2025 Tesla Model 3

Name: 2025 Tesla Model 3 Review
Brand: Tesla

Release Date: Summer 2024

Estimated Price: Starting around $42,000

The Tesla Model 3 offers an enticing combination of performance, comfort and range, and its price continues to undercut the competition. The updated Model 3 also impresses with its improved ride comfort and added amenities such as ventilated front seats. It's a great choice for a well-rounded EV.

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2025 Tesla Model 3 Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

rating written byJonathan Elfalan^{Director, Vehicle Testing
Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.}

Pros

Excellent range, performance and handling
Comfortable seating and ample passenger and cargo space
Access to Tesla's expansive Supercharger fast-charging stations
Easy to drive and see out of

Cons

Touchscreen interface controls nearly everything and is distracting to use
No Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration

What's new

No major changes expected for 2025
Part of the first Model 3 generation introduced for 2017

Overview

Tesla has undeniably changed the automotive landscape, bringing electric vehicles into the mainstream. Its smallest and most affordable Model 3 made EV ownership far more attainable too. After undergoing a significant refresh last year, we expect the 2025 Tesla Model 3 to return largely unchanged. That said, Tesla is known for making improvements and adding features via over-the-air software updates, so there's always a possibility of bigger changes.

Edmunds spotlight: Range and performance

We don't have any official information yet for the 2025 Model 3. But when it comes to range, the current Model 3 remains one of the best in its class. In the real-world Edmunds EV Range Test, a Model 3 Long Range went 338 miles on a full charge. That's a bit less than its EPA estimate but still one of the longest ranges for an EV in this price range. The Model 3 is also quite speedy in a straight line, with the Long Range version sprinting from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. The range-topping Performance cuts that time down to an astounding 3.3 seconds.

Competitors to consider

When it comes to affordable EVs, the Model 3 no longer has the spotlight to itself. With the reintroduction of the Chevrolet Bolt EV for 2025 and the debut of the Volvo EX30 for 2024, the Model 3 won't be the price leader, though Tesla is also known for adjusting its pricing amid increased competition. For more generous budgets, we'd also recommend checking out the all-electric Polestar 2, BMW i4 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. To see what we think the Model 3's strengths and weaknesses are, check out our Expert Rating.

What’s it like to live with?

Our test team recently purchased a Model 3 Long Range to add to its long-term test fleet. Read our Model 3 blog-style article to learn more about our editors' experiences as they drive it everyday.

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge at home (240V outlet) ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, or other places your car is parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice.}
Adding a home charging system is estimated to cost $1,616 in
^{This is an estimate for your area. Using your address and the answers you provide, Treehouse can provide a more accurate price.}
Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Learn more ^{Edmunds customers receive a 10% installation discount and 4% smart charger discount. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.}

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Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the Model 3 drive? The Model 3 Long Range, which is what we tested, is surprisingly sporty and engaging to drive. At the Edmunds test track, our test car accelerated from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. That's really moving, especially for a car that's not necessarily designed for performance. It's backed up by athletic and balanced handling around corners. Full panic-stop braking is stable, although the 60-0 mph stopping distance was a bit long in our testing.

In daily use, the Model 3 is easy to drive. It steers quickly, zips away from stoplights, and offers strong regenerative and one-pedal braking when you lift off the accelerator pedal.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Model 3? The Model 3's front seats have a pleasing combination of cushioning and firmness, with decent-size bolsters to hold you tight around corners. The 3's seats also come with heating and ventilation as standard. The rear seats are pretty comfortable, though they are a bit low to the floor, so taller passengers will have their knees in an elevated position. In our testing, the Model 3 rode smoothly over most road surfaces and blocked out most road and wind noise.

Our scoring could be even higher here but the climate control system doesn't have multiple zones for temperature adjustment like you'll find on most other cars. Also, the touchscreen-based adjustments for the air vents are distracting to use while driving.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? If you're savvy with touchscreens, using the Model 3's main touchscreen for nearly everything will come pretty naturally to you. But those less keen on tech will likely find it hard to remember where all of the touchscreen controls are and wish for some real buttons or control stalks. The touchscreen's drive selector isn't as annoying to use as we expected, but the steering wheel-mounted turn signal buttons are just plain odd.

