Elon Musk promised a 35’000$ Model 3 as the electric car of mass adoption. Our test car, fully optionned except for the 19″ sports wheel, carries a list price of 58’000$, or 65% more. A simple computation based on Model S 75D pricing (74’500 USD and 80’190 CHF) leads to an estimate of 62’430 CHF in Switzerland for this configuration.

For this price range, perceived value is contrasted. The interior looks bare and austere. There is nothing except the steering wheel and this large 15″ slate, sturdily attached to the dashboard structure. The open pores wood trim (part of the 5000$ premium pack) is nicely executed, same for the alcantara roof liner and the faux-leather draping the seats.

The center console pales in comparison and does not belong to a car of that price range, and the swivelling trap doors are flimsy. The rear seats are very low and, as with Model S, headroom is limited for an adult, and only viable with the glass panoramic roof. Leg room is good, subjectively more generous than in au Audi A4 for instance. Combined trunk capacity is specified at 424 liters, which makes for a rather small and narrow rear trunk.

Tesla promises a range of 499 km according to the EPA cycle for the long range version, and 354 km for the base version. The EPA cycle is measurably more realistic than its european equivalents, whether the slightly improved WLTP or the ridiculous NEDC protocol. One should not overlook the margin necessary to survival in an electric car: if drawing a gas tank down to 20km or less is a risk free exercize given the ubiquity and simplicity of refueling options, drawing a charge down to the minimum is a tight rope exercize.