Tesla Model 3 Review (2018-present)

What is the Tesla Model 3?

The Tesla Model 3 is a pure-electric alternative to the BMW 3 Series, and also rivals electric alternatives including the Polestar 2, BMW i4 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. It was first launched in 2018, and received a heavy update in 2024, which increased the official WLTP driving range to between 344 and 421 miles – from 278- to 360 miles before the update.

Other significant changes for the 2024 Tesla Model 3 include indicator controls that are now buttons on the steering wheel, and you even put the car into drive, park or reverse using the touchscreen. It makes for a startlingly minimal interior, and the way you have to re-learn where basic functions like windscreen-wipers are, may not be to everyone’s taste. The Model 3 has always been compatible with Type 2 and CCS sockets, meaning that you can charge it at the vast majority of public chargers including, of course, the excellent Tesla Superchargers.

You can get the 2024 Tesla Model 3 in either Rear-Wheel Drive Motor or Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive models. The rear-wheel drive model charges at up to 170kW, while the dual motor manages 250kW, which is faster than most rivals and means that both will manage a 100 mile top-up in 10- to 15 minutes provided you’ve plugged into a fast enough charging station. If you get ideal charging conditions, you could see the Dual Motor manage a 175-mile top-up in just 15 minutes.

Most owners will do the routine charging at a standard 7kW home wall box, which will deliver a full charge in around 10- to 12 hours.

How practical is it?

Practicality is adequate, with enough space in the rear seats for two average-sized adults to sit comfortably, although you’ll have more passenger space in the back of a BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class or Lexus ES.

It’s comfortable up front, though, where you get a low-set driver’s seat and plenty of adjustment. What will be a challenge for some drivers – especially those coming to the Model 3 from a traditional saloon – is that there’s no driver’s display for the speed etc, no stalk for windscreen wipers and no gearstick. The speed is displayed on the top corner of the central touchscreen, so you have to look to the left – as you do in the Volvo EX30. We’d really prefer it if Tesla would include a head-up display, even as an option, so that you could have the speed in your eyeline. A more tactile steering wheel would be very welcome, too.

Windscreen wiper settings are in the touchscreen menus, but you can turn them onto auto via the steering wheel. You even put the car into drive or reverse via the screen, which is weird, and will take some getting used to. Only time will tell whether the total dependence on the car’s screen will cause issues, but Tesla seems confident.

Rear passenger room is one area where the Model 3 is a little compromised, as it's a touch cramped by class standards. The boot is on the small side, too – even combined with the extra cubby you get where the engine would normally be, the total luggage space is less than most petrol or diesel rivals’.

If you do want more space in an executive electric saloon-style car, the Polestar 2 is a bit better for passenger comfort and gets a useful hatchback boot opening. Or, there’s an array of hatchback and SUV alternatives at Model 3 prices, ranging from the Volvo EX30 and Volkswagen ID.3 to the Renault Scenic E-Tech. The bigger and much more practical Tesla Model Y SUV is also surprisingly close to the Model 3 on monthly finance costs.

What's it like to drive?

If you want a really fun, rewarding drive then you’re better off with the BMW i4, but the Tesla is confident and feels balanced and satisfying even in faster corners and down a twisty country road. The updates in 2024 included tweaks to the suspension, which helped to make the Model 3 a little more entertaining but also improved the ride comfort. You still notice bigger bumps and scruffy surfaces – particularly at low speed – but the Model 3 is a comfy, composed executive car that is enjoyable to drive.

Refinement is very decent in the post-2024 car, too (this update is often called the Tesla Model 3 Highland). Tyre- and wind-noise are still more noticeable than in the Hyundai Ioniq 6, BMW i4 or Polestar 2, but they’re not too intrusive and the Model 3 makes for a calm and relaxing long distance car.

