Tesla Model 3 review

With Elon Musk’s rants on X and friendship with Donald Trump, there’s so much noise around Tesla that it’s easy to forget it makes cars. But it does – and the Tesla Model 3 is the best known.

It is, famously, a fully electric car – Tesla doesn’t do petrols, diesels or even hybrids – and it’s the US brand’s smallest and cheapest model to date, sitting below the Tesla Model Y SUV.

The Model 3 is roughly the same size as a BMW 3 Series and there are four versions to choose from, including the Model 3 Long Range designed to (yep, you guessed it) maximise distances between charges, and a range-topping Performance variant that promises Porsche 911 beating acceleration.

Tesla Model 3 video review

In the ever-expanding world of executive electric cars, the Model 3's closest rivals are the BMW i4, BYD Seal and Polestar 2. However, you might also find yourself considering the Hyundai Ioniq 6 or VW ID 7.

So, do we consider the Tesla Model 3 to be one of the best electric cars available or are there better options out there? Read on to find out...

Even the entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD – which has a single electric motor driving its rear wheels – can officially sprint from 0-60mph in a rapid 5.8 seconds. That's much quicker than an equivalent Hyundai Ioniq 6 and on par with an entry-level BMW i4 or BYD Seal.

The Long Range versions are faster still, and the range-topping Model 3 Performance AWD (all-wheel drive) is 618bhp monster that can slingshot you to 60mph from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds. Experiencing full throttle is enough to rearrange your internal organs.

On standard 18in wheels, the entry-level RWD has an official range of 318 miles, rising to 436 miles for the Long Range RWD. Meanwhile, the Performance has an official range of 328 miles.

As with all electric cars, you should take those official figures with a pinch of salt. In our 2024 winter real range test, a Long Range AWD, running on standard 18in aero alloys, covered 293 miles before running out of charge. In warmer weather, we'd expected around 340 miles.

The Model 3 has a firmer ride than the VW ID 7, but the upside is that body control is impressive on undulating country roads and the car never thumps or crashes over nasty urban imperfections. Overall, the RWD and Long Range versions offer better ride comfort than the Seal, Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2.

If comfort is a priority we'd suggest sticking with the standard 18in wheels rather than stepping up to the optional 19s. Why? Well, the tyres on the smaller wheels have a thicker, spongier sidewall that helps take the sting out of sharp-edged abrasions.

The Model 3 Performance has bespoke suspension and 20in alloys so it's noticeably firmer, but still far from uncomfortable.

The Model 3 is relatively light compared with its electric rivals, and that allows it to stay remarkably upright through corners while also generating plenty of grip.

It feels keener to change direction than the Seal and ID 7, plus its steering is super-accurate – although some drivers might prefer slightly heavier steering for faster driving.

The range-topping Performance version has stiffer, adaptive suspension, and can carry a huge amount of speed through corners – even more than a BMW i4 M50 – thanks to its wide and sticky tyres.

However, the Model 3 isn't the most expressive in the bends, with a neutral handling balance that inspires confidence but doesn't exactly thrill. In short, if you want something a little more playful, you might prefer the BMW i4 or BYD Seal. The BMW 3 Series is even better to drive but isn't offered as a fully electric car.

The Model 3 – like many electric cars – is whisper-quiet around town, but as speeds increase you start to hear a bit of wind noise from around the double-glazed, but frameless, side windows.

There isn't much road or suspension noise, which makes the Model 3 a relaxing long-distance companion. Our decibel meter showed that at motorway speeds there's nothing in it between a Model 3, BMW i4 and BYD Seal. Only the VW ID 7 is noticeably quieter.

The brakes are far less grabby than those in many electric cars. The brakes deserve a special mention for being far less grabby than those in many electric cars. They make it easy to slow down smoothly without your passengers thinking you haven't long passed your driving test.

“I'm impressed that in our real-world tests the Tesla Model 3 has consistently delivered better efficiency than any of its rivals.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

To keep the Tesla Model 3's dashboard looking as minimalist as a Scandinavian studio apartment, everything from the door mirrors to the height and reach of the steering wheel must be adjusted using a combination of the infotainment touchscreen and scroll wheels on the steering wheel. It’s a frustrating process and not advisable while driving.

It's also a shame that the Model 3 doesn’t have stalks on its steering column. Instead, there are haptic buttons on the steering wheel to control the indicators, windscreen wipers and cruise control. You do eventually get used to the arrangement, but it seems like a solution to a problem that didn't exist.

Aside from the questionable ergonomics, the Model 3's driving position is good. You sit relatively high up by executive saloon standards (although lower than in a Polestar 2), and the seat, steering wheel and pedals line up neatly.

The front windscreen pillars are thick and angled in such a way that they can hamper your view out at junctions. How badly will depend on your height and your general driving position, but it's fair to say that the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 are no better in this regard.

More positively, the view out of the back is pretty good and all versions come with front and rear parking sensors, plus a surround-view camera.

The standard LED headlights illuminate the road ahead well, although you can't have the matrix headlights available on some executive cars, including the BMW i4 and VW ID 7, which shape their beams to avoid dazzling other drivers.

The Model 3 has a big, bright 15.4in touchscreen that's intuitive to use and quick to respond once you’ve made your selection. There are loads of useful features (navigation, web browsing and so on) plus entertainment apps, including Netflix, Spotify and a driving game controlled using the steering wheel and pedals.

You get two easily accessible wireless phone-charging pads below the infotainment screen and a couple of high-powered USB-C ports for rapid device charging. Overall, the Model 3 has a better infotainment system than the Seal and Polestar 2, although it's not quite as easy to use as the iDrive system in the BMW i4. 

