Say hello to…
…the Tesla Model 3 which has recently been facelifted and given a host upgrades for 2025. Alongside the new, slimmer-designed lights, Telsa has upgraded the suspension and worked to improve refinement with better side glass and aerodynamic tweaks to the car’s styling. The interior has also been upgraded to offer a more premium feel.
The Model 3 line-up includes four versions, which are as close to trim levels as Tesla gets; Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD and Performance.
The entry car offers an official range of 318 miles from a 57.5 kWh battery.
The Long Range RWD has an official range of 436 miles (although this drops to 398 miles if you option 19-inch alloys over the standard 18s) from a 75kWh battery.
The Long Range AWD has an official range of 390 miles,a again, from a 75kWh battery.
The Performance version can officially travel 328 miles on a full charge from the 75kWh battery.
Standard equipment across all models includes a panoramic roof, 18-inch alloys, clever cruise control, 15-inch infotainment screen, powered boot, self-parking, dual wireless charging pads, Bluetooth, satnav, surround cameras with recording, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, keyless entry and start and 3x USB sockets.
Is The Tesla Model 3 Suitable For My Fleet
Residual value and parts availability concerns around Tesla have pushed lease rates up in recent years, however, from a range and practicality point of view the Model 3 is lesson in how to get it right for fleet users. Tesla claims the “cargo” space is a massive 682 litres which includes a small under bonnet storage area that’s big enough for a squashy bag or charging cables.
And for higher mileage drivers the Tesla charging network is unrivalled.
Leasing A Tesla Model 3
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD for £720 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Maintenance costs are forecast at £39 a month over the same mileage, according to Gensen Reports, while Class 1A NIC comes in at £12 a month.
Driving A Tesla Model 3
If you’ve read anything about the latest Tesla Model 3, it’s that there’s no indicator stalk. Instead there’s a couple of touch sensitive buttons on the left of the steering wheel, the upper one to indicate right, the lower one to indicate left.
As you’re probably realising, that’s fine if you indicate before you turn, but if you’re mid-roundabout and want to turn off, the buttons aren’t where you’d expect them to be and they’re probably the wrong way up too. An indicator stalk is a good thing for UK driving.
With that point out of the way, what’s the rest of the car like?
Firstly, the interior is now a proper premium affair. The fit and finish is superb, the materials are all high quality. And that includes the soft-lined door bins and the carpeted side of the centre storage area.
There are almost no buttons at all in the car, with everything controlled through the infotainment screen. The few buttons that are present are on the steering wheel and control functions such as the lights, wipers, cruise control and stereo controls. However, these buttons can also be used in combination with the screen for other controls such as the mirrors or reach and rake of the steering column.
Amazingly they all work very well, are easy to understand, and quick to respond. And if you get stuck, the voice recognition works well if you ask the car questions.
On the move the Model 3 now has a premium feel to the ride comfort and handling with an excellent balance between the two. Refinement levels are superb thanks to thicker side glass, but our car suffered from frequently squeaky windscreen wipers.
Range is also impressively good given the near-freezing temperatures when we tested the car. With the 75kW battery and an efficiency figure of 3.6 miles per kWh – mostly on the motorway, the real world range was 280 miles. In warmer conditions we’d expect this to be well above 300 miles.
What’s more, the maximum charge speed is a very healthy 250kW.
Tesla has also judged the regeneration rate and one-pedal driving perfectly, allowing a very natural feeling to using the car in all conditions without having to change any of the settings.
If there’s a downside to the driving experience (indicators aside), it’s the large A-pillar which can impact visibility at some turnings and on a similar note, the speed readout in the top right of the screen could be larger and clearer (or ideally on a head-up display).
Beyond those points only the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, disappoint.
But you can balance those negatives with the fact Tesla seems to have got round the legal requirement to turn off speed warning and lane keeping assist every time you get in the car. It’s hugely refreshing not to have to go through menus every time you drive to stop unwanted warning chimes.
Overall the Model 3 is an impressive car. And if you can live without indicator stalks it beats almost all its rivals.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Tesla Model 3
An indicator stalk short of being a five-star car.
Tesla Model 3
- Model: Model 3 Long Range RWD
- Power: 315hp
- Torque: 450Nm
- Max speed: 125 mph
- 0-62mph: 5.2s
- Official range: 436 miles
- Test range: 280 miles*
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- BIK tax band 2024/25: 2%
*near 0degC, mostly motorway
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Why not join the conversation on SME fleets – visit our LinkedIn SME Fleet Discussion page