Range     

The standard model (simply called Model 3) uses a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. It also makes do with a smaller battery compared with the other two versions, but it is still an impressive alternative to a prestige petrol or diesel car such as a BMW 3 Series. Maximum range stands at 318 miles, up slightly from the older version thanks to efficiency and aerodynamic improvements. 

The Model 3 Long Range AWD has a bigger battery, which should means that it gets a WLTP range of 421 miles, so you can drive for some 340 miles in real-world use - that's one of the longest of any electric car. You'll have to look to much more expensive options like the Mercedes EQS to go much further to a single charge. As the AWD badge suggests, the long range Model 3 also adds another motor powering the front wheels to give four-wheel-drive, and a posher interior with luxury seat trim. The Model 3 Performance manages an outrageous 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds, yet will still do 328 miles of WLTP range.

Battery 

Tesla doesn't officially publish its battery capacities, but it's accepted that a 55kWh battery pack powers the standard model with a bigger 75kWh unit fitted to the Long Range and the Performance models. Both are smaller versions of the batteries fitted to the larger Tesla Model S saloon and Model X SUV. Think carefully about which you choose and how much range you really need, as the cost jump from the standard model to the Long Range is a whopping £10,000 - that’s a big price to pay if you aren’t using the extra range regularly - especially since the average car journey in the UK is only 8.2 miles! 

Charging

The Tesla Supercharger charging network is substantial, reaching every corner of the UK and covering nearly every major road and motorway. It is one of the main reasons why so many buyers choose a Tesla. You’ll have to pay to use them, but the costs are reasonable and the billing is easy. In addition, the Model 3 can also use other CCS-type rapid chargers, expanding the number of places you can fast charge the car into the thousands. Put simply, only other Tesla models have quite so many options when it comes to roadside charging. 

It will take up to 30 minutes to charge your car from 10% to 80% on the Tesla Supercharging network, while a charge on a 7.2kW home charging unit will take around 7 hours.