Tesla Model 3 review – performance and 0-60 time
There's no new Model 3 Performance yet, but the Long Range still offers enormous pace
Teslas have become synonymous with drag races on YouTube, and for good reason. Even in the absence of a flagship Performance variant, the new Model 3 is impressively quick.
The dual motor system in the Long Range finds immense traction and launches the car from 0-60mph in just 4.2sec – quicker than a Volkswagen Golf R and much faster than most similarly priced rivals. BMW's i4 eDrive35, for instance, completes the 62mph sprint in 6sec. The throttle calibration is sharp and adds to the sense of urgency, although some might prefer a more progressive build up of acceleration.
One major factor in the Model 3's performance is its lack of weight compared to other electric saloons. The Long Range tips the scales at 1828kg, and while that might sound hefty for a compact executive car, it's barely more than a BMW M340i xDrive. The single-motor Hyundai Ioniq 6 is nearly 100kg heavier.
We haven't driven the new single motor Model 3 yet, but it's slightly lighter (1765kg) again and still packs a decent punch. With a 5.8sec 0-60mph time, it's firmly in the realm of hot hatches when it comes to pure speed.
The outgoing Model 3 Performance was a true giant killer in performance terms, hitting 60mph in just 3.1sec – expect its replacement to be just as fast, if not more so...
