In-depth reviews

Tesla Model 3 review – performance and 0-60 time

Performance models are incredibly rapid, reaching 60mph in 3.1sec. Other variants are also properly fast

Evo rating
Price
from £40,490

Let’s start with the Performance, because by gosh does it have plenty. Tesla quotes the 0-60 (not 62mph) at 3.1sec – an astounding number, but especially so when applied to a mid-size executive hatchback. The Model 3 Performance accelerates with such aggression it almost hurts. If you make the mistake of stepping into the Model 3 without Sports mode activated, performance can initially feel a little underwhelming. But, select the right acceleration mode, give the motors a little time to warm up and it genuinely catches you off guard.

A standing start is one thing, but it’s the roll-on acceleration that feels almost otherworldly. To say that previous to driving the Tesla Model 3 this journalist had two weeks of two V10 supercars, yet was still blown away by the £50k Tesla, says much. Lesser Long Range and Standard Range Plus models offer the performance their numbers suggest, but all Model 3s feel like they have more than enough performance for everyday driving. Weight figures are typically high, but then perhaps not quite as chunky as some might suspect, explaining the Model 3’s performance relative to its far more powerful Model S sibling. Standard single-motor Model 3s hit the scale at 1645kg, which put into context is about the same as a rear-wheel-drive aluminium Jaguar XE petrol, while dual-motor versions, with their larger battery packs, come in a couple of hundred kilograms heavier at 1847kg.

Most Popular

Aftermarket ‘pop and bang’ exhausts could make your car illegal
Exhaust
News

Aftermarket ‘pop and bang’ exhausts could make your car illegal

In a landmark case, a car tuner has been fined for modifying a vehicle and making it unfit for the road
24 Nov 2023
Car pictures of the week: BMW M3 CS v Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA v Jaguar XE Project 8
BMW M3 CS v Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA v Jaguar XE Project 8
Features

Car pictures of the week: BMW M3 CS v Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA v Jaguar XE Project 8

In the current issue of evo we pit the formidable BMW M3 CS against two highly-specialised supersaloons. Here are some of our favourite snapshots
25 Nov 2023
Porsche claims new Panamera will drive more like a 911
Porsche Panamera – front
News

Porsche claims new Panamera will drive more like a 911

Porsche’s exec-express has been given a 2024 makeover, with a host of design and technology upgrades inspired by the Taycan
24 Nov 2023