EVERY ELECTRIFIED CAR RATED
Thinking about buying a low-emissions hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric car? In our 12-page guide, we tell you how they all stack up Tesla Model 3 Our reigning Large Electric Car of the Year is a genuine alternative to a regular executive saloon
Our pick Performance AWD
List price £56,545 Target Price £56,545
Target PCP na Range 368 miles CO2 0g/km
For Incredible acceleration; brilliant handling; excellent practicality; strong resale values.
Against Dashboard feels imsy in places; cheaper versions aren’t as good to drive.
WHAT CAR? SAYS
LIKE A NEW Star Wars movie or a new iphone, the Tesla Model 3 had a great deal of hype to live up to.thankfully, it hasn’t disappointed.
This may be Tesla’s cheapest model, but it still has a huge range, plenty of power and just as much advanced self-driving technology as the larger and more expensive Model S luxury saloon and Model X SUV.
The Model 3 Performance’s Real Range gure of 239 miles is one of the longest we’ve achieved (although lesser versions can’t go quite as far between top-ups), while acceleration is nothing short of intoxicating.
At motorway speeds, the Model 3 Performance is more comfortable than M Sport versions of the rival BMW 3 Series, while its handling belies its weight; this is a heavy car, yet it grips with real tenacity once settled into a bend.the steering is precise, too, and you can adjust its weight to suit your tastes.
The Model 3 is also impressively spacious inside, while its saloon boot can hold more than those of conventional rivals such as the Audi A4 and the 3 Series.
Although the interior isn’t a match for an Audi’s or BMW’S when it comes to quality, it will please fans of minimalist design, with almost everything being controlled through an enormous, 15.0in infotainment touchscreen. It takes some getting used to, though, and there’s no smartphone mirroring capability.
Another big draw is Tesla’s Autopilot selfsteering and adaptive cruise control system, which works really well on the motorway.you can also choose a Full Self-driving Capability package that allows you to remotely ‘summon’ your car via your phone. And because Tesla provides free updates to its cars wirelessly, new features and upgrades are automatically applied when they become available.
Recharging the Model 3’s battery needn’t take too long, either. It can get from 0-80% in as little as 30 minutes using Tesla’s super-fast public Supercharger network, while home charging via a typical 7kw wallbox takes just short of 12 hours for a full charge.
With such a wide range of abilities on its side, then, it’s little wonder that the Model 3 is our reigning Large Electric Car of the Year.