It's also a bit disappointing that no Model 3 has Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. You get a free data connection (for watching films, browsing the internet etc) for 30 days but after that you have to sign up to a subscription.

The Model 3's build quality is definitely the best we’ve seen yet from Tesla. It's more than a match for the Seal, and roughly on a par with the pricier ID 7.

There are soft-touch materials everywhere you look, and while the faux leather on the seats and steering wheel doesn’t feel quite as premium as the leather you can have in a i4, everything else feels tactile and pleasant.

“While the steering wheel-mounted controls in the Tesla Model 3 look simple enough, I didn't find them very intuitive to use – especially when I was going around a corner at the same time.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

No one sitting in the front of a Tesla Model 3 is going to complain about space, no matter how tall they are. There’s also loads of room for odds and ends, with a couple of lidded cubbies between the front seats, as well as front door bins that can each take a big bottle of water.

The front seat area feels remarkably light and airy, thanks to a combination of tall side windows and a standard glass roof.

Not only does the Model 3 have plenty of rear head and leg roo but, thanks to tall side windows and that broad glass roof, it also feels pleasingly airy – a compliment you can't pay the BMW i4. Middle rear passengers also have plenty of space for their knees and feet, with no central hump in the floor to straddle.

However, if you want a fully electric executive car with limo-like space in the back, we'd point you in the direction of the VW ID 7. In that car, six-footers have even more room to stretch out. The ID 7's rear bench also has better under-thigh support than the Model 3, making it more comfortable for rear passenger on long journeys.

The Model 3’s rear seatback splits in a 60/40 arrangement and can be folded down when you need to carry long loads. 

Many rivals – including the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2 – also have 60/40 split-folding rear seats, but the BMW i4 and VW ID 7 offer a more flexible 40/20/40 split as standard.

There are no clever features, such as sliding or reclining rear seats, in the Model 3 – but then you don't find them in petrol and diesel-powered executive cars either.

The Model 3 is a saloon, so its boot opening isn’t huge. However, there’s more space for luggage than you’ll find in conventional executive car rivals (the BMW 3 Series for example) as well as many electric alternatives, including the i4, BYD Seal and Ioniq 6.

That’s thanks partly to a huge well under the main boot floor, but also extra storage in the "frunk" under the bonnet. In total, we managed to squeeze in an impressive nine carry-on suitcases into the Model 3's two boots. A buggy or a couple of sets of golf clubs shouldn't prove a problem.

All versions have an electric tailgate that can be opened and closed using the infotainment touchscreen, from the Tesla app on your phone or by pressing a button on the boot lid itself.

“The Tesla Model 3 is spacious in the rear but I found the knees-up seating position a little uncomfortable after a while.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

The Model 3 RWD undercuts pretty much every direct rival, including the BMW i4, BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Polestar 2 and VW ID 7.

In the UK, the Model 3 – and indeed, any electric car – makes a huge amount of financial sense as a company car because of the big BIK tax savings on offer. Plus, if you can charge your car at home, you’ll spend less on electricity than you would on fuel for a petrol or diesel car.

The Model 3 also gives you unrestricted access to the brilliant Tesla Supercharger network along with impressive charging speeds (up to 170kW for the RWD and 250kW for other versions). That means you to charge the battery (from 10-80%) in less than 30 minutes. You have to pay each time, but the price is reasonable.

You can still charge your Model 3 using at another public charging network if you need to, but it will almost certainly cost you more. Meanwhile, a full 0-100% charge at home using a 7kW charger takes around nine hours in the entry-level RWD model, and roughly 12 hours other versions.

All Model 3s come with plenty of luxuries, including climate control, adaptive cruise control, faux-leather seats (heated and ventilated in the front and heated in the rear), a heated steering wheel and keyless entry using a smartphone app.

Other than an upgraded sound system with 17 speakers instead of the standard 14, there’s no equipment difference between the Long Range and the entry-level RWD. That's one of the reasons the RWD is our favourite version.

It’s a good thing the Model 3 is so well equipped as standard, because there isn't much on the options list. Indeed, apart from metallic paint, a tow bar, different alloy wheel designs and white (instead of black) seats, the only options are Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capability.

Enhanced Autopilot allows you to drive your Model 3 out of a tight parking spot using your mobile phone, and adds an auto lane-changing function (just hit the indicator). Meanwhile, Full Self Driving Capability endows the Model 3 with the ability to stop itself at traffic lights without you pressing the brake pedal.

The Model 3 comes with a four-year/60,000-mile warranty on most components. However, the battery and drive unit are covered separately for eight years and 100,000 miles on the entry-level RWD model, or eight years and 120,000 miles on all other versions. That covers the electrical bits against faults and guarantees a minimum 70% retention of battery capacity.

Tesla finished in a respectable 15th place (out of 31 car makers) in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey manufacturer league table. The Model 3 itself came ninth out of 18 models in the electric car category.

The Model 3 fared very well when it was tested by Euro NCAP, impressive with its ability to protect occupants in a collision and helping you avoid a crash in the first place. The suite of standard safety aids includes blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking (AEB).

As well as the usual security kit, there's something call Sentry mode, which uses external cameras to start recording if someone approaches the car when it's parked up, saving the footage to a USB drive. In other words, if anyone damages your Model 3 or tries to break in, you'll have a record of it.

“The Tesla Model 3 has a lower starting price than most of its rivals, which I find particularly impressive when you factor in how much equipment it has as standard.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

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