Spend a day with the new entry-level Tesla Model 3 and it quickly becomes clear this isn’t some penny-pinching special conceived purely to hit a price point.
In everyday use, it feels very much like the latest, more polished iteration of Tesla’s compact saloon, only with a calmer turn of speed and a slightly more approachable character. For a lot of UK buyers, that might actually make it the sweet spot in the line-up.
From the outside, there’s almost nothing to betray that you’ve gone for the cheapest Model 3.
The familiar low nose and clean, unfussy bodywork remain, and on UK cars you still get 18‑inch aero-style wheels that fill the arches nicely without ruining the ride. There’s no obvious evidence of cost-cutting; to most people on the street, this looks like any other current Model 3.
Open the door and the cabin continues that theme. The interior is a clear step on from earlier cars in terms of fit and finish. The big central touchscreen, measuring 15.4 inches, still dominates the dashboard, but the materials around it now feel more cohesive and upmarket.
There’s a textile decor and Vegan leather seats with textile inserts.
Of course, this is still a very digital driving environment. There’s no traditional instrument binnacle, no forest of buttons – almost everything runs through that central screen. You adjust mirrors, steering wheel and even the front seats via on-screen menus, which feels odd the first time you do it. Once you’ve set up your driver profile, though, you’re unlikely to touch those controls again.
Pairing the car to your phone means it recognises who’s approaching and quietly slides everything back into place before you climb in.
Pulling away is still quietly, almost eerily, drama-free. Where the faster Model 3s provide a few driving thrills, the Rear-Wheel Drive version takes a more measured approach. The initial response from the right pedal is softer, the car easing into motion rather than slingshotting itself at the horizon. Yet once you’re rolling, there’s more than enough shove.
You may lose something in outright fireworks, but the car is easier to drive smoothly, and passengers are less likely to be pinned back in their seats every time you leave a junction.
The chassis still feels very much like a Model 3. There’s a slight firmness to the way it rides over broken asphalt, but the suspension has a nicely judged, tied-down feel. Around town it takes the edge off potholes and sharp ridges well enough that you don’t wince every time you spot a manhole cover, while at higher speeds it gives the car a calm, planted demeanour.
The steering is quick without being hyperactive, helping the car feel agile when you thread it down a B‑road, yet it settles happily into a straight line on the motorway.
Where this Rear-Wheel Drive model really starts to make sense is in the way it covers ground between charges. It has a WLTP range of 332 miles and consumption of just 20.9 kWh/100mi – better than many smaller city-focused vehicles.
Hook it up to a suitably powerful rapid charger and the car will pull down serious power, adding well over a hundred miles of range in the time it takes to grab a coffee.
With Trip Planner integrated into the vehicle’s navigation and the Tesla mobile app, drivers can see charging availability and pricing in real time, planning routes at a tap.
Day-to-day usability is strong, too. The boot is deep and square, with 594 litres of space with five passengers, and up to 1,659 litres with the second row folded.
The real clincher, though, is that this all comes at a price that undercuts the more powerful versions by a healthy margin, while still feeling every inch a “proper” Tesla. You’re not giving up the glass roof, the tech, the over‑the‑air updates or the access to the Supercharger network.
Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive
PRICE: Starts at £37,990
0-60 MPH: 6.2 seconds (manufacturer figure)
TOP SPEED: 110 mph
WLTP RANGE: 332 miles
CONSUMPTION: 20.9 kWh/100 miles
DC FAST CHARGING: Up to 175 kW (CCS)
FAST‑CHARGE CLAIM: Up to about 160–168 miles added in roughly 15 minutes
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