Tesla · Model 3

Model 3 (2020 refresh)

Released November 2020

The first substantial Model 3 refresh adds a heat pump, powered boot lid, revised centre console and black exterior trim. UK versions include rear-wheel-drive Standard Range Plus and RWD, plus Long Range and Performance variants.

Model history · 2 models, 2017–2020

2017Model 3 (2017)Compare
2020Model 3 (2020 refresh)

Body: Saloon
Powertrain: Electric
Power: –
Range: 278–396 mi
Boot: 561 l

Electric

What reviewers say

Both tests welcome the revised console, powered boot and improved range, and praise the Supercharger network. Auto Express finds the Standard Range Plus agile with smooth one-pedal driving, but dislikes steering feedback and road noise. Discover EV's Long Range test reports more road and wind noise than its older Performance car, plus rattles and inconsistent panel gaps.

From autoexpress.co.uk and discoverev.co.uk

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Powertrain: Electric
0–62 mph: 3.3–6.1 s
Top speed: 140–162 mph
Engine or motors: Rear liquid-cooled permanent-magnet synchronous motor; AWD adds a liquid-cooled front induction motor (Tesla manual). Combined peak power and usable battery capacity are omitted where Tesla does not publish them.
Gearbox: Single-speed fixed gear, 9:1 ratio (Tesla manual)
Drive: Rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive, depending on configuration

Range and charging

Zero-emission range (WLTP): 278–396 miles
Fastest charging: 170–250 kW
Range detail: UK WLTP figures from exact EV Database period records: CATL 6C Standard Range Plus 278 miles with low-energy equipment and 273 miles with high-energy equipment; early LG Long Range AWD 360 miles; Performance 352/347 miles; CATL 6L RWD 305 miles; later Long Range AWD 382/374 miles; Long Range RWD 396 miles. The December 2020 Auto Express Standard Range Plus test quotes 267 miles, distinct from the later CATL configuration. Battery suppliers, wheels and production periods differ. The Performance maker 3.3-second 0–62 mph claim subtracts one-foot rollout; EV Database’s 3.6-second correction is an estimate.
Charging: 11 kW AC, Type 2/CCS in Europe. Exact EV Database records list 170 kW DC for CATL 6C Standard Range Plus, 210 kW for early LG Long Range AWD and 250 kW for Performance. Later RWD charging and usable battery figures are marked estimates by EV Database and omitted from structured fields.
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km at the tailpipe

Practicality

Body: Saloon
Seats: 5
Boot: 561 litres
Length: 4,695 mm
Width: 1,850 mm
Boot: Tesla’s 2017–23 manual specifies 561 litres behind the second row and 88 litres in the front boot, giving 649 litres total with five passengers. Earlier launch cars had different published total-cargo figures; these refreshed-generation figures are not assigned to the 2017 launch.
Size: Tesla manual: 4,695 mm long, 1,850 mm wide excluding mirrors, 1,933 mm with folded mirrors, 2,088 mm extended, 1,445 mm high and 2,875 mm wheelbase. Dimensions are approximate and vary with options. Tesla’s North American manual places the heat-pump production change after approximately October 2020; contemporary Drive Tesla reporting documents refreshed customer deliveries in November 2020. Exact first worldwide delivery day is unconfirmed.

Tech and safety

Infotainment: 15-inch centre touchscreen with driver information; revised matt centre console with two wireless phone charging pads. USB glovebox port, powered boot and black exterior trim appear in Tesla's change list quoted by Teslamag. No rear touchscreen or separate driver display; no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Pros and cons

Pros

Heat-pump climate control and powered boot lid
Up to 396 miles WLTP on the later Long Range RWD configuration
Standard twin wireless phone chargers

Cons

Most controls remain on the centre touchscreen
Saloon boot opening limits bulky loads
No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Closest rivals

Model	Body	Powertrain	Power	Range	Boot	Released
PorscheTaycan	Saloon	Electric	429–1,019 bhp	347–434 mi	407 l	Dec 2019
Audie-tron GT	Saloon	Electric	576–912 bhp	361–385 mi	405 l	2021
Mercedes-BenzEQE Saloon	Saloon	Electric	315 bhp	422 mi	430 l	2022

Previous model: Model 3 (2017). Newer model: Model 3 (2023).

Sources

Photo: Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

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