2024 Tesla Model 3

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 Long Range 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 from phone to car seamlessly.

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 it 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 overreactive 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 are the range and efficiency? We tested the Model 3 Long Range equipped with 18-inch wheels. It gets an EPA-estimated range of 341 miles on a full charge. This is a respectable distance for an EV, and in our independent Edmunds EV Range Test, the Model 3 nearly hit that mark traveling a total of 338 miles before zeroing out its remaining range gauge. Other vehicles in the segment generally beat their range estimates but few can ultimately go as far as the 3 Long Range.

The Model 3 is still the most efficient dual-motor EV we've tested to date. The EPA estimates were not available at the time of publishing but we calculated that we used 25.3 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles driven. A comparable Ford Mustang Mach-E we tested, for example, used 32.7 kWh/100 miles. Unlike a gas vehicle's mpg, the lower the kWh number used for an EV, the better.

Tesla says the Model 3 can reach fast-charging speeds of up to 250 kW, which is estimated to add up to 175 miles of range in 15 minutes. Edmunds will verify fast-charging speeds in our independent EV Charging Test in the near future.