It's fast, too, although the supercar-rapid Tesla Model 3 Performance hasn’t returned since the 2024 updates and there’s no word on if- or when it will be brought back. For now, the Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 will hit 62mph from a standstill in 5.8sec, or the Dual Motor will do the same in 4.2sec, and that’s more than fast enough for us.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

In terms of real-world range, we’d expect to see more like 270- to 330 miles from the Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, while the Long Range should manage more like 360- to 410 miles. Cold weather and faster driving will always see any electric vehicle’s range drop noticeably, but the Model 3 will go further in the real world than most rivals thanks to its efficiency, as well as being easier to charge thanks to the availability of the Tesla-only Supercharging network.

As you’d expect of Tesla, the Model 3’s interior is all about the tech. This is the most minimalist interior you’ll find; there are no dials for the driver, and even the glovebox opening, steering wheel and side mirror adjustment, and windscreen controls are within the huge 15-inch touchscreen. The air vents (also controlled on the screen) are hidden in a horizontal crevice bisecting the dashboard. It’s a very simple design but a very effective one, as it looks smart and feels of solid build quality (particularly since the 2024 update, when interior materials were improved). It’s still not of BMW and Mercedes levels, but it’s certainly good enough to keep you happy at the price of the Model 3.

Every Tesla Model 3 gets keyless entry (including a function that allows you to use your phone as the key) as well as satnav, four USB inputs, a panoramic glass roof, heated seats with electric adjustment and leatherette upholstery. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but the Tesla’s in-built features are very good and you can still stream music from your phone or from various apps on the system. Over-the-air software updates are, of course, standard.

The Model 3 doesn’t have many options to choose from, but you can upgrade to a brighter black- and white interior, bigger wheels and metallic paint. A tow hitch is also optional (you can tow up to 1,000kg).

Overall, the Tesla Model 3 remains one of the most advanced cars on sale when it comes to tech and safety assistance systems.

Tesla Model 3 running costs

The Model 3 is one of the cheapest executive electric cars you can buy, and undercuts rivals from Polestar and Hyundai – particularly if you stick with the Rear-Wheel Drive model. Tesla’s finance deals tend to be very keen, too, and typically the Model 3 is cheaper on monthly PCP payments than most other comparable electric vehicles.

It'll be one of the cheapest executive cars you can run, too, whether you’re a company car user or retail buyer. Many tariffs allow for much cheaper charging overnight, and this is easy to do using the Tesla’s timed charging function. You could also use the phone app, which gives control of the charging, pre-set cabin temperatures and more. Even without cheaper off-peak charging, ‘fuelling’ the Model 3 costs at home will cost around half of what you’ll pay to fuel a petrol car doing 40mpg. Just be aware, however, that charging at a public rapid charger will cost a lot more.

The Model 3 is free of Vehicle Excise Duty and gets free entry into the London Congestion Zone until the end of 2025.

Insurance costs will be high on the Tesla Model 3, though. It falls into insurance groups between 48 and 50 (50 being the highest there is) so you’ll pay more to insure the Tesla than you will most rivals. Service intervals are variable in the Model 3, and the car will tell you when it needs attention.

Tesla Model 3 reliability

Electric cars are typically more reliable than petrol and diesel cars because they have far fewer moving parts, and the batteries and motors in Tesla cars have a great reputation for reliability. Less great is a reputation for slightly questionable build quality and software issues. It did okay in the What Car? 2023 Reliability Survey, though, where the Model 3 came 8th out of 20 electric models that were rated (covering cars aged up to five years old).

Ultimately, the best thing to assume is that it’s unlikely that a Tesla Model 3 is going to leave you stranded, but it does seem that you’re more likely to experience niggling issues with door seals, glovebox and other ancillary frustrations.

Tesla’s standard warranty covers the Model 3 for four years with no mileage limit, while the battery is covered by an eight-year, 120,000-mile warranty that also protects against loss of performance if the battery drops below 70% of its as-new capacity.

Don’t fret about having to replace batteries in the future after the warranty expires; EV batteries have proven very durable over the last decade or so of mainstream use, and Tesla batteries are widely thought to be among the best on the market for retaining performance over high mileage. You’ll find Tesla Model Ss out there with 200,000 miles and counting on the original battery pack, typically with around 80% of the as-new driving range still on offer.