On the upside, the wide adjustability of the steering wheel and driver's seat provides an optimal driving position and excellent outward visibility. We also like the Model 3's roomy cabin. There's plenty of headroom and legroom up front and the rear seating area is also pretty generous.

Technology

7.5/10

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.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The Model 3's trunk can hold far more than you'd expect. Besides the trunk space, there's a surprisingly deep well under the trunk floor that contributes to a whopping 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat. The rear seats also fold virtually flat and the opening between is quite large. Another advantage the Model 3 has over most other mainstream EVs is a frunk that offers a usable 3.1 cubic feet for a total of 24.1 cubic feet.

Storage space for small items is generous. There's a decent-size center console armrest and a deep compartment ahead of the cupholders. We also like the door pockets, which can hold water bottles and are lined with a felt-like material to help minimize rattling sounds from stored items.

The Model 3 isn't the best if you have young children. The car seat anchors are tucked tightly between the seat cushions, so it can be a challenge to get your car seat's anchors in there. But thanks to the legroom available, even rear-facing car seats will fit behind an average-size driver.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Range and Efficiency

9/10

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 Model 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.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Model 3 a good value? Tesla's Model 3 impressively bridges the gap between luxury and affordability for EVs. Our test car was solidly built and nicely appointed. Though previous models fell short in interior design compared to high-end competitors, the latest Model 3 has noticeably improved in quality and aesthetics. Pricing is also appealing. You'll be hard-pressed to find better overall value from a competing EV, especially if you skip buying the Full Self-Driving features.

The Model 3 used to come with an assortment of charge cord options, but now it only comes with an adapter that you can use to connect to a non-Tesla charging cord. Long-distance trips are easy to do thanks to Tesla's extensive nationwide network of quick-charging Supercharger stations.

The Model 3's warranty is comparable to other luxury electric vehicles. It comes with four years/50,000 miles of basic coverage and eight years/120,000 miles for the battery and drive unit, with a guaranteed 70% of battery charge until then.

Wildcard

8/10

Tesla is no longer a tech startup trying to figure out how to build cars. The latest Model 3 is fun to drive, comfortable, and generally free of software glitches that seem to plague a lot of other EVs from new automakers. The downside to Model 3 ownership is that the combination of the vehicle's popularity and the dearth of customizable options means the chances of you seeing an identical Tesla to yours on the road, or even in your neighborhood, is pretty high.

Which Model 3 does Edmunds recommend?

Tesla hasn't released official information on the 2025 Model 3 as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Model 3, we'd suggest the Long Range version. You not only get extra range over the base model but you also get a higher maximum charging rate, quicker acceleration and a solid audio system.

Tesla Model 3 models

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Model 3. We expect the 2025 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Tesla Model 3 is an all-electric sedan that's initially available in two trim levels: base, Long Range and Performance. Keep reading for a rundown of the key features you get on the Model 3.

Model 3
The base model comes standard with:

Tech features for the base Model 3 include:

Wireless charging for two smartphones
Two rear USB ports
15.4-inch touchscreen with navigation
8-inch touchscreen for rear passengers
Nine-speaker sound system
Wi-Fi hotspot
Integrated audio, video streaming and gaming services (requires subscription)
Tesla's Autopilot, a suite of advanced driver aids that include:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Model 3 and the car in front)
Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

Long Range
Adds to the base model with:

More range
Max charging rate increased to 250 kW
17-speaker premium sound system

Performance
Loses a bit of overall range when compared with the Long Range model on which it's based but gains performance with:

Dual motors making an estimated 510 horsepower
Adaptive sport-tuned suspension
Larger brakes
20-inch forged aluminum wheels
Carbon-fiber spoiler
Sport bucket seats
Carbon-fiber interior trim

Two Autopilot upgrade packages are available:

Enhanced Autopilot

Integrated navigation capability while using Autopilot, such as on and off highway ramps
Automated parking system (steers in and out of a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

Full Self-Driving Capability

Can potentially stop the Model 3 at stoplights and stop signs when Autopilot is engaged
Additional features in the future, such as automated steering, that Tesla says will be released via over-the-air updates

2025 Tesla Model 3

2025 Tesla Model 3 Review

Pros