Tesla Model 3 review (UK roadtest): Positively electric

The Tesla Model 3 is supposedly the motoring equivalent of Jesus announcing a comeback tour. But is the all-electric saloon the miracle we need to save the polar bears? Ben Griffin took the dual-motor Performance version on a pilgrimage of sorts in search of the truth.

By now, you have probably heard every hyperbolic Tesla Model 3 description. ‘Combustion engine killer’, ‘best car in the world’ and the ‘most important car since the Model T’ to name a few.

So instead I’ve likened the Tesla Model 3 to the second coming of JC (not the leader of the labour party). To be honest this angle probably been done to death and back as well, but I’m too excited to share my thoughts to care.

Look, we’re wasting valuable time. You need to know why the Tesla Model 3 is the car I would buy right now – well, that or the new Jimny in bright green (it’s not yellow, Suzuki!) – and this is the part where I try to convince you why I haven’t gone crazy.

Tesla Model 3: Why should I care?

Despite laughably obvious attempts by rival manufacturers, still heavily invested in diesel and petrol, to belittle the original Tesla Model S, I loved the thing. I first drove it back in 2013 and despite the uneven panel gaps and some material quality issues it felt like the future, Jetsons style.

The sheer acceleration, the way it cruised in near-silence, the breath-taking performance in the faster ‘Performance’ version, the gigantic infotainment display. No wonder the creator of the Oatmeal comic strips lost his s*** and called it a ‘magical space car’ and, just to further hit his point home, ‘an intergalactic Spaceboat of light and wonder’.

The Tesla Model 3 has the same impressive feeling, which is remarkable six years on. I was worried the novelty of electric cars may fade. But it’s a short drive before I remember exactly why Tesla still has the right idea. It’s a way of driving that makes most combustion engine cars feel dated and wasteful.

Why is it so important? Well, it’s not the remarkable performance of the Tesla Model 3, of which I was driving the dual-motor performance version – denoted these days, by a subtle line under the word ‘Performance’ at the rear, as opposed to the old red ‘P’. Although it’s never boring to floor the accelerator and feel the surge smack your skull into the headrest.

It’s also not the lack of engine noise, which allows the Tesla Model 3 to cover miles in eerily quiet, music-friendly silence at all but motorway speeds where wind noise ruins the party somewhat.

It’s not even that the smaller, lighter proportions of the Tesla Model 3 make it nicer to drive than the Model S. Although the fact it’s balanced, nicely weighted, resists body roll and high level of grip make you understand why it can upset a lot of cars on track (despite being rather fat because of the large battery).

No, what makes it important is the price. You see, when the Model S arrived it was easy to appreciate the significance, but hardly anyone could afford it. Same with the Model X SUV – and its crazy, sometimes problematic doors – that came later. A revolution for those who could afford.

I get the logic. Start with the most exciting model to get the ball rolling, get tales wagging and make some cash. Then work on making a model that most of us could afford if we tried. Starting from £38,400, it’s BMW 3 Series money for something faster, more tech-savvy and practical.

Even on finance, you could have a Tesla Model 3 for around £350 a month. That’s not as cheap as some of its rivals, but factor in the cost of electric versus petrol or diesel, annual repair costs, benefit in kind if you want it for work and you soon see it will pay for itself. Eventually.

Does going electric really make sense?

Admittedly, the cheapest version of the Tesla Model 3 is hampered by a shorter 248-mile range (WLTP-rated) and only has one electric motor that drives the rear wheels, plus you end up with GPS-less navigation. And as supercharger access is no longer free, expect to pay between 23p and 27p per kWh of electric.

That inevitably means it is best if charge your Model 3 at home, which is impossible if you live in a flat or lack off-street parking. You’ll also need to stop for longer than it takes to fill up a car if you drive 200-odd miles in one go and for some, the high-milers and terminally lazy, that would be impractical.

Thing is, how often do you drive for 200 miles, three hours or so of driving on a good day, without stopping for a toilet break (five to 10 minutes by the time you have found the loo and endured the queue), to stretch your legs, buy something to eat (five minutes), park the car (two minutes, drive to the petrol station (one minute), fill up and then pay (three minutes)?

