2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance tested
There is no quicker car for the money than Tesla’s latest electric rocketship. But this battery-powered speedster is far from perfect.
You won’t find a quicker car for the money than Tesla’s Model 3 Performance.
In fact, you’ll need to spend a lot more than the $87,000 Tesla charges to beat its claimed 3.1 second sprint to 100km/h.
It’s quicker than supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari Roma and McLaren GT that cost half a million dollars.
The Tesla outguns electric performance cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4sec), Kia EV6 GT (3.5sec), Ford Mustang Mach-E GT (3.7sec) MG4 X-Power and BYD Seal Performance (3.8sec) and BMW i4 (3.9sec) that sprint to 100km/h in less than four seconds.
No car needs to be this quick.
It pins you to the seat like a giant with his boot pressed against your chest.
You can feel your face momentarily change shape under acceleration, then settle back into position before cracking into a grin.
Normally shy about numbers, Tesla claims the Model 3 Performance makes 343kW of power.
That’s less than most sporty electric cars, but it is about 400kg lighter than Hyundai’s impressive Ioniq 5 N, so it can do more with less.
There is much more to this Model 3 than straight-line zip.
Myriad changes include forged 20-inch wheels with fat Pirelli P-Zero tyres. The brakes are bigger, the seats have grippy side bolsters and there are aero tweaks to improve high-speed efficiency.
A subtle carbon fibre spoiler and starburst badge on the bootlid are complemented by carbon interior trim and similar logos on the seats.
The suspension is lower and tauter, and there are new adaptive shock absorbers that help the car cope with the broader range of driving environments faced by fast cars.
Tesla rarely allows drivers much of an opportunity to customise the way their cars drive.
But this model changes that, with a sliding scale that allows enthusiasts to choose whether they want a neutral handling balance, or one that tends toward safe understeer or tail-happy oversteer.
There are presets for track driving and drifting and a layered stability control system now has “reduced” and “minimal” modes to accompany the usual “on” and “off”. However, those features disappeared during an overnight software update during our loan.
The interior is largely similar to regular Model 3 variants. You adapt to the lack of gear lever, indicator stalk and driver’s instruments in short order, even if they would be welcome additions to the stripped-back cabin.
Our China-built test example was the best-built Model 3 we’ve experienced, with far better materials and fitment than original US-made models.
The 15.4-inch touchscreen and its 17-speaker stereo remain impressive, as does the compact 8-inch video display in the back.
Sticky tyres reduce the Performance’s range to 528 kilometres, though supercharging speeds up to 250kW return up to 282 kilometres of range in 15 minutes at fast-charging stations.
We collected a test car with just 16 kilometres on the clock – so few that its cruise control and other safety systems would not work until driven for about half an hour to help the car understand its surroundings.
The adaptive shocks are great, making the car more comfortable in everyday driving, while improving poise when you want to press on.
The steering remains quick in response but bereft of feel, and there’s little feedback from the brake pedal.
We took the car to a Driving Solutions track night at Sydney Motorsport Park – more for photography than lap times – and were initially shocked by its straight-line pace, then baffled by a brake temperature alarm that popped up after just one lap.
I’ve tested more than 100 cars on circuits, including quite a few EVs and none have flashed a warning so quickly. Having experienced brake failure in a Tesla on track when the original Model 3 Performance launched in 2019, I decided to err on the side of caution and went home early, frustrated by a less than satisfying taste of the car’s potential.
TESLA MODEL 3 PERFORMANCE
PRICE: About $87,000 drive-away
POWER: Dual electric motors, 343kW
WARRANTY/SERVICE: Four years/80,000km, no capped price servicing
SAFETY: Five stars, eight airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, piloted driving
RANGE: 528 kilometres
CARGO: 682 litres
SPARE: Repair kit
VERDICT
The Tesla Model 3 Performance shows immense promise, delivering blistering speed for an accessible price.
4 stars
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