Tesla Model 3 Performance Review & Prices

This is the Tesla Model 3 Performance, an electric family car packing loads of power and upgrades to give it sports car-rivalling performance. It's a bit like modifying your washing machine to spin at double its normal speed.

Performance-focused versions of electric cars are becoming more and more common, with the Model 3 Performance one of the first on the scene. Consider it a rival to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, and Porsche Taycan.

Key to the Model 3 Performance is its dual-motor setup, producing a healthy 460hp. Although many of its rivals have now superseded that figure, the Performance can still offer some incredible numbers, such as 0-60mph taking just 2.9 seconds. Find a closed course long enough (or head to Germany’s unrestricted Autobahn sections), and it can take you to a 163mph top speed.

In 2025 there was a battery update for all versions of the Model 3, including the Performance, improving efficiency from the battery pack. That results in a quoted range figure of 355 miles, although expect sub-270 miles in real-world use. That will inevitably drop further if you often take advantage of the power on offer.

Tesla Model 3 Performance: facts and figures

Price: £59,990
Motors/Engines: Dual-motor all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 460hp
0-60mph: 2.9 seconds
Top speed: 163mph
Efficiency: 4.49mi/kWh
Range: 355 miles
Max charge speed: 250kW

You will want to do that and often, because the pace is simply blistering. For a relatively small car, the way it moves at full throttle is remarkable and gut-wrenching in all the right ways. Instantaneous torque delivery continues to be the most hilarious part of driving a quick EV, and the Performance really highlights that while your eyeballs are being pinned to the back of your skull.

It’s pretty fun in the corners, too. It’s not a light thing, but having the battery on the floor keeps the centre of gravity low, which helps combat excessive body roll and keeps the Model 3 in check under hard cornering. You’ll have more fun in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N or 6 N, but the Performance is capable of putting a smile on your face in its own right.

With a significant visual update in 2024, the Model 3 gained a meaner look with a lower, narrower front end. The Performance is set apart from the rest of the range with additional cooling vents on the front bumper, a subtle rear spoiler, a neat badge on the back to mark it out and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Performance is much like any other Model 3. That’s to say it had a low-set dashboard dominated by a large infotainment system, through which you control pretty much everything in the car.

It’s not quite as expensive-feeling as you’d perhaps expect from a car costing a London pint under £60,000, but Tesla’s build quality has improved notably since the Model 3 was first introduced. The Performance doesn’t get anything to set it apart from the other versions aside from a set of bucket-ish seats, which are a welcome addition.

Likewise with storage space, it’s no different to any other Model 3. That means large door bins, a huge space underneath the armrest and two cupholders with yet more covered storage space ahead of those. Its 600-litre boot is massive, too, with some extra storage space under the bonnet.

Rear seat space is plentiful, and general refinement is good, though having larger alloy wheels on the Performance does introduce more road noise.

Get yourself a great price with Carwow’s Tesla Model 3 Performance lease deals, or browse used Model 3 Performances from our network of trusted dealers. You can also check out other used Teslas, and when the time comes to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

Who is the Tesla Model 3 Performance best for?

If you’re ready for an electric family car but still fancy something that’s seriously quick, the Tesla Model 3 Performance is for you.

Its party trick is its sheer straight-line pace, and it’ll never fail to put a smile on your face when you launch it from a standstill, without sacrificing everyday practicality. Serious car enthusiasts keen on an EV will be better served with the more engaging experience Hyundai’s electric N models can offer, however.

A new Tesla Model 3 Performance starts at £59,990, making it the most expensive version of the electric car.

That does undercut key alternatives such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, although those cars offer significantly more power, as well as lots of enthusiast-focused chassis and software changes to give them a more exciting behind-the-wheel experience.

See also the BMW i4 M60, which costs notably more but offers more power.

Setting the Tesla Model 3 Performance apart from regular versions of the Model 3 is the dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, with one motor on each axle. The two combine to produce a peak of 460hp, allowing the EV to cover the 0-60mph sprint in 2.9 seconds. That’s serious sports car territory, making it quicker than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Given enough space, say on a race track or a de-restricted section of Germany’s autobahn, you’d eventually hit the 163mph top speed of the Performance.

That puts it right on par with the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N off the line and even with a marginally higher top speed than the Korean car, though the higher power output of the 6 N allows for stronger acceleration beyond the standard 60mph benchmark.

The Model 3 Performance is fun through the corners, but its larger wheels do affect ride comfort

In town

Out on the road, the Performance drives very much like the regular Model 3 the vast majority of the time. That’s to say it’s easy to pilot around town and you have great visibility, and while alternatives are smoother over bumps, it’s unlikely to be a deal breaker.

