2020 Tesla Model 3

The 2020 Tesla Model 3 is the Californian EV giant's first-generation electric midsize sedan and the brand's current cheapest model. With a starting MSRP or $35,000, it's no wonder it's proven to be a hit, despite some early build quality issues. This electric vehicle competes with traditional luxury sedans such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 and offers massive performance from its electric motors. With a range of between 220 and 322 miles, the Model 3 is a practical 4-door car for those living and working in and around big metropolitan areas. With up to 480 horsepower on tap in the all-wheel-drive Performance trim, the Model 3 can hit low three-second 0-60 mph times. It might be the baby of the Tesla range, but it's a strong performer with a lot going for it.

There are four configurations to choose from, each incrementally increasing performance. The base model, named the Standard, offers 220 miles of range, a top speed of 130 mph, and a zero to sixty time of 5.6 seconds. Next up, the Standard Range Plus houses a three-phase induction type single motor positioned at the front of the vehicle and produces 283 hp and has a range of 250 miles from its 65 kWh battery, a top speed of 140 mph, and a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.3 seconds. Like the Standard, this is a rear-wheel-drive model, with power sent to the rear wheels via a single-speed direct-drive automatic transmission. The Long Range Model adds an extra electric motor and dramatically increases power to 449 hp, which it channels to all four wheels. The Performance model uses the same AWD setup but ups power to 480 hp. In Performance guise, the 2020 Tesla Model 3 electric sedan delivers breathtaking acceleration of just 3.2 seconds from 0 to 60. Long Range and Performance trims have a bigger 75 kWh battery and a max range of 322 miles (299 miles for the Performance). 120 kW superchargers can fill the larger batteries from 10% to 80% in only half an hour, but regular chargers will double that time.

A review of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 proves that electric vehicles are not only fun but practical as well. With a fantastic range and an ever-increasing network of charging stations, you can comfortably travel between large cities, and the novelty of that instant torque delivery never gets old. The Model 3 sedan also offers some cutting-edge tech, such as semi-autonomous driving, and Tesla is on the ball with its over-the-air updates, which means that you'll always be driving the latest version. We have to admit that some build quality issues still exist that you won't find on competing cars, but none of the mainstream rivals have yet produced a viable EV in this segment in the same way Tesla has. However, for the money, the sparse interior can seem like a rip-off to those used to the feature-rich interiors of traditional luxury sedans in the US. The near non-existent options list doesn't help either. If you can look past those issues, the 2020 Model 3 offers a driving experience unlike any other in its class. It is the future.

The choice here will purely depend on what you're looking to use the Model 3 for and what your budget is. With a $35,000 price for the 2020 Tesla Model 3 sedan in base Standard guise, it provides a fair bit of range for most city commuters. The Standard Plus and Long Range derivatives obviously provide more freedom, power, and AWD in the latter, and the Performance model is very quick, if that's what you're after. We'd go for the Standard Range Plus and add the Autopilot/Full Self-Driving features.