Tesla Model 3 review

From Elon Musk’s late-night tweets to the seemingly endless speculation about share prices, there’s as much noise around the company that makes the Tesla Model 3 as there is on the cars themselves.

Some of you will doubtless know plenty about this one already but, for those who don't, what exactly is the Tesla Model 3? Well, it's a fully electric car – Tesla doesn’t do petrols, diesels or even hybrids – and it’s the famous US brand’s smallest and cheapest model to date, sitting below the Model X SUV and the Model S luxury saloon.

The Model 3 is roughly the same size as a BMW 3 Series and there are currently three versions to choose from: an entry-level model called the Standard Range Plus, a Long Range version designed to maximise distances between charges, and a range-topping Performance variant that promises Porsche 911-beating acceleration. 

In the world of pure electric cars, the closest rival to the Model 3 is the Polestar 2, although you might also find yourself considering the cheaper Kia e-Niro, or possibly slightly pricier options, such the Audi E-tron and Jaguar I-Pace. However, officially at least, the Model 3 can manage a greater distance between charges than any of those alternatives and it can charge up quicker, too, at one of the prolific Tesla Superchargers dotted around the country.

Spoiler alert: it's really rather good. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the perfect car for you or even that it will fit into your lifestyle. Stay with us over the next few pages and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Tesla Model 3, including what it’s like to drive, how practical it is, how long it takes to charge up and how many miles it can really do on a full charge.

We’ll also run you through some of the car’s impressive safety and self-driving tech, as well as some of the less serious aspects of Model 3 ownership (Netflix, anyone?).