Driving the latest Tesla Model 3: the best electric car you can buy? 

Tesla is about to launch the new Model Y in the UK, and it’s set to get a lot of upgrades compared to the outgoing car, just like the Model 3 did when it was upgraded back in 2023.

Seeing as the Model 3 and Model Y are pretty much identical under the skin, now seems like a good time to get behind the wheel of Tesla’s popular saloon to get an idea of what to expect from its new SUV.

The first thing you notice when you climb behind the wheel of the latest Model 3 is the huge step up in interior quality over the old one. It’s still not quite as posh as a BMW i4, but it certainly feels solid and the materials used are more plush.

This step-up in build quality also extends to the oily bits, because the Model 3 saw a host of mechanical changes including better sound insulation and some suspension upgrades to make it more quiet and comfortable on the road.

And what a difference these tweaks have made. One complaint we had of the old Model 3 was comfort, because it just felt that bit more stiff over bumps than some alternatives. Well this one is much better over broken surfaces, making it more relaxing to waft around in. The added insulation also makes it quieter at motorway speeds. Tesla has already confirmed similar tweaks for the new Model Y, so expect it to be more comfortable than the outgoing car.

Get yourself out onto a country road and you’ll find that the Model 3 is surprisingly good fun to chuck around. The steering is sharp and accurate, and there’s very little bodyroll as you fling it through a bend. A petrol-powered BMW M340i will be better for properly keen drivers, but the Tesla handles itself very well indeed for a heavy electric car.

So what about the sensible stuff? Well there’s plenty of storage space in the cabin, with cavernous cubbies under the centre console and a good-sized glovebox. It’s infuriating that you have to open it through the screen though – there’s no reason you couldn’t just fit a button for this.

And that isn’t the only irritating thing about the interior. The touch-sensitive indicator and light controls on the steering wheel aren’t as intuitive as a traditional stalk, and having the climate control routed through the touchscreen is annoying as well, but at least it’s responsive and the menus are easy to flick between.

While the Model Y is still heavily reliant on the central screen, it hasn’t copied the Model 3 by removing the indicator stalk. The gear selector has still moved onto the infotainment system though.

Climb into the rear seats and passengers are treated to a good amount of space, and the panoramic sunroof keeps things feeling nice and airy. You even get a good-sized screen back there which you can use to play games or stream videos.

At 594 litres, the boot is miles bigger than a Polestar 2 or Kia EV6, and you get a good-sized front boot as well for keeping your charging cables out of the way.

If you’re after an electric saloon car which is good to drive, loaded with tech and practical, the Model 3 really is hard to beat. It may not be quite as posh-feeling as the German competition, but it makes up for this by undercutting a lot of alternatives on price. If the Model Y gets a similar treatment to this car, we could be looking at one of the best electric SUVs on the market.

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