Tesla Model 3

With the company car sector changing at pace, we finally got our hands on the Tesla Model 3, the brand’s third model and the one tasked with appealing most to both fleet and retail customers....

The Tesla Model 3 has recently been updated, with the entry level Standard Range Plus available from £40,490, making it the cheapest Tesla. It comes in three specs. Standard Range Plus, the only RWD model, with a WLTP range of 267 miles; Long Range, with a 360 WLTP mile range; and Performance offering a WLTP range of 352 miles. Standard Range Plus starts at £40,490, Long Range costs from £46,990 and Performance from £56,490, with the two more expensive versions using a dual-motor system, one driving each axle.

Climb in and you’ll find decent storage, good head and leg room and electrically adjustable seats; it’s easy to get comfortable. The boot is a decent size and comes with a split floor, underneath which you can hide your charging cables. It’s narrow to access though. There’s also a front boot, large enough for those charging cables or a couple of small bags; all told there is 425 litres of storage.

The minimalist cabin has appeal, but as far as build quality, touch and feel go, it’s not up there with the best from Germany or Sweden. Certainly the wood strip across the dash looks great and the screen-operated glove box is a neat touch, but some of the plastics lower down are a little cheap. The push-in, pull-out door handles, another design detail, don’t feel that substantial. And the doors and boot don’t close with the loudest thud either. But these gripes aside, the baby Tesla is hard to fault.

All three Model 3s come with rapid acceleration, which for some will be part of the attraction. Acceleration is in either Chill or Sport modes and steering can be adjusted with a choice of Comfort, Standard or Sport. We were testing the Model 3 Performance, which will hit 60mph in just 3.1 seconds. Suffice to say we tried this out and it does.

As well as all that power on tap you get adroit handling, impressive road holding and a firm but comfortable ride. The brakes are fabulous and because you can utilise the built in regeneration, pick from Low or Standard, you barely need to use them in town or in traffic.

For charging we are fortunate to have a Rolec 7kW home charger, and this, combined with occasional dips into our local Tesco to use the Podpoints, kept the Tesla nicely charged. Most of our week was spent driving shortish distances so when fully charged, our battery range displayed 275 miles, which was more than enough for our requirements. We did undertake a 190-mile round trip. Leaving with a

range of 270 miles, this had fallen to 139 when we arrived. At our destination we plugged into a 7kW charger for nearly three hours and the range was back up to 243 miles. When we arrived home, the range showed 115. The conclusion is that motorway driving plainly runs the battery down faster than you’d like. A glance at the economy figures on the tablet screen showed that I averaged 364 Wh per mile, on all journeys over 30 miles.

After a week and 350 miles in the Model 3 we would surmise that the full battery range shown actually equates to about 75% of what you’re likely to achieve. If, like us, you drive in Chill mode, utilising Standard braking, on our test car that would be 210 miles. Drive short distances at low speeds for a better return.

Although there are other new exec electrics coming to market almost weekly, think the Polestar 2, Audi e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC, the Model 3 is arguably still the most cost effective way into the high-class premium electric car sector. Opt for our choice, the Standard Range Plus Model 3 at £40,490, or even the Long Range at £46,990 and you’re entitled to the £3,000 EV government grant as both cost under £50,000. And, of course, BIK savings can be had, too. Full electric cars are all zero BIK for the current tax year, rising to 1% and then 2% over the next two tax years.

What would you save? Compared to a BMW 320d, Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Audi A4 diesel, a Model 3 could save as much as £15,000 over the three years via leasing, and that doesn’t include fuel cost saving, VED and company NI benefits. We’re struggling to see any negatives, unless you are a high mileage motorway driver and even then, the Tesla Supercharger network is there if you need it. Ticks the money saving box, ticks the premium saloon box, ticks thr ange box... and it’s green to boot.

There’s nothing Standard about Tesla Model 3

“As well as all that power on tap you get adroit handling and a firm but comfortable ride”

CC&V VERDICT

A David Bowie-as-Nikola Teslainspired classic, one that changes the landscape

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