Test Drive Tesla Model 3: e-ticket to fleet

The Tesla Model 3 is finally available. Not as a €35,000 entry-level model, but at least an attractive D-segment saloon with plenty of kit, oomph  and – importantly – range. Enough trumps to convince discerning company car drivers who have grown accustomed to German premium quality?

Street cred (look&feel, driving experience, technology): 8/10

First impression: the Model 3 looks high-tech with its svelte body, dark greenhouse, humongous glass roof and flush door handles, which pop out by pressing the front part. The digital experience starts straight away: you can use your smartphone to unlock and start the car – without having to take it out of your pocket. Should your phone be dead, you can always use a key card with NFC technology and hold it to the B pillar.

That’s where our test car showed its first flaw: there is a clear gap between the horizontal chrome strips of the driver door and the rear door. Interestingly, we have seen other Model 3s with and without this problem, probably indicative of corrective measures that have been taken between earlier and later production models. That is something you have to live with: Tesla keeps on updating and improving its products on the go, as you can read on many Tesla forums.

There, you will find mostly passionate brand ambassadors, who are in love with the way their Model 3 accelerates. As to the handling, the suspension is quite dry and the steering very direct and heavy (even though you can adjust the degree of assistance). This translates into an artificial feeling, but that goes for the majority of EVs – unless you’re called Jaguar I-Pace. Grip and cornering stability are exemplary in the case of the Dual Motor, which sticks to the road like chocolate sauce to your Sunday shirt. That is why more supportive seats would be welcomed.

If you drive in and around town like you’ve been taught by your driving instructor, the power consumption will oscillate around 15kWh/100km. Showing off at the traffic lights combined with Autobahn fun will see that number rise to 25kWh/100km. With a capacity of 75kWh for the Long Range Dual Motor, that means a recharge every 300 to 500km.

Fleet cred (Safety, ergonomics, eco-credentials, value proposition): 7/10

So yes, it is a blast to drive and easy to operate, even though some features are hidden and require some research. The awe-inspiring horizontal tablet commands basically everything in this Model 3, including the glovebox unlocking and all ADAS, and is incredibly intuitive to use thanks to the clear structure, icons and graphics. It is also connectivity heaven, with its live updates, web browser, pin-sharp Google maps, wifi hotspot, audio streaming, and so on.

It does cause distraction, though. You have to look sideways to see what you need to tap, slide or swipe. It would be our recommendation to use the voice command, but unfortunately it is not intelligent enough to manage all features. Tesla will probably tell you to switch on Autopilot while you set or adjust whatever you need to, but operating the car is always at your own risk: if something happens when Autopilot is engaged, you as a driver are still liable.

Talking about safety, the Tesla Model 3 got a perfect score in Euro NCAP’s frontal offset deformable barrier crash test. The car’s 94% score in 2019 Safety Assist tests is the best yet under Euro NCAP’s most recent protocol, demonstrating Tesla’s dominance in AI and automated driving. Our experience was that the systems work well most of the time, but not all of the time, making it difficult to rely on them. That’s perhaps a good thing: overreliance kills.   

As to the cost aspect, on some markets tax and fuel savings compensate the Model 3's heavy price-tag, resulting in a competitive TCO. Had it been less expensive, we would not have minded that Tesla visibly cut corners in the quality department. That seems to have little effect on its (strong) residual value. Tesla’s pricing instability does, however. Pricing of models and options can change overnight in California, for better and for worse.

The bottom line: 15/20

With this Model 3, Tesla brings e-mobility within reach of more company car drivers, both financially and practically. So long as they do not expect German build quality, they will probably become strong ambassadors for the brand. Last but not least: the Model 3 is readily available, contrary to many other EV models today.    

Pros

• Realistic (range, TCO) and readily available electric daily driver
• Human-machine interface, hyper-connectivity
• Overall safety: crash-resistance and intelligent ADAS

Cons

• Fit and finish not up to standard and inconsistent
• Central tablet causes distraction
• Unstable pricing policy