Name: Tesla Model 3 Review
Item: Tesla Model 3
Author: Gumtree.com

Everybody knows the name Tesla. If you need a sports car to fire into Mars’ orbit, or some shares to take you on a financial rollercoaster ride, this is your go-to brand. But what of the actual cars themselves? The Model 3, Tesla’s smallest and cheapest vehicle to date, shows Tesla progressing with its stated aim: to use the high-end performance cars with which it launched as a spearhead for a move into affordable mass-market vehicles. Not that this is a bargain run-around. With its price point, sporty styling and impressive array of tech, the Model 3 is pitched as an electric rival to the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Jaguar XE.

Visit the Tesla Model 3 page to explore available specs and learn more about the model.

What we think about the Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 is fun to drive, well equipped and fairly practical, and does all this at a competitive price without using any fuel.

Pros

Unrivalled range from a charge

Fast charging on Tesla’s Superchargers

Stunning performance

More practical than you might expect

Cons

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Affordability is relative

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Petrol rivals handle better

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Ride may be a little firm for some

The Model 3 launched in 2017 as Tesla’s entry into the mass market, and is still in its first generation. A facelift in 2021 brought in a range of tweaks to the tech and styling. It’s available in three versions. There’s the entry-level Standard Range Plus and the Long Range version for those looking to travel the maximum distance between charges. Top of the range is the Performance variant, which claims to accelerate faster than a Porsche 911.

Driving performance of the Tesla Model 3

Our Driving Rating9 / 10

Wondering whether an electric car can go toe-to-toe with its combustion-driven rivals? The Model 3 has an answer for you, going from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds to leave the likes of the BMW 3 Series at the lights. Step up to the Performance model, and even a Porsche 911 Carrera will struggle to keep up with its 3.2 seconds. The batteries add up to a fair old weight, considering which the Long Range and Performance versions of the car handle pretty tidily, offering real grip around bends. Other executive cars offer smoother rides, though the sports suspension on the Performance helps it outdo its direct rival, the Polestar 2.

Safety and reliability of the Tesla Model 3

Our Safety Rating10 / 10

The Tesla Model 3 was awarded the full five stars by Euro NCAP as recently as 2019, and it’s easy to see why. The suite of safety tech heralds a new era in which the car actively looks after you. It uses 360˚ camera coverage and 12 ultrasonic sensors to monitor its surroundings, looking out for objects, pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles of all kinds, which it can identify by type. It conveys all this information to you through a display on the screen, and can let you know when a nearby light turns green. The Autopilot mode takes active cruise control to the next level, and can steer and change lanes for you.

Under the bonnet of the Tesla Model 3

Our Engine Rating9 / 10

Engines, you say? The Model 3 doesn’t have engines – instead it has powerful motors located on its axles. Tesla doesn’t divulge the output of these motors, but the Standard Range has been estimated at 221 horsepower. Given the kind of acceleration discussed above, it seems churlish to take off marks in this category for the absence of valves and pistons.

What you'll find in the Tesla Model 3

Our Design Rating8 / 10

Do chunky grilles, aggressive headlights and chromed bumpers leave you cold? You might like the Tesla Model 3, which makes a virtue of the fact it requires no intakes to create a clean, sleek and futuristic silhouette. It’s all very minimalist, though the massive alloy wheels, sloping roofline and sculpted sides do nod towards traditional sports car styling. Long Range models come with full LED exterior lighting and a panoramic glass roof.

Comfort and interiors in the Tesla Model 3

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

The minimalist theme continues inside, with the touchscreen controlling everything to keep the dashboard free from analogue clutter such as windscreen wiper stalks. The build quality of Teslas in general has raised some eyebrows in the media, but the Model 3 is one of the marque’s better showings in this respect, particularly after the facelift. The faux leather is billed as ‘vegan’ and is part of an eco vibe that includes a strip of open-pore wood to break up that sparse dash. The absence of bits and pieces and the fact there’s no traditional running gear under the floor means boot space is no problem. It’s all very different from what you’ll be used to in a car cockpit. Whether it’s to your taste probably depends to a large extent on how keen you are to fast-forward into the future.

What features you'll find in the Tesla Model 3

Our Features Rating8 / 10

Put simply, the Model 3 has accessories galore. That all-seeing, all-doing touchscreen is a slightly smaller version of the one found in Tesla’s other models. It’s quick, responsive and intuitive, even if adding touchscreen operation to the core driving skillset might take some getting used to. Knight Rider fans might prefer to use the Voice Command option. As well as the state-of-the-art safety tech discussed above, there’s navigation, web browsing and kid-friendly gimmicks such as whoopee cushion noises, the ability to draw doodles on the screen and driving games you can play using the steering wheel. Theatre mode is handy if you find yourself parked up somewhere in need of entertainment. There’s also a Summon function which allows you to use an app to bring your parked car to you.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Tesla Model 3

Our Fuel Consumption Rating10 / 10

It seems only fair to give the Model 3 full marks here, as it doesn’t use any fuel at all. Not only that, but the 267-mile range, rising to 360 miles for the Long Range, trumps almost all the other electric cars out there. If you’re charging from a wall outlet, though, that could take you a day. Far better if you can take advantage of Tesla’s Supercharger network, which takes charge time down to half an hour.

Running costs of the Tesla Model 3

Our Cost Rating8 / 10

Despite being the cheapest Tesla, the Model 3 is still going to be a pretty big-ticket purchase for most drivers. It should hold its value well though, narrowing the price gap to the Polestar 2 in the longer term. And then there are all the pounds per mile you’ll save on fuel, tax and maintenance compared with a petrol-powered alternative. The Model 3 sits in the highest insurance groups, 48 to 50.

Our verdict of the Tesla Model 3

4.5 / 5 Gumtree rating

The future is here in the shape of the Tesla Model 3. Fast, bristling with tech and practical, it's a match for its electric rivals and its petrol-fuelled challengers too.

Tesla Model 3 Review