There's no question the 2025 Model 3 Performance is blazingly quick. But there's a lot more to this sport sedan than speed. It gets more than 300 miles of range in our Edmunds EV Range Test, it has a quiet, comfortable and upscale-feeling cabin, and its nimble handling doesn't compromise ride comfort. If you're willing to put up with the quirks that all Model 3s have, it's a heck of a deal.Read full review
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 When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.
Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.
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 for 2025
Part of the first Model 3 generation introduced for 2017
Overview
The fact that electric cars are mainstream today is largely due to the success of Tesla. The Model 3, in particular, has made EV ownership a realistic prospect for many new-car buyers. Last year, Tesla gave the Model 3 a big update that included revised styling (look for the sleeker headlights), a quieter and higher-quality cabin, and a smoother ride quality. For 2025, the Model 3 is pretty much unchanged. But know that Tesla often makes midyear improvements and feature changes through software updates, so things might change with little warning.
EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 253 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.
Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Boydton, Virginia. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.
NACSNorth American Charging Standard (NACS). Supports Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging.
Plug Type
12 hrs
240V Home ChargingEstimated total charging time when using a 240V outlet. This is either a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet used for appliances, for example a clothes dryer.
EV batteries should be kept at 30-80% charged to extend battery life.
8 yrs or 120,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.
According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.
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Cost to Drive
$55/mo
Model 3
vs
$157/mo
Car Avg.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
Am I Ready for an EV?
EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.
If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.
Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.
When it comes to range, the current Model 3 remains one of the best in its class. The EPA says the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive can go 363 miles on a single charge. At Edmunds, we tested the more powerful Long Range All-Wheel Drive and it still went 338 miles in our real-world Edmunds EV Range Test. That's a bit shy of the EPA's 346-mile estimate, but it's still one of the longest ranges for an EV in this price range. The Model 3 is also quick, with the standard Long Range version sprinting from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and the range-topping Performance doing the same in a supercar-like 3.0 seconds.
Competitors to consider
Hyundai's Ioniq 6 sedan is a viable alternative to the Model 3. Many people find its styling a bit off-putting, but otherwise it's a very sensible choice that provides plenty of range and comfort. BMW's i4 is another option, though it's more expensive. Your other alternatives are mostly SUVs, including the affordably priced Chevrolet Equinox EV, the sporty-looking Kia EV6 or even the new Volvo EX30. Tesla's Model Y is another good choice, though it doesn't yet benefit from all of the recent updates Tesla gave to the Model 3. 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 has purchased a Model 3 Long Range and a Model 3 Performance for our One-Year Road Test program. You can read our thoughts at these links as we live with the Long Range and Performance and experience them every day.
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
8.4
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
There's no question the 2025 Model 3 Performance is blazingly quick. But there's a lot more to this sport sedan than speed. It gets more than 300 miles of range in our Edmunds EV Range Test, it has a quiet, comfortable and upscale-feeling cabin, and its nimble handling doesn't compromise ride comfort. If you're willing to put up with the quirks that all Model 3s have, it's a heck of a deal.
How does the Model 3 Performance drive? Calling the Model 3 Performance fast sells it short. At our test track, it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. That puts it in some rarefied air and matches vehicles like the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS and the Lamborghini Huracan STO — cars that also cost several times more than you'll pay for the Tesla. Its acceleration pours on suddenly but is delivered smoothly, and the Model 3 Performance doesn't run out of breath either, pushing through the quarter mile in 11 seconds flat.
Braking distances are good but not great. It stops from 60 mph in 109 feet (1 foot better than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N), but the brakes do get very hot very quickly when you're pushing the sedan on a track. They're more than ample for a canyon or a spirited drive, but for a track day or an autocross, a brake upgrade will be in order. Driven enthusiastically around corners, the Model 3 Performance rolls a noticeable amount as the weight transfers, but overall it's an easy car to drive and control. If the handling and tire grip were improved a bit more, this car could really be a superlative sport sedan.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the Model 3 Performance? The Model 3 Performance's front seats have additional side bolstering to help hug you a bit tighter in corners. They're well cushioned and comfortable and come with heating and ventilation as standard, but we think they would benefit from even more bolstering because you do still slide around a bit in spirited driving. 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 we found the Model 3 Performance's adaptive suspension to be on the stiffer side, but it does a pretty good job of sorting out road imperfections, making it livable as a daily driver.
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 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.
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 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 them 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 anchors in there. But thanks to the legroom available, even rear-facing car seats will fit behind an average-size driver.
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 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).
Our test car 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.
Value
9/10
Is the Model 3 Performance a good value? The amount of performance you're getting in this sedan is astonishing. To match this level of pure speed and acceleration would cost you well into the six figures, unless you want to jump up a class in size and go for a Model S Performance. The latest Model 3 also has a nicely trimmed cabin. Our test car had no build-quality issues.
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 during the coverage period.
Wildcard
8.5/10
Though the Model 3 is too ubiquitous now to really be considered cool, the Performance version's subtle aesthetic improvements are welcome. You could also view this car as an ideal sleeper sport sedan. The Performance blends in with all the other Teslas on the road, yet it can also out-accelerate most other cars with ease. As long as you're not taxing the brakes too much, the Performance is also certainly up for having a good time on your favorite curvy road.
Which Model 3 does Edmunds recommend?
With virtually no changes made for 2025, we still think the Model 3 Long Range is the best one to get. 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. If you live where frequent foul weather is a concern, the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model may be worth the extra investment.
The overall sentiment for the 2025 Tesla Model 3 is mixed. Owners love its performance, futuristic tech features, and quiet ride, mentioning it’s fun to drive and a good value for money, especially considering EV incentives. However, there are complaints about customer service, software glitches, and build quality issues such as rattles and squeaks. Some owners also find the lack of traditional controls like stalks and buttons annoying when driving.
This summary is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews
These Are the Best American-Made Cars on Sale Today
You might assume that vehicles built by American companies tend to be built in the U.S. and have a high percentage of American parts, but that's not always the case – in fact, many foreign-make vehicles have a higher percentage of American-made components than cars from domestic manufacturers. In this video, Edmunds' Brian Wong goes over our favorite American-made cars… currently on sale, including what percentage of their parts come from the good ol' U.S. of A.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
FAQ
Is the Tesla Model 3 a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2025 Model 3 both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.4 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Model 3 has 24.1 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Tesla Model 3. Learn more
What's new in the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2025 Tesla Model 3:
No major changes for 2025
Part of the first Model 3 generation introduced for 2017
To determine whether the Tesla Model 3 is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Model 3. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Model 3's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2025 Tesla Model 3 a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2025 Tesla Model 3 is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2025 Model 3 and gave it a 8.4 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2025 Model 3 is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2025 Tesla Model 3?
The least-expensive 2025 Tesla Model 3 is the 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $54,990.
Other versions include:
Performance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) which starts at $54,990
If you're interested in the Tesla Model 3, the next question is, which Model 3 model is right for you? Model 3 variants include Performance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD). For a full list of Model 3 models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Is there an EV tax credit or rebate for the 2025 Tesla Model 3
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