about recommending the Polestar 3 over a key rival like the Rivian R1S. While the Polestar 3 looks great on paper, it falls short in several key areas that matter most to tech-savvy EV buyers. Let‘s dive in and explore why the R1S is the smarter choice for those who prioritize cutting-edge digital capabilities, reliable performance, and long-term value.
Computing Power, Sensors, and AI: Does the Polestar 3 Measure Up?
One of the Polestar 3‘s marquee features is its advanced driver assist system (ADAS) powered by an NVIDIA DRIVE core computer and Luminar lidar sensors. On the surface, this sounds impressive – but a closer look reveals some potential issues.
The Polestar 3 uses NVIDIA‘s DRIVE Orin system-on-a-chip (SoC), which delivers 254 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of performance. That‘s a big step up from the previous generation DRIVE Xavier chip in the Polestar 2, but it falls well short of the 1,000 TOPS that Tesla‘s custom FSD computer provides. It‘s also less AI compute power than the Intel Mobileye EyeQ5 chip used in the Rivian R1S, which can achieve up to 475 TOPS.
Why does this matter? More processing power means the vehicle‘s software has more headroom to tackle complex, compute-intensive tasks like object detection, path planning, and driver monitoring. It future-proofs the car‘s capabilities as self-driving features advance. The Polestar 3 may have enough computing muscle for basic ADAS, but it could struggle to keep pace as autonomy progresses.
The R1S also has an advantage in sensor hardware. While both SUVs feature a similar array of cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors, the R1S boasts lidar sensors from industry-leader Hesai. The Polestar 3 uses Luminar lidar, which has less range and a narrower field of view. For a vehicle with off-road ambitions, the ability to accurately detect obstacles at greater distances is crucial.
Software Glitches and Delays: Red Flags for the Polestar 3
Another concern for the Polestar 3 is the software issues that have delayed its launch. Originally slated to begin production in late 2023, Polestar now says the first customer deliveries won‘t happen until Q1 2024 as it works out kinks in the control software. That‘s not a good sign for a vehicle that relies so heavily on complex digital systems.
Even if Polestar irons out the immediate bugs, the risk of persistent glitches down the line is real. Just look at the complaints from early Polestar 2 owners about phantom braking, unresponsive screens, and other electronic gremlins. Software is hard, especially for a startup automaker trying to scale up production rapidly.
In contrast, Rivian has a more proven track record of delivering stable, reliable software thanks to its substantial investments in its in-house software development team. The R1S runs on Rivian‘s purpose-built OS, which has been battle-tested in the R1T pickup truck to largely positive reviews. Rivian also has an established over-the-air update system to continuously refine and add features.
The Polestar 3‘s Android Automotive OS is a promising platform with deep Google integration and app support. But it‘s still a relatively immature system with a much smaller install base than Tesla‘s software or Rivian‘s OS. That means a higher risk of bugs, compatibility issues, and slower development of new features. When you‘re paying $80K+ for a vehicle, you expect the tech to work seamlessly from day one.
Battery Tech and Charging: Advantage Rivian
Let‘s talk about battery technology, because it‘s the heart of any EV. The Polestar 3 uses a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells supplied by CATL. On paper, that‘s enough for an estimated 300 miles of range (270 miles for the Performance Pack model).
However, the R1S offers superior range in the real world. With its 135 kWh "Large pack" battery, the R1S achieves an EPA-rated 360 miles of range in the Quad-Motor config. Even the smaller 105 kWh "Standard pack" is rated for 260 miles. This discrepancy suggests the Rivian has a more energy-dense battery with superior thermal management and efficiency.
Speaking of thermal management, the R1S‘s battery pack features an advanced liquid cooling system that enables faster charging and better sustained performance. The Polestar 3 uses a more traditional air cooling setup, which could lead to slower charging speeds and reduced power output in extreme conditions.
