Tesla Model 3 Review: Is The Best Electric Car You Can Buy?

Tesla has designed its entry-level car to take on best-selling luxury car models like Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, and BMW 3 Series, particularly those car buyers looking for something more sustainable and eco-friendly options. The Model 3 is approximately the same size as the BMW 3 Series and is now available in two more color options, Stealth Grey and Ultra Red.

Tesla Model 3 Review: Brief Overview

Features

• Complete electric car
• Automatic transmission
• Four doors
• Five adult occupant seating space
• Optimized exterior styling
• 8-inch rear touchscreen display

Pros

• Ultra-fast and efficient electric car
• Up to 629 km maximum range
• Enhanced interiors and custom ambient lighting
• 360-degree acoustic glass
• 250m powerful visual processing
• Built-in Tesla Vision technology

Cons

• Build quality
• Little expensive
• Touchscreen controls only
• Limited rear legroom space

Expert Review: 8.5/10

Tesla Model 3 (2023) Price in UAE: Starts from AED 179,900 for entry-level RWD variant, AED 184,990 for Long Range (AWD), and AED 199,990 for Performance (AWD) Variant

Tesla Model 3 Detailed Review: Things You Should Know

Performance

Tesla Model 3 is available in three different battery and motor options. The base variant has a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive option, capable of churning 0-60 mph in around 5.8 seconds. Its 60kWh battery pack makes it capable of delivering 305 miles of top range. Based on such impressive performance figures, it takes on Polestar 2 Long Range, which sports two motors and delivers a maximum range of 301 miles. The Long Range variant has extra power and sprints from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. The electric car also delivers a peak range of 374 miles with an 88kWh battery pack. The high-end variant, Model 3 Performance, features an 88kWh battery and sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.1 with a maximum range of 340 miles. With a 7.4kW wall charger, the EV gets charged 0-100% in around 12 hours.

However, if you use the Tesla Supercharger, it can get 10-80% in 36 minutes. Like all other electric vehicles in the market, Tesla vehicles are eligible for certain tax and ownership benefits. Additionally, Model 3 features different driving modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport. The Eco model helps get maximum efficiency while the Sport model enables the highest level of performance. The EV vibrates less and delivers whisper-quiet performance, but the tire noise can be noticed at high speed.

Interior

Starting with the Tesla Model 3’s driving dashboard, everything from wipers to headlights is controlled by a central touchscreen. The big drawback of this configuration is that you would be required to use a touchscreen control system even for adjusting the door windows. The same touchscreen infotainment system digitally displays the vehicle's speed and other necessary stats. Thankfully, the carmaker has positioned the speedo in the top left corner, making it easier for drivers to monitor it properly. Regarding its main competitor, Polestar 2, the EV packs buttons to operate and adjust the window mirrors, and digital instruments are positioned in front of the driver, behind the steering wheel.

The driving position of the Tesla Model 3 is configured properly - the seat, steering wheel, and panels are in a line. Tesla has also provided front and rear car parking sensors in addition to a surround-view camera. The touchscreen infotainment system is the same as in the Tesla Model Y, and its operating system is flawless and efficient. Though the smaller touch icons can be complex to hit precisely when you press, they respond promptly. The infotainment system has several useful features, such as a web browser, Netflix and Spotify, and a wireless mobile charger.

Build Quality

The build quality of the Tesla Model 3 is great but needs further improvement to beat the likes of Audi and BMW. Polestar 2 has also beaten the Model 3 in terms of build quality. For example, while closing the doors, you don’t get the soft thud that you can expect from the best German electric and even conventional fuel cars. However, the faux leather on the seats and steering wheels adds to the premium look and feel. The carmaker has significantly improved the interior quality as part of a mid-life facelift of the vehicle. Now, it comes with a gloss-black finish on the lower central area of the dashboard, and a harder-wearing matt plastic has been replaced entirely.

Passenger & Boot Space

Despite being a high-performance electric car, the EV offers enough space for both the passengers and the luggage they carry. No matter how tall the passengers are, they can easily sit inside the cabin of the Model 3. The front seat area has been fitted neatly to remain light and airy, enhancing overall comfort with a standard panoramic glass roof and tall side windows. The rear leg and headroom seem similar to the BMW 3 Series. This means that the rear seat can easily accommodate three adults without falling short in head and leg space. However, other electric cars, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, offer more head and leg room.

Moreover, this Tesla car has rear seat folding functionality, which can split in a 60/40 arrangement and place longer loads. Top rivals like Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2 also have a 60/40 split-folding rear seat arrangement. Other luxury cars like the BMW 3 Series have even more flexible 40/20/40 split configurations as standard. Talking about boot space, Model 3 has standard boot space for luggage as available in other premium cars, including the Audi 4. Further, all three variants have an electric tailgate controlled by a touchscreen infotainment system fitted in the front.

Safety Score

The European Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has rated the Tesla Model X 5-star for adult safety overall and in every category in 2019. Further, the car has been named in the Best in Class award, Large Road Vehicles, 2019, making it one of the safest cars on the market. It has higher ratings for car avoidance features, including emergency braking and lane departure warning. Additionally, the suite of standard safety comprises blind spot monitoring, basic autopilot driver assist, and automatic emergency braking to advance occupants' safety from car accidents. Tesla has offered Full Self-Driving Capability in all variants of Model 3, which includes traffic light recognition and automatic steering on city roads.

Conclusion

The Tesla Model 3 (2023) is one of the popular electric cars in the market, available with a lot of features and advanced technology, making the driving experience convenient. The electric car is quick, silent, stylish, and powerful and packs an extensive list of specifications. If you are looking to buy the best luxury electric car in the UAE, particularly Dubai, the Model 3 from Tesla can be a great choice.