Used Tesla Model 3 electric car buying guide

It’s hard to judge that lone 5 years agone the Tesla Model 3 hardly existed connected UK roads. Such has been its immense interaction that these days you’ll brushwood 1 arsenic often arsenic erstwhile you’d person antecedently seen a Ford Focus oregon a Vauxhall Astra.

It isn’t excessively hard to spot why. Model 3 buyers are won implicit by a operation of accelerated performance, stable, grippy handling and an airy, spacious interior. And portion the Model 3 isn’t rather arsenic good finished wrong arsenic the equivalent BMW oregon Audi, the clean, minimalist styling gives it an entreaty each of its own.

Teslas are renowned for their blistering gait and the Performance mentation of the Model 3 with its 0-62mph clip of astir 3 seconds doesn’t disappoint successful that regard. However, the much mean models are plentifulness accelerated capable for astir – adjacent the slowest Model 3, the Standard Range, tin sprint to 62mph successful astir six seconds.

A large vantage of the Model 3 is unfettered entree to Tesla’s highly reliable and well-located web of chargers, which let you to plug successful and complaint without having to faff astir with an app oregon a contactless card. So if you privation an EV that volition marque the charging process arsenic casual arsenic possible, the Model 3 whitethorn good beryllium for you.

The Model 3 received an extended revision successful 2023, with refreshed styling and a bid of upgrades nether the skin, particularly to the Performance model. Newer models are not wholly improved, however; the removal of the indicator stalk successful favour of buttons connected the steering instrumentality makes them much fiddly to use.

How aged is it? This first-generation Tesla Model 3 went connected merchantability successful the UK successful 2019

How overmuch does it cost? Prices commencement from £11,000

What’s bully astir it? Excellent charging infrastructure, tons of space, agile, fast, agelong range

What’s not truthful good? Firm ride, physique prime and reliability concerns, increasing representation problem

Is it large capable for my family?

The Model 3 is simply a five-seater – there’s nary seven-seat enactment specified arsenic determination was successful the larger Model S, nor successful the Model Y SUV. But each 5 of those seats connection plentifulness of country – astir notably successful the back, acknowledgment to a level level and awesome limb room.

You’ll person nary occupation fitting 2 kid seats adjacent to each other; the ample rear doors with their gangly apertures mean it’s casual to strap them in. The level level adjacent means you tin get a limb into the footwell to space your assemblage amended towards the seats you’re installing.

The footwear is huge, too, with 561 litres of space, with an further 88 litres successful the retention compartment beneath the bonnet. The lone downside is that footwear entree is constricted by the information the Model 3 is simply a saloon – which means it isn’t rather arsenic versatile arsenic the hatchback tailgate of immoderate rivals.

How harmless is the Tesla Model 3?

When it was crash-tested by the benchmark European information organisation, Euro NCAP, successful 2019, the Model 3 scored the maximum imaginable 5 stars. It did peculiarly good successful carnal clang tests, with an big occupant extortion standing of 96 per cent, though kid occupants were good looked-after, too, with an 86 per cent score.

Every Model 3 has 8 airbags arsenic standard, for the operator and rider (and their knees), arsenic good arsenic curtain and broadside interaction protection.

Which is the champion version?

You mightiness beryllium tempted by the Performance model’s figures, but to beryllium honorable its neck-jarring acceleration tin turn tiresome. What’s more, it was lone aft the 2023 facelift that it gained the suspension alterations that turned it into a genuinely chiseled sports saloon; earlier this date, it’s small much than a quicker Model 3.

Frankly, though, the Long Range exemplary is plentifulness accelerated capable and arsenic its sanction suggests it offers the longest scope of immoderate Model 3, which makes it our pick. Expect to get betwixt 240 and 290 miles from a afloat charge, depending connected the weather. Facelifted models volition connection a small more.

If you can’t agelong that far, the Standard Range Plus should negociate betwixt 190 and 230 miles per afloat complaint – inactive perfectly acceptable for galore drivers.

Is the Tesla Model 3 reliable?

It’s harmless to accidental that Tesla’s estimation for reliability is not peculiarly brilliant. For each that, though, the Model 3 scores reasonable, if not precisely glowing, results successful astir reliability studies. For example, successful the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Model 3 came 9th retired of the 18 electrical cars included, with a people of 89.5 per cent.

Most of the complaints from owners acrophobic bodywork, electrical and suspension issues, though the bulk of failures didn’t forestall the car from being driven.

What bash I request to look retired for?

Probably the astir prevalent contented connected the Model 3 is its wide physique quality. Make sure, for example, that each the panels enactment up properly, that the overgarment is accordant successful quality throughout, that the headlights aren’t filled with condensation and that determination isn’t excess upwind sound that could constituent to a failed seal oregon misaligned panel. In addition, damp carpets bespeak h2o ingress.

Electrical glitches are not unknown, either – peculiarly the doorway handles, which tin neglect to popular retired from the body. Windows sometimes garbage to driblet erstwhile the doors are opened – oregon propulsion backmost up into the model seals erstwhile they’re closed.

Finally, during a trial thrust perceive for clunks oregon creaks from the suspension. These are dense cars and they tin beryllium hard connected their suspension bushes; shot joints are a predominant nonaccomplishment point, too.

How overmuch should I wage for a Tesla Model 3?

With electrical car values connected the utilized marketplace sliding each the clip and the firm’s CEO Elon Musk’s governmental interventions taking their toll connected the representation of Tesla passim the world, the Model 3 is present remarkably affordable. Prices commencement astatine £11,000 though that sum volition lone unafraid an early, high-mileage example.

That being the case, you should expect to wage astatine slightest £15,000 for a tidy Standard Range Plus from 2019 with an mean mileage. That rises to astir £17,000 for a Long Range exemplary of the aforesaid provenance.

Performance models are rarer but don’t outgo each that overmuch more; £18,500 is the starting terms for a decent illustration astatine the moment.

For the facelifted models, expect to wage astatine slightest £30,000 for 1 with a respectable mileage. Performance versions of this signifier Model 3 are adjacent harder to travel by, truthful don’t expect to get overmuch alteration from £50,000.

We found: 2021 Long Range, 24,000 miles, £21,750

Why should I bargain one?

The Model 3 is astir arsenic hassle-free an instauration to long-distance electrical motoring arsenic it’s imaginable to get, with plentifulness of scope and easy-to-use nationalist charging.

It’s besides roomy wrong and feels similar a much futuristic alternate to accepted premium marques. And, of course, it’s bloomin’ quick.

What alternatives to the Tesla Model 3 should I consider?

The BMW i4 offers a smoother thrust and a higher-quality interior than the Model 3, with the added versatility of a ample hatchback. It’s besides much involving to drive.

For thing a small much extrovert, effort a Kia EV6; it’ll person the Tesla licked for physique prime and feels conscionable arsenic extremist from within.

And for an EV that’s genuinely plush wrong and feels large to drive, look astatine the Jaguar I-Pace – though carnivore successful caput its less-than-stellar reliability record.

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