Tesla Model 3 Review: The Affordable Electric Vehicle

Introduction

Mainstream electric vehicles (EVs) have indeed come a long way since their nascent stages in the early to mid-2000s. Nowadays, almost all of the major auto giants have at least one EV in their model line-up, and many have promised to roll out several more fully-electric cars in the coming few years. However, if there’s one brand name that’s become synonymous with electric vehicles in the present day, it has to be none other than Tesla. The American premium automaker has been single-handedly credited with busting open the plethora of myths and stigma attached to EVs, and has an audience base that would make almost any major carmaker a tad jealous. While the Model S and Model X are both aimed at buyers with deeper pockets, Tesla’s Elon Musk always wanted a more affordable model in Tesla’s line-up.

Tesla Model 3 Overview

In order to achieve that very goal, Musk unveiled the eagerly-anticipated Tesla Model 3 in 2016. The Model 3 now serves as the entry point into going fully electric with Tesla and is categorized as a premium mid-size sedan. The Model 3 shares quite a bit of its architecture with the upcoming Model Y, and depending on the market it’s sold in, is available in various output and range combinations. In the UAE, the Tesla Model 3 is only sold in its P75 avatar, and finds itself in the midst of other offerings such as the Renault Zoe in terms of its EV status and the Mercedes-AMG A45 regarding its price and performance.

Exterior Design

The Tesla Model 3 sports a modern, clean, and aesthetically intriguing exterior design. It resembles a shrunken version of the Model X SUV. The Model 3 isn’t the most beautiful design from Tesla, but its smooth, curvy exterior has been shaped to help it slip through the air with minimal resistance. The Model 3 boasts one of the lowest coefficients of drag in the industry, rated at a slippery 0.23 Cd.

Key exterior features include:

• A smooth but blunt nose
• Sporty lower bumper with a large air intake
• Upswept LED headlamps
• Steeply-raked A-pillars with a heavily-sloped windshield
• Flush door handles and gentle body contours
• Aggressively-sloped roofline
• LED tail lamps and a subtle bootlip spoiler

The Tesla Model 3 measures 4.694 meters in length, 1.933 meters in width, and 1.443 meters in height, with a wheelbase of 2.875 meters and a boot space of 425 liters.

Interior Features

The interior of the Tesla Model 3 is designed with minimalism in mind. The cockpit is devoid of visual clutter, with most functions integrated into the massive 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment/multimedia head unit. Apart from the high-definition display and the steering wheel, the rest of the car is simplified for a clean design.

Interior features include:

• Adaptive headlamps
• Leather upholstery
• Head-up display
• Voice command and live navigation
• Automatic climate control
• Online apps and social media connectivity
• Live camera feed with 360-degree parking assist

Engine and Performance

The Model 3’s 75kWh battery pack powers a 261 horsepower rear-mounted electric motor, enabling this 1.6-ton EV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds, with a top speed of 225 km/h. Its maximum range is rated at just under 500 kilometers.

Verdict

In the UAE, the Tesla Model 3 P75 is priced at AED 280,000, which isn’t exactly “affordable” by any stretch of the imagination.