Tesla Model 3 Performance review – 0–60 in 2.9 seconds but is it the one to buy?
A brutally quick electric saloon that blends outrageous acceleration with everyday usability, though it won’t suit every buyer looking for pure driving drama
This is what happens when Tesla takes its new Model 3 and turns the power up a notch. Or several notches, in fact.
It's the range-topper in terms of price, at £59,990 and it has some pretty eye-watering specs. There's around 500bhp, 0-60 arrives in a frankly rather frightening 2.9 seconds, and there are plenty of tweaks to the suspension and brakes.
There are a few visual tweaks, too, but they're less noticeable, and the big news with this car, is obviously, its power and drivability.
Because, let's make no bones about it, it's an EV. And it is, of course, pretty heavy.
That, however, doesn't add up to the wallowy and unwieldy drive you might expect. It's actually surprisingly lithe and responsive.
The seats in the Performance version are more sporty, so they hug you as you dive into the corners, and the stiffer suspension does a brilliant job of tidying up its road manners and inspiring confidence.
Handily, though, it's also a delight to drive at a normal pace. Much has been said about the minimalism of Tesla's interiors and I won't labour the point, but if manufacturers really are going to insist on piling all the functionality into a main screen, I wish they'd do it as well as Tesla. It's still the wrong way to go about things, but Tesla does make it as simple as possible.
There are a few foibles to speak of. The auto wipers are a bit clumsy, the indicators take some getting used to, and the adaptive cruise control can be a bit jittery at times.
But as a long-journey mile-muncher, it's just so effortless. The enormity of power it has on tap makes overtakes a doddle, visibility is great, the ride is lovely, and the stereo is top-notch.
Range is compromised over some of its stablemates, with the official WLTP rating of 354 miles over the range-hero's Long Range RWD's 466 miles, but that's the price you pay for having a supercar slayer that can also do a great job of lugging a family around in quiet comfort.
And it makes me think that there might be a bit of a narrow market for the Model 3 Performance. If you wanted something seriously fast, you might also want something that's a thrill to drive, rather than just a competent corner-taker. So you might buy a Porsche Cayman, or a Lotus.
And if you wanted a family saloon car, you'd probably be more interested in saving £10,000 or more and opting for the Long Range versions, which certainly don't embarrass themselves in a straight line, but can do at least 100 miles more per charge.
At the end of the day, the Performance's surge from 0-60 is little more than a party piece. It's something you'll never tire of, but it comes at the cost of range and a little bit of ride comfort.
But then the inner hooligan in me takes back control of the purse strings, and reminds me just what a jack-of-all-trades this car really is.
It can power past Porsches in a straight line, it can get you from A-to-B in complete comfort, and it can lug your family from country to country, with all their belongings in tow, safely and serenely.
As an all-rounder, then, it's brilliant. And something of a performance car bargain if you start to look at how much you'd have to spend to go quite so quickly in a petrol-powered car.
It might not suit everyone, but if you're the sort that struggles to decide whether the heart or the head should win over, this might just be for you.