On the motorway

Similarly, the Model 3 Performance behaves like any other Model 3 on the motorway, save for a bit of extra tyre noise as a result of its larger alloy wheels. So it’s pretty comfortable, quite effortless to travel in and the standard inclusion of Tesla’s basic Autopilot assisted driving system helps take the stress out of longer journeys.

You can upgrade that to Full-Self Driving, but the tech is pretty inconsistent on UK roads and isn’t really worth it at this stage.

On a twisty road

Despite weighing quite a lot, the Tesla Model 3 has a low centre of gravity with the bulk of its weight coming from the floor-mounted battery packs. That lends itself to some impressive cornering abilities, minimising body roll and helping to maintain neutral handling.

It’s not a true enthusiast’s car, with its electric steering system numbing some of the feedback from the tyres that makes some more focused cars so rewarding to drive. Examples include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6 N, which have clever torque vectoring technology, a simulated gearbox and chassis modifications designed to really engage you.

The Model 3 Performance’s interior is minimalist and its bucket seats welcome, but it could be more interesting to look at

If minimalism is your thing, then the Tesla Model 3 Performance will appeal. There are no buttons outside of those on the steering wheel, and just an indicator stalk. It’s a wheel and a screen, and that’s about it.

As such, there are no design flourishes to make it stand out, and while material quality is generally good enough if you’re looking at regular Model 3s, it doesn’t look or feel special enough for a £60k performance car. And aside from some carbon fibre trim across the top of the dashboard, there’s not much to make Performance cars stand out from the rest of the range.

That said, the model-specific bucket seats look great, the leather upholstery feels soft and expensive, and the shape holds your hips well without being uncomfortable.

You get the usual 15.4-inch infotainment screen, which is clear and responds well to your touch. It’s largely intuitive to do the basic infotainment stuff – the climate controls are always visible across the bottom, and the navigation is logically positioned in the corner of the screen when not in use – but having to do everything else through the screen too can get annoying. Moving the wheel and mirrors, as well as opening the glovebox, needs to take place through the menus.

There’s plenty of bonus storage points in the Model 3 Performance, but it does have some tricky ISOFIX mounting problems

Space in the front

It’s easy to find a good driving position in the Tesla Model 3 because there’s loads of adjustability in the seat and steering wheel, though it’s annoying to have to do the latter through the infotainment system.

The only complaint here is that with this being a performance-focused version, it would be nice if the seat could drop a bit lower, as even in the bottom setting, you feel like you’re sitting quite high above the dashboard.

Storage throughout the Model 3 Performance is excellent, with big door bins and a huge space beneath the armrest, complemented by another huge area under the infotainment display, with a USB-C and 12V socket too. There’s a pair of cupholders, though larger bottles will struggle to fit. Two wireless phone charging pads are sat beneath the screen, too.

Space in the back seats

Back seat roominess is excellent, so you can comfortably take your mates out to show off how much power there is. The seats recline more than in the old Model 3, which makes it a bit more comfortable, though you still don’t get much under-thigh support.

Speaking of which, there are ISOFIX mounting points in the outer rear seats, and plenty of room for bulky child seats, though the mounts themselves are rather hidden away between the cushions, so getting them hooked up takes some guesswork.

There’s a screen for climate controls between the front seats that can also be used to play video to keep those in the back entertained. Pairing Bluetooth headphones to this means those in the front don’t have to hear what’s playing, which is particularly useful when the kids are watching Frozen for the 17th time this week.

Boot space

Boot space is excellent at 594 litres. That’s more than you get in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (480 litres), 6 N (401 litres), Ford Mustang Mach-e GT (402 litres) and Porsche Taycan (407 litres) and means you don’t suffer at all for not getting an SUV.

Although the boot is big, it’s not the easiest to access, with a fairly small aperture to place items through and a large lip to lift heavy items over. The top of the boot is quite low too, so carrying large items would be easier in an SUV.

While each of the alternatives above also has a front boot, none is as big as that in the Tesla.

The regular Tesla Model 3 scored the full five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing and the score still applies to the Performance version. The adult occupant protection score is incredibly high at 96%, while its safety assist rating is 94%.

Tesla doesn’t have the best reputation for build quality and reliability, but this has been improving in recent years. In fact, the Model 3 was ranked 25th in the top 75 cars to own in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey in 2025.

The warranty is pretty good at four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, with most premium car brands offering three years and 60,000 miles. However, the Hyundai N models boast the same five-year/unlimited mileage warranty all Hyundais get, which makes them mighty appealing.