When it comes to charging on the go, Rivian has a clear advantage thanks to its Adventure Network of fast chargers located near popular outdoor destinations. Rivian is also partnering with Tesla to allow its vehicles to charge at Supercharger stations. The Polestar 3 will have to rely on third-party charging networks, which can be less reliable and have varying charging speeds.
| Specification | Polestar 3 | Rivian R1S |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Pack | 111 kWh | 135 kWh (Large), 105 kWh (Standard) |
| Official Range (EPA) | 300 mi (base), 270 mi (Performance) | 360 mi (Large), 260 mi (Standard) |
| Battery Cooling | Air cooled | Liquid cooled |
| DC Fast Charging Speed | Up to 250 kW | Up to 220 kW |
| Dedicated Charging Network | No | Yes (Rivian Adventure Network) |
Over-the-Air Updates and Digital Experience
A key selling point of modern EVs is the ability to improve and add features over time via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Tesla pioneered this approach, and other EV makers are racing to catch up.
The Polestar 3 and Rivian R1S both have OTA capability, but Rivian has the early edge. Rivian has already rolled out several major OTA updates to the R1T, adding features like a Pet Comfort mode, Camp Speaker mode, and Enhanced Regen Braking. Polestar has only delivered a few minor updates so far, and its Android Automotive OS is still a work in progress compared to Rivian‘s mature OS.
Looking ahead, Rivian has some exciting OTA additions on the roadmap like automatic Garage Door Mode and Kneel Mode. The Polestar 3 will need to step up its game to match the pace of innovation and digital delights that Rivian is delivering to its customers.
In terms of infotainment and connected services, the Polestar 3‘s Android Automotive OS offers some advantages like native Google Maps integration, Google Assistant voice commands, and access to the Google Play app store. However, some drivers may not want to share so much personal data with Google. Rivian‘s OS keeps your data more private while still offering features like Amazon Alexa support and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Full Self-Driving: Not All Hardware is Created Equal
Finally, let‘s address the elephant in the room: self-driving capability. Both Polestar and Rivian have touted their vehicles‘ future autonomous potential, but there are some key differences in approach.
As mentioned earlier, the Polestar 3 uses an NVIDIA DRIVE Orin SoC with 254 TOPS of compute power. That‘s a respectable amount of AI muscle, but it may not be enough to handle the complex sensor fusion and decision-making required for true Level 4/5 autonomy. The Polestar 3 also relies on lidar sensors from Luminar, which have some limitations in range and field of view.
Rivian hasn‘t disclosed the exact specs of its self-driving hardware stack, but we know it uses a more powerful Intel Mobileye EyeQ5 chip with 475 TOPS and lidar sensors from industry leader Hesai. This suggests the R1S will have more headroom to grow its autonomous capabilities over time as the software matures.
Rivian has also been more transparent about its timeline for rolling out self-driving features. The company says it will start with basic Level 2 ADAS and gradually expand to more advanced Level 3-4 autonomy through OTA updates as the technology proves itself. Polestar has been vaguer about its plans, only saying the Polestar 3 will offer "unsupervised highway driving" at some point in the future.
Given the current state of the technology and regulatory hurdles, it‘s wise to be skeptical of any claims of full self-driving capability from either company. But based on the hardware specs and development roadmap, the R1S seems better positioned to deliver increasingly sophisticated autonomy in the years to come.
Conclusion
After taking a deep dive into the digital technology powering the Polestar 3 and Rivian R1S, it‘s clear that the R1S has the edge in most of the areas that matter to tech-savvy EV enthusiasts. From its more powerful compute platform and sensor suite to its superior battery tech and charging network, the R1S is simply better equipped for the future of electric and autonomous mobility.
The Polestar 3 has some impressive tech on paper, but concerns about software stability, long-term support, and scalability make it a riskier bet. Rivian‘s more mature software stack, robust OTA pipeline, and clear autonomy roadmap inspire greater confidence.
Of course, technology is just one factor in choosing an EV. Design, performance, comfort, and brand appeal also matter a great deal. The Polestar 3 is undeniably stylish and quick, with an upscale Scandinavian sensibility that some buyers will love. But for $84K+, you deserve the best possible digital experience and peace of mind about your vehicle‘s long-term technological viability.
For now, the Rivian R1S looks like the smarter choice for drivers who demand cutting-edge tech and are excited about the future of EVs. With its advanced AI computing power, robust self-driving hardware, and best-in-class battery technology, the R1S is well-positioned to deliver the next generation digital mobility experience. The Polestar 3 might get there eventually too, but it has some catching up to do.
