2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance

How’s the tech? Tesla's infotainment system has a few standout features but also some things that are ripe for improvement. The Google-based navigation display looks great on the 15.4-inch touchscreen and is user-friendly, though it can lag in updating when you're driving in areas with poor cell service.

You'll love cranking your favorite music in the Model 3, especially with the premium 17-speaker system that's standard on the Performance model. It offers an immersive listening experience that reveals new dimensions in familiar tracks. However, the lack of integration for common smartphone features like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the inability to access an iPhone's music library directly, is a bit of a bummer if you're someone who likes to transition seamlessly from phone to car.

On the upside, Tesla provides a nice upgrade for rear passengers with the addition of a second screen. Like the front screen, you can use it to stream videos from Netflix and YouTube or play a small collection of built-in video games. Two USB-C chargers also keep mobile devices juiced up. The voice command system generally works well, and you can use it for things like opening the glovebox or adjusting the climate temperature (though it will only set the temp to the nearest even number).

Tesla's Autopilot system, which bundles a variety of driver assist features, generally works well, though we have found that it can be overactive when braking or too aggressive when accelerating. Its ability to autosteer on city streets and stop for traffic control lights and signs (if you have the Full Self-Driving option) is a neat trick, but we don't think it's trustworthy or reliable enough to fully allow you to relax while driving. It's hard to justify the cost, especially when you're just paying to turn the feature on.

How economical is the Model 3 Performance? The Model 3 Performance has an EPA-estimated range figure of 303 miles. It went a bit farther on the Edmunds EV Range Test, covering 306 miles in total. That's only about 30 miles behind the all-wheel-drive Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive we tested previously (338 miles), so you're not giving up that much range for a big gain in speed. This result also beats many of the performance vehicles that the Model 3 Performance competes with, including the Ioniq 5 N (253 miles) and Kia EV6 GT (236 miles).

EPA estimates for consumption were not available at the time of publishing, but we calculated that we used 28.5 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles driven. Unlike a gas vehicle's mpg, the lower the kWh number used for an EV, the better, and the Model 3 Performance was much more efficient than its rivals. (The Ioniq 5 N's consumption was 35.9 kWh/100 miles.)

Tesla says the Model 3 can reach fast-charging speeds of up to 250 kW, and Edmunds will verify fast-charging speeds in our independent EV Charging Test in the near future.