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2018 Tesla Model 3

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Make
Tesla
Model
Model 3
Year
2018
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Tesla Model 3 OEM Exterior Primary Photo
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Used Car Price Range
$18,877 - $32,998
$18,877 $32,998
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2018 Mid Range 4dr Rear-Wheel Drive Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $46,000
2018 Long Range 4dr Rear-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $49,000
2018 Long Range 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $53,000
2018 Performance 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $64,000
Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

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Overview

After cementing their place in the market with the Model S luxury sedan and Model X SUV, Tesla has made the move downmarket with the 2018 Model 3.

What's New for 2018

The Tesla Model 3 is a brand new car for 2018.

Tesla Model 3

Choosing Your Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 starts at $35,000 with an extra $1,000 for destination, but there are also a number of tax credits and incentives at both the Federal and state levels that'll bring that price down a bit depending on where you live. For that price, you get a range of 220 miles and the ability to hit 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. The battery can also be recharged to get 130 miles of range in just 30 minutes if you use a Tesla Supercharger station, and your home will give your car 30 miles every hour. Speaking of Supercharger stations, the Model 3 doesn't get free access to them like the Model S does, so you'll have to pay for each use.

Inside, the standard Model 3 comes with a 15-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, navigation, and in-car WiFi. Additionally, the budget Tesla comes with cloth seats and the use of the Tesla app, which provides keyless entry and remote climate control. Beyond that, you don't get much else besides the privilege of Tesla ownership.

Tesla is currently offering several upgrades available for the Model 3. If you'd like a color other than black, it's $1,000, and you can get 19-inch wheels for $1,500.There's also the $9,000 Long Range Battery, which boosts the range to 310 miles while dropping the zero-to-60 mph time down to 5.1 seconds. The battery will charge up to 170 miles of range in 30 minutes at a Supercharger or 37 miles of range per hour if you charge at home. The $5,000 Premium Upgrades Package will give you 12-way adjustable heated seats, a much nicer looking cabin with open pore wood, a premium audio system, a glass roof, and fog lights.

The Model 3 does have access to the much vaunted Autopilot driver assistance features. The initial step is the Enhanced Autopilot package for $5,000, which adds lane keeping assist with automatic lane changing, adaptive cruise control, and the ability to more or less drive itself from one freeway to another. It also will exit the freeway on it's own and then park itself at your destination. If you pay an extra $3,000, you'll get any future Full Self-Driving Capability that Tesla ends up developing. Tesla claims the Model 3 will be capable of driving itself completely with zero input from the driver, but makes sure to put a disclaimer that says it "is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary by jurisdiction." Tesla may be one of the best driver assistance suites, but this is a bold claim. Essentially, you'll be paying for a wink and a hope that a lot of stars align to make it work.

If you want a Model 3, you better get in line, and be prepared to pony up. The only way you can currently get a new one is to reserve one straight through Tesla by paying a $1,000 deposit. Once you pay that, be prepared to wait between four to 12 months for it to show up.

CarsDirect Tip

Don't get the Full Self-Driving Capability package. You're paying $3,000 for basically nothing at all. Even if Tesla does eventually develop the technology, there'll still be heavy regulatory hurdles to make sure it's actually able to be used. Considering the length of the Model 3's vehicle warranty, you're basically making a $3,000 bet that all of those hurdles will be overcome. At this point, the odds do not seem to be in your favor.

Get your price on a Tesla Model 3 »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

The Model 3 represents a big step for Tesla. Previously only the domain of the wealthy, the Model 3 aims to bring Tesla badges into the mainstream. But taking big steps can also mean stumbling, and Tesla has hit its fair share of roadblocks. Quality issues and timeline delays have left many Model 3 owners (and many more would-be owners) frustrated. If it delivers on all the big promises, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 could be a game changer. Whether it will remains to be seen.

Best Value

For best value, we would ideally recommend a base, non-Long Range model. The base Model 3 offers 220 miles of range and starts at a BMW-3-Series-slaying price of $36,000 (after a $1,000 destination charge).

But, because the standard Model 3 looks like it won’t even enter production in 2018 – and it’s reserved out well after that – it’s hard to recommend. We would also love to recommend all-wheel drive, but that hasn’t made production yet, either. For now, your only choice is a Model 3 with a Long Range battery and rear-wheel drive, and even for that you’ll have to wait several months. The Model 3 does have the standard features to take on the Germans: an LTE WiFi hotspot, standard navigation, voice activation, a state-of-the-art infotainment system, keyless entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

But if you want some of Tesla’s signature features – like their much-discussed active safety tech – you’ll have to add packages that begin at $5,000. With these restrictions, the least you can currently pay for a Model 3 is $45,000, and the final sticker will likely exceed $50,000. That’s a far cry from the promised base MSRP.

