2023 Tesla Model 3

Safety first. Model 3 buyers will be well protected in the event of an accident. It’s received top scores from both of America’s crash test agencies, while every car incorporates a standard safety kit including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. You can upgrade any 3 with the $15,000 Full Self-Driving Package, but we wouldn’t, because it doesn’t live up to its billing and there are NHTSA and DOJ investigations into its possible role in fatal car crashes. A more sensible option is the $6,000 Enhanced Autopilot system, which can change lanes and park by itself.

Specifications are unchanged irrespective of your powertrain configuration, so every Model 3 comes with a glass roof, five heated seats, wireless device charging, and a heated steering wheel. A warranty covers the powertrain and battery for eight years, and everything else for four.

Not a quality cabin. The interior might be well-equipped, but it’s all rather austere. Tesla’s studied minimalism has arguably gone too far on a dashboard some might describe as stark. The 15-inch landscape touchscreen is a thing of beauty, with crisp graphics and impressively smooth responses, but it’s literally the only thing to see or touch. At least over-the-air updates ensure new features are rolled out as they’re ready, though we can live without the Beavis and Butthead-esque fart mode.

A more pressing concern is the variable build quality on display. Tesla already has a poor reputation for mechanical and electrical maladies, so it’s disappointing to see mismatched colors and panel gaps on many Model 3s. Don’t expect market-leading levels of refinement, either – it’s surprisingly noisy in here for an EV, especially at high speeds. At least it’s spacious for four – a fifth rear passenger might have a heated posterior, but they’d be quite squashed. Rear legroom is decent at just over 35 inches, while the bulbous glass roof accentuates an airy ambiance up front. The trunk offers 19.8 cubic feet of storage and there’s a small frunk as well, though the 60/40 split-folding rear seats don’t drop completely flat.

A blast from the fast. Tesla has done more than anyone to conjoin the concepts of electrification and acceleration. Even in its humblest RWD single-motor guise, the Model 3 will hit 60 miles an hour in less than six seconds. You can almost halve that figure in the Performance model, while the Long Range (when available) falls somewhere in between. From either a standing or rolling start, there’s plentiful power in reserve, while AWD models cope well in snowy weather. One-pedal driving can be selected as an option from the all-knowing central touchscreen.

Dynamic handling comes courtesy of double-wishbone front suspension and a low center of gravity, with the Model 3 weighing in at around 4,000 pounds. Less impressive is the ride, which is firm and jittery, never settling and proving tiresome on longer journeys. In tandem with the aforementioned road noise, you’re unlikely to reach your destination feeling refreshed.

Final thoughts. What to make of the Model 3? In many respects, it offers the best of the brand more affordably than ever before – reprising the ballistic acceleration and standard equipment found in more expensive Tesla models within a more maneuverable body that isn’t compromised by unreliable gullwing doors or a ridiculous steering yoke. It’s received a clean bill of health from America’s crash test agencies, complementing impressive levels of standard safety, while the airy cabin sports comfortable seating and generous standard equipment levels. Add in loads of storage and that gorgeous touchscreen, and it’s easy to see why some buyers are seduced.

To anyone still wavering, we would offer a few words of caution. Until we see concrete evidence of Tesla improving both build quality and overall reliability, the long-term ownership experience can’t be wholeheartedly recommended. The Model 3’s ride and refinement are some way off the standards offered by rival manufacturers, and ongoing price fluctuations may ultimately harm resale values. We’re baffled by the (temporary?) disappearance of Long Range models, and we urge prospective purchasers to avoid the optional Full Self-Driving package, which is both far too expensive and misleadingly titled.

Check prices for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 »