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Tesla Model 3 variants
Total price
Monthly payment
Figures are based on a 20% deposit

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £16,499. Borrowing £13,199 with a £3,300 deposit at a representative APR of 12.9%.

49 monthly payments
£200.72
Fixed interest rate
12.9%
Total amount payable
£22,132.69
Cost of credit
£5,633.69
Optional final payment
£9,198.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

The Model 3 went on sale back in 2017 (although it didn’t arrive in the UK until 2019), slotting below the Model S hatchback and Model X SUV. You can choose from three versions of used Model 3 cars – the Standard Range Plus, Long Range and searingly fast Performance models. 

Tesla Model 3 buying guide

What Tesla Model 3 trim levels are there?

Tesla doesn’t really do trim levels in the traditional sense. The three available versions are an unnamed entry model (previously called Standard Range Plus), then Long Range and Performance. These are to do with the battery and electric motor rather than an increasingly generous kit list.

The rear-wheel-drive base Model 3 comes with 18-inch alloy wheels with aero covers, plus wood trim, a glass roof, wireless charging for two phones, heated front and rear seats, Bluetooth, powered front seats and the ability to set driver profiles. Of course, you also get a whopping 15-inch touchscreen. Besides turning the wheels, this screen controls pretty much everything in your Model 3 – it features your speedometer, climate controls, sat nav guidance and even the button to open the glovebox.

Moving up to the Long Range brings a second electric motor for increased performance and driving range, and you also get LED foglights.

Top-spec Performance also gets a dual-motor powertrain, plus added go-faster bits. Externally, it’s marked out by 20-inch alloy wheels, uprated brakes and a carbon-fibre spoiler. Inside, there are aluminium pedals. The Performance features a Track Mode that increases the powertrain cooling and regenerative braking for racetrack use.

Tesla Model 3 interior and technology

Prepare to be wowed. The Model 3’s simplistic interior is dominated by the central touchscreen, which is a control hub for the whole car. Tesla’s decision to fit acres of screen real estate has since been copied by other manufacturers – like Ford in the Mustang Mach-E – as rival brands try to compete with Tesla’s innovative approach.

Devote some time to playing with the touchscreen and exploring all its various features when you buy your Model 3. There are more features on there than you’ll probably ever use, but it’s a good idea to work out where everything is so it’s easier to use once you’re driving.

When the car’s parked up – at a chargepoint, for example – you can even watch movies and play games on the screen. Note that many of the connectivity features are bundled up in a subscription – this includes internet access, video streaming, live traffic updates for the sat nav and in-car karaoke.

Tesla Model 3 engine range explained

(Most popular!) Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD

We’ll start with the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, so called because it has the longest range in the, er, range. You can travel up to 374 miles between charges, which is on a par with some petrol rivals and makes the Model 3 one of the longest-range EVs on sale. It has an electric motor on each axle to give all-wheel drive, and comes with the smaller wheels to maximise efficiency. Despite this focus on long-distance driving, the Long Range can still outpace many sports cars, with a 0-60mph time of just 4.2 seconds.

Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive

Sitting below the Long Range is the Rear-Wheel Drive model – the entry point into the Tesla range. This used to be called the Standard Range or the Standard Range Plus, and still offers a 305-mile range. The base Model 3 is the least quickest, but don’t you dare call it slow! It’ll show many hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf GTI a clean pair of heels.

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Count to three. In the time you’ve done that, the top-rung Tesla Model 3 will already be approaching 60mph from a standing start. That should give you some idea of the ferocious acceleration that comes with the Performance edition. It’s genuine bona fide supercar pace in a four-door saloon, while the styling additions do just enough to make it stand out. Just as impressive as the performance is the range – this high-power rocketship will still manage 340 miles on a charge if you’re gentle.

Tesla Model 3 FAQs

The Tesla Model 3 is a four-door saloon with a smooth front end, recessed door handles, a flat floor and a teardrop rear that all help it slip through the air with as little resistance as possible for improved range. It has room for tall adults front and back, and you get 425 litres of luggage space thanks to the boot and smaller ‘frunk’ under the bonnet. The standard glass roof and light interior make it feel very airy.

At just shy of 4.7m long and a little more than 1.4m tall, the Tesla Model 3 is a bit longer than a family hatchback like a Ford Focus. Despite being Tesla’s smallest car, the Model 3 provides a reasonable amount of space for four adults, although taller mates might be brushing the headliner of the swooping roof when they sit in the back. Its saloon bootlid opens to reveal a decent-sized boot but access isn’t the best. A BMW 3 Series offers more luggage space. The storage zone under the bonnet is big enough for charging cables or a couple of soft bags.

If you find the Model 3 a little too compact, the Tesla Model Y will likely fit you better. It’s mechanically identical to the Model 3 and shares around 75% of the same parts, but is bigger inside and has a bigger boot opening.

Every Model 3 is electric, but each one has a range of over 300 miles and access to the Tesla Supercharger network. Range anxiety should be a thing of the past and you’ll never have to fill up with petrol or diesel again.

The Tesla Model 3 has different battery sizes depending on trim level and year, with current Standard Range versions coming with a 57.5kWh (usable) battery. Long Range and Performance versions get a 78kWh battery – so that’s how much electricity you’ll need for a fully charged battery.

How quickly you can recharge depends on the speed of the charger you’re connected to. A home wallbox – typically 7kW – will add around 30 miles of range per hour, whereas a 250kW public fast-charger will top you up to 80% charge in under half an hour.

Premium EVs don’t tend to offer great residual values at the moment, but the Tesla Model 3 does better in this regard than some of its rivals. According to Cap HPI, the Model 3 will retain 53-56% of its initial value after three years and 36,000 miles – roughly the same as the Volkswagen ID.3 and Golf.

The Tesla Model 3 is incredibly safe. In Euro NCAP crash testing, it emerged with a five-star safety rating, with scores of 96% and 94% for its adult occupant protection and its driver assistance tech respectively.