Tesla Model 3 edges out BMW 3 Series in executive saloon test

THE Tesla Model 3, Auto Express Car of the Year, had yet another big test in August as it took on one of the best in the business – the BMW 3 Series in 320d form – to see whether an electric car could genuinely be a more viable alternative to one of the best premium diesel saloons around. The result went the Tesla’s way, but the verdict wasn’t quite that simple.

On balance the EV took it, but if you use your exec saloon to cover long distances regularly then the BMW is still the better bet. However, for most users most of the time, the Tesla proved that it’ll offer enough flexibility from its 55kWh battery, serving up a claimed 254-mile range, so some owners might only need to charge once a week. And even long journeys aren’t too much trouble if you can hunt down a Tesla Supercharger or a DC rapid charger – the Model 3 being the first Tesla to be fully compatible with the latter. With the charging infrastructure growing, it’s becoming less of an issue, if not a totally avoidable one.

Thanks to its instant torque and urgency off the line the Model 3’s performance outstripped what the BMW could offer, while its annual running costs also far undercut the 320d’s. This was a main driver in the Tesla’s victory, since this gulf was so big that it’s hard to ignore in a type of car that many buy for business use. For those looking at this pairing with a view on company car tax, the Model 3 won hands down – and that was with BiK tax charged at 16 per cent. It drops to zero from the next tax year, where electric vehicles such as the Model 3 will have an even bigger advantage over their combustion-engined counterparts.

Dynamically it didn’t quite ride or handle with the BMW’s balance, but Tesla’s engineers have really clued into how to use the electric motor to help the car carve through corners. And while the suspension wasn’t quite as absorbent, it delivered plenty of composure and comfort. Yet with strong infotainment (the BMW was a particularly tough test for the Tesla here) and an improved interior with a decent amount of space and a versatile boot, our Car of the Year showed why it won our votes back in July.