Best case, that’s 15 minutes gone. You can recharge a lot of a Tesla Model 3’s battery in that time using a supercharger and bear in mind that it’s refuelling while parked. Assuming there is a supercharger free, of course, but then you can check that on the map using the 17-inch touchscreen display.

What I’m trying to say is that after a few hours of driving it’s not such a hardship to kill a bit of time. Hell, buy yourself a coffee with the money you saved on avoiding petrol. And before you tell me it’s impossible for most people, let’s remember that the average daily number of miles driven in the UK is under 40.

As more and more destination chargers appear at hotels, car parks, gyms, restaurants and other venues, range anxiety becomes less of an issue anyway. Because the car can quietly juice-up as you run on a treadmill and wonder if your time would be better spent doing something other than yoga.

Any bad stuff?

Criticism can be levied at the interior, which is wonderfully simple but has a few cheap plastics. And although the touchscreen interface is nicer to look at, it can still be too fiddly to use while on the move compared with physical buttons done well.

Noise from potholes is transmitted into the cabin all too eagerly, too, reducing the level of refinement. And as with a lot of cars these days, getting the all-singing and all-dancing version of the Model 3 puts the price much closer to £50,000-plus. Performance car territory.

But then the Tesla Model 3 dual-motor is faster than almost all cars from 0-62mph (as little as 3.7 seconds officially) and you can reach triple figures in the blink of an eye. It’s astonishingly fast whenever you need it to be, in part thanks to all-wheel drive. Even the rear-wheel drive car would destroy your average 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol or diesel.

Tesla has also learnt to make the cabin more usable. Gone are the days of having a long, largely pointless area of space between the front seats, now you have cupholders and another sizable cubby hole for storing things. Although it’s weird you have to use a digital button to get into the glovebox and the door handles are all electrically-operated.

There’s also a great deal of rear leg space and the boot is a competitive 425 litres, in addition to the shopping bag-friendly front trunk. Oh and wireless charging, a valet mode, decent sound system and the ability to play classic arcade games when waiting at the school gates are included.

Should I buy a Tesla Model 3 in the UK, then?

The answer to this question depends on your willingness to leave behind the comfort of what you know and occasionally spend more time waiting. If neither is an issue, the Tesla Model 3 will be hard to resist as it makes an Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XE seem old hat.

Part of me wishes the Model 3 could be even cheaper, especially as there is the likes of the Kia E-Niro, Hyundai Kona EV, new Nissan Leaf and various other competitors that cost less and do nearly the same thing. The roomier Model Y may also make more sense if you prefer the benefits of an SUV.

However, most of those cars have a sizable waiting list and lack the same appeal as a Tesla. It’s just two months or so for a Model 3 to go from being on the website configurator to on your driveway. Not to mention there’s no super-fast charging on such a wide scale as you get with the Supercharger network.

Put it like this: The Model 3 is the most sensible electric car you can buy right now. Not everyone can and will want to make it work, but those that have will happily tell you it’s one of the best decisions they have ever made.

And if polar bears could talk, I’m sure they would be pleased too. Because as the world converts to greener and greener energy sources, the Model 3’s footprint on the world decreases. The damage to your lungs and those around you reduces. The need to dig up the earth declines.

It may seem like the petrolhead’s anti-Christ given how quiet the Model 3 is. But then if it’s good enough for one of the world’s most famous petrolheads, Chris Harris, a man who has made a living of driving cars most of us can only dream of owning, it must be good enough for mere mortals like us.

Tesla Model 3 AWD Performance: Key Specs & UK Price

• Engine: Two independent electric motors
• 0-62mph (100kmh): 3.7 seconds
• Top Speed: 162mph (261kmh)
• Kerb Weight: 1,847kg
• Dimensions: 4,690mm (L) x 1,850mm (W) x 1,440mm (H)
• CO2 Emissions: 0g/km (locally)
• Range: 329 miles (WLTP)
• Battery capacity: 72.5kWh (estimated)
• UK Price: From £52,000 / £39,500 for basic model
• Tesla Model 3 configurator