Performance

Although the Model 3 is packed full of all sorts of interesting gadgets, we suspect it is the performance which most new owners will want to show off to their friends. Even the standard model feels incredibly fast, reaching 60mph from a standstill in a time in just 5.8 seconds. 

The four-wheel-drive Long Range version is even faster -  doing the zero to 60mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds. That matches some exotica, and yet the only noise produced is a chirp of tyres and the whirr of the motors. If you want more, you'll need to go for the latest Performance version, which will scare you, your friends and other road users by doing 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. That's supercar performance for the price of a well-specced executive saloon, which is fairly mad. 

The default brake regeneration on the Tesla Model 3 is simply set to one level, which is fairly heavy but not quite a one-pedal mode. You can activate one-pedal mode when you're about town, although you have to do so by prodding through the screen's settings.

Drive

For anyone used to driving a conventional car, owning a Tesla will take some adjustment - but generally it will all be for the better. If you are a real enthusiast then an electric rival like the Jaguar I-Pace will feel sportier through the bends, while the Polestar 2 is more refined and quiet. The Model 3 isn’t that far behind in reality, but test drive it to make sure it suits you. 

The Model 3 isn’t a lightweight car compared to petrol and diesel rivals, but it hides its mass well. As the batteries are sat under the floor, the centre of gravity is low and the weight is evenly balanced, making it feel composed and secure in corners.

The two cheaper models sit on 18-inch ‘Aero’ wheels which feel more settled on potholed road surfaces and are quieter too. The ride can feel a little firm and crashy on broken road surfaces though, and although the 2023 facelift improved the refinement, there is still a lot of road noise compared to rivals.

Although the controls are generally intuitive, the gear selector and indicators will take a lot of getting used to. The latter especially just doesn't work on the UK's twisty roads. Let us know if you have mastered then yet and how long it takes!