In an effort to stick to the Model 3’s mission, we would keep ours simple:

  • Model: 2018 Tesla Model 3
  • Engine: 192-kW electric motor
  • Output: 271 hp / 307 lb-ft
  • Transmission: Single-speed automatic
  • Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
  • Fuel Economy: 130 MPGe (miles-per-gallon equivalent)
  • Options: None
  • Base Price: $36,000 (after $1,000 in destination fees)
  • Best Value Price: $36,000

Performance

Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 offers sophisticated and efficient performance. Oddly, Tesla has refused to release exact battery specs, but even the base model will go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The Long Range battery adds a few extra horses and boosted range, with around 310 miles on a full charge. In the corners, the Model 3 is well-behaved and capable, if not particularly sporty. When Tesla gets around to all-wheel drive, a high-performance version will likely follow. Fuel economy, of course, is as good as it gets.

That efficiency comes from the Model 3’s aerodynamics, aided by high-pressure, low-resistance tires. Tesla sets up those tires with no toe-in (i.e., no inward angle), which helps lower rolling resistance but also makes the steering wander a little on straightaways. The steering is on the heavy side, which makes the Model 3 feel like a bigger car than it is.

Style

The Model 3 shares the fastback shape of the Model S, but the new car is a true sedan and has more unconventional styling. The nose is short and without any substitute for a grille, leaving only a blank panel with the Tesla badge. The high-tailed shape is elegant while remaining aerodynamically exceptional, although the “Aero” wheel covers have been less popular aesthetically. The interior is equally bold, dominated by a 15-inch touchscreen above the dash. No buttons, dials, or switches surround the screen – everything runs through touch or voice commands. It’s unusual but effective and futuristic, and the interior feels spacious and elegant. Visibility is excellent, and the materials on upper trims are deluxe.

But the car’s modern design is severely undercut by quality issues. Not every Tesla owner has experienced these issues, and many report being happy with their Model 3s. But many others have found unexpected defects. Our test car had a host of flaws, including a defective command screen, persistent creaking and buzzing, steering vibration, misaligned body panels, and door trim that didn’t align. These are issues that don’t occur even on cheap cars. Many Tesla buyers are willing to overlook a few mistakes here and there, but we’re not convinced.

The Best and Worst Things

The Model 3 could still turn out to be a revolutionary car. It brings Tesla’s trademark performance and efficiency in a futuristic design. As is, however, the Model 3 feels low on consistency and high on price – a combo that means we’re still waiting on promises to be kept.

Right For? Wrong For?

Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 is the right car for early adopters who want the sedan of the future. The sacrifices are multiple: choices are limited, wait times are long, and quality control may be an issue. For many buyers, none of this will matter. Getting into the first mainstream Tesla is an exciting prospect, and it may be worth waiting for.

For buyers who are content with the sedans of right now, options still abound. Quintessential picks like the BMW 3-Series are at least as dynamic as the Model 3 (albeit less efficient), while offering a wide range of options. For the time being, alternatives are also much cheaper. Teslas remain a luxury vehicle; budget-minded buyers should shop elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 shows flashes of brilliance and plenty of potential, but it’s marred by quality issues and a bumpy production timeline. It remains to be seen whether Tesla can follow through on its ambitious goals. The car we were delivered was good – it just wasn’t the mass-market Tesla we were hoping for.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Horsepower/Torque
Transmission
1-spd auto
Drive Type
Rear-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
128 / 117 / 123 Mpge
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Horsepower/Torque
Drive Type
Rear-wheel
key
128 / 117 / 123 Mpge
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank
Recommended Fuel Type
Electric
Average Cost To Fill Tank
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
Passenger Volume
97 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
184.8 "
Exterior Width
72.8 "
Exterior Height
56.8 "
Front Headroom
40.3 "
Rear Headroom
37.7 "
Front Legroom
42.7 "
Rear Legroom
35.2 "
Front Shoulder Room
56.3 "
Rear Shoulder Room
54.0 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,838 Lbs.
Wheel Base
113 "
Turning Radius
19.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
18.0 " Gray Aluminum / 19.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone / Tri-coat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote W/tilt Down Heated
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust
None
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Leatherette
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power)
Front Armrests
(8-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Fm/hd, Fm/hd, Seek-scan
Speakers
15 Performance
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Power Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Smart Device-as-key
Power Outlets
1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver And Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front And Rear
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Autosteer W/auto Lane Change Hands-on (with Lane Change) Steering Assist
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Front And Rear / Autopark Automated
Security Systems
Sentry Mode
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months
96 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
144 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

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