Living with a five-year-old Tesla Model 3: should you buy a second-hand EV? 

If you’re looking to make the switch to an EV, but are being put off by the price of new electric cars, then you may have looked to the used market to grab a bargain.

One model which is looking particularly tempting is the Tesla Model 3. At the time of writing there are loads of 2020 Model 3s for sale on Carwow for between £18,000 and £20,000, half the price of a new one.

The question is – should you buy one? Well to find out how these cars are standing up to the test of time, we’ve got hold of a late 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance with around 40,000 miles on the clock, and we’ve been living with it for a few months now. Here’s what we found out.

Jump to:

• Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Overview and price
• Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Interior and infotainment
• Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Batteries, range and driving
• Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Pros and cons
• Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Verdict

Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Overview

Let’s start by taking a closer look at our car. We’ve got a late 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance with around 40,000 miles on the clock, and it’s finished in Deep Blue with the smallest wheels available.

When it was new this particular car would’ve set you back close to £60,000, however we found a couple examples of the Model 3 Performance for between £22,000 and £25,000 through Carwow at the time of writing.

This means that for the same price as an entry-level MG4 or a BYD Dolphin you could have a 456hp sports saloon with enough performance on tap to scare a BMW M3. If you’re more interested in maximum range for your money, a 2019/2020 Model 3 Long Range can be yours for under £20,000.

Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Interior and infotainment

If you’ve spent any time on social media in the past few years then you’ve probably seen all the videos of people moaning about Tesla’s build quality. It was this online reputation for creaking trim and flaking steering wheels that had us curious to see how the interior of our car is holding up.

The Model 3’s interior was never as well-made as something like a BMW i4 or Polestar 2 even when it was new, but even so it still feels pretty solid five years on. There are no major squeaks or rattles worth mentioning, and it still feels like a premium product inside.

The only complaint here would be the gloss black trim on the centre console, because it’s picked up quite a few scratches over the years which lets the side down. The white leather seats are still looking good though.

So what about the infotainment system? After all, everything is controlled through this massive touchscreen so it needs to still be working properly. Well thankfully it is. The graphics are still sharp, it’s responsive to your touch and navigating all the menus is easy. It is still pretty jarring at first having no physical buttons, but you do get used to it.

Every feature on this car is still working as well, although there is one bit of tech which is pretty annoying. The smart key card only unlocks the door from the driver’s side B-pillar, meaning you can’t just walk up to the back doors and unlock them unless you use the app on your phone.

Another annoying feature on all Model 3s is the pop-out door handles. They’re okay to use once you get used to them, but having to explain to almost every passenger how to get in gets tiresome pretty quickly.

Living with a used Tesla model 3: Batteries, range and driving

This is one of the biggest talking points around used EVs: how do the batteries fare over the years?

Well this 2019 Model 3 Performance has a 78kWh battery pack, and when it was new it had a claimed range of 329 miles. Over the past few months we’ve been driving our car in a range of different conditions, from motorway cruising to bumbling around town, and we still regularly see over 300 miles from a full charge.

We also still have access to Tesla’s excellent Supercharger network, and we’ve even managed to charge our car at 250kW. This will top the battery up from 20-80% in under 25 minutes.

Out on the road this car performs a lot like it did when new. It’s comfortable out on the motorway, and the Autopilot adaptive cruise control still works well. Long journeys are pretty stress-free. The suspension is a bit firm around town, with potholes and speed bumps sending a thud through the cabin, but this was a complaint we had about the Model 3 when it was new.

See how our Model 3 gets on in a drag race against the new version…

Being the dual-motor Performance version, our Model 3 has 456hp going to all four wheels so it’s rapid when you put your foot down. There aren’t many other cars which offer this much performance for under £25,000.

Living with a used Tesla Model 3: Pros and cons

As with any car purchase, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision.

Used Tesla Model 3: the pros

• Huge cost saving over a new one
• Performance which is hard to beat at this price
• Infotainment system is still among the best
• Access to Supercharger network
• Still drives like a new car

Used Tesla model 3: the cons

• Cars over four years old have run out of warranty
• Piano black plastic is showing a lot of scratches
• Smart key card is annoying to use
• The door handles are overcomplicated
• Not the same satisfaction as owning a new car

Living with a used Tesla Model 3: The verdict

So should you buy a used Tesla Model 3? Well we haven’t uncovered anything which should put you off. The huge savings over a brand new one make it a very tempting proposition, and the Model 3 does seem to be standing up to the test of time.

This Performance model is great value – nothing offers straight-line speed like this for the same money – but the Long Range version will go further on a charge and is even cheaper still.

Our five year old example is out of warranty which may put you off, and the feeling of driving a brand new car will be too much of a draw for some. If you can look past this though the used Model 3 is a great purchase.

Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your old car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new one. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.