Used 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance for sale 

Starting at $44,000 the Tesla Model 3 finds the right balance between luxury and sports which seldom happens at this price point. The 2018 Tesla Model 3 runs on an electric engine which in turn is supported by its 1-speed direct-drive transmission and sens power directly to its rear-wheel-drive system.

Both the trims of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan are powered by a single electric motor and a long-range lithium-ion battery pack is its power source. The single-speed transmission and rear-wheel-drive are common for both.

We recommend

We recommend the Long Range trim of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan that comes with an optional Premium Upgrade package featuring 19-inch wheels, enhanced autopilot, and full self-driving capability.

The powerful 258 horsepower electric motor of the Tesla Model 3 Sedan smoothly gains speed and is exceptionally quiet when doing so. It provides a strong torque right away and it is very responsive even at slow speeds. There is no shifting, thanks to the direct-drive transmission and the transmission from acceleration to higher speeds is quite easy to manage.

Among all the four electric vehicles, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan proves to have that best performing engine with the highest horsepower of 258. It is followed by the Chevrolet Bolt with a horsepower output of 200. Sharing engine specs is the BMW i3 and the Nissan Leaf with an equal horsepower of 170. So quite evidently, we know who wins the race in this aspect.

Acceleration and Handling of the 2018 Tesla Model 3

The 258 horsepower electric motor of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 generates ample thrust and due to the absence of shifting interruptions, it moves out seamlessly and the Model 3 puts out a smooth acceleration. In addition to the better acceleration is the rear-wheel-drive which contributes significantly towards balancing the vehicle and giving the driver enough confidence to race down the road. The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan is a strategically crafted amalgamation of responsive acceleration and confident cornering, and even though it's not an ideal sports sedan, it is definitely among the fastest electric vehicles on the market.

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan showcases impressive balance during entering a corner, transitioning through the bend and exiting it powerfully. The heavy battery is the reason behind its low-center gravity and the weight distribution from front to rear is quite uniform. These two aspects are the pillars for its outstanding handling capabilities. The 18-inch wheels can be a little bothering in matters of handling but the optional 19-inch wheels perform better. As for the steering wheel, it is very quick off the center and is nicely weighted with minimal feedback. It offers you three different settings to choose from - Standard, Comfort, and Sport.

As discussed above, leading the table with the strongest engine, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan has the best initial acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in a whopping 4.6 seconds and it outperforms all of its rivals by quite a margin as the second-fastest in the lot is the Nissan Leaf with the timing of 6.3 seconds to reach the 60 mph mark. With a difference of only a couple of milliseconds, the Chevrolet Bolt comes third in hitting 60 mph in 6.5 seconds whereas the BMW i3 turns out to be the slowest among the four with an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds.

Over a quarter-mile, things don't change at all for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan as it still is the fastest to cover the distance in 13.3 seconds. It's a little different for the other three as the Chevrolet manages to bounce back with the second-fastest timing of 14.9 seconds and also the BMW i3 with the slowest acceleration does well over the quarter-mile, covering the distance in 15.6 seconds. Last but not least is the Nissan Leaf which performed better than the other two with its initial acceleration, fails to hold on, and becomes the last to cross the quarter-mile mark in 17.3 seconds.

Braking of the 2018 Tesla Model 3

The powerful four-piston front brakes of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan has fixed calipers and are very easy to modulate. However, you wouldn't feel the need of hitting the brakes very often due to the lift-throttle mechanism which features regenerative braking.

As it is the fastest in accelerating, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan is the fastest in braking as well. In comparison to its rivals, Tesla brings the car to a halt from 60 mph in just 119 feet. It's followed by the BMW i3 with a distance of 125 feet, which has a lot to do with its light curb weight. Next up is the Nissan Leaf with the third-best distance of 129 feet and the Chevrolet Bolt, the heaviest of them all, comes last by stopping at 132 feet when coming down from 60 to 0 mph.

The efficiency of the Tesla Model 3 along with all the other electric cars is measured by MPGe which is a unit to measure the efficiency of an electric vehicle compared to the gasoline-based cars. The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan has a rating of 130 MPGe, which means it can cover a range of 130 miles from an amount of electrical energy that is equal to the energy contained in one gallon of gasoline. 

It has an increased economy of 136 MPGe in cities while it suffers on the highways with 123 MPGe. Other than that, the Tesla can drive up to a distance of 310 miles on a single charge, longer than any of the other electric vehicles in the market.

Without insufficient data, it is impossible to determine the fuel economy of the competitors so it would be unwise to comment on the mileage produced by the models. However, it is expected that the models can reach up to a decent figure.

The interiors of the Tesla Model 3 are quite simple but this simple styling doesn’t look boring at all, in fact, the basic styling adds elegance to the Tesla Model 3. Additionally, it has a flat and low interior floor which gives an airy and spacious feel inside. 

The front seats are very comfortable and supportive although the rear seat suffers from the lack of thigh support and the low bottom cushion leads to an uncomfortable experience. The flat leather seats are broad and are not hard. The seat adjustments are quite simple to manage and are very effective.

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan along with the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Bolt has a passenger capacity of 5 while the BMW i3 houses only 4 passengers. As for the front row headroom, the Nissan Leaf takes the spotlight while the Tesla and the BMW share the lowest figures.

However, Tesla manages to climb back up with generous legroom while the BMW still suffers. When we go to the second row, the Chevrolet impresses with the most spacious headroom and legroom, while the BMW continues to suffer in these aspects as well. The standard interior features of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 includes:

• Bucket front seats
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Remote keyless power door locks
• 4 one-touch power windows
• Rearview camera
• Electric power steering
• Climate control
• Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror

2018 Tesla Model 3 Cargo Capacity 

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan comes with a trunk that can be as spacious as a hatchback. It is wide and broad and also has a secret deep well under the floor of the cargo area. The rear seats when folded flat increase the cargo space significantly.

When compared to the other rivals, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan has the least cargo volume of 15 cubic feet, only a point less than the BMW i3 with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The Chevrolet Bolt enjoys the most spacious trunk volume with 16.9 cubic feet.

Infotainment features in the 2018 Tesla Model 3

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan comes with a standard 15-inch infotainment system that has nearly all the functions of the car built into it and is well organized and easy to use. It also features a Google-based navigation system and the Premium Upgrades package offers you an updated audio system with a wide spectrum of sound.

• traffic
• Navigation and voice control
• Bluetooth phone
• Mobile Wi-Fi
• USB port
• Remote control Smartphone application

Despite its futuristic technologies, the 2018 Tesla Model 3 is a fairly conventional-looking four-door sedan. It has the typical looks of a Tesla, except, it is significantly taller and less sporty looking. Its distinct features include the single, uninterrupted piece of glass that runs from the middle of the roof all the way down to the trunk lid, unimpeded by a rear upper roof cross brace. The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan enjoys fairly massive exterior dimensions and it just amplifies its presence on the road. 

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan boasts to be the longest, widest and has the largest wheelbase along with being the shortest in height among the others. The BMW i3 is the lightest among the four and is also short in length and has the least wheelbase. The Nissan Leaf has fairly balanced dimensions meanwhile the Chevrolet Bolt other than being the heaviest in the group is also the tallest and least wide. The standard exterior features of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 includes:

• Speed sensitive wipers
• LED headlamp
• Fixed rear window with defroster
• Black grille with chrome surround
• Light tinted glass
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Front fog lamps
• Trunk rear cargo access

The Tesla Model 3 features quite a number of active safety options and advanced systems like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Autopilot feature is the most significant of them all.

• Lane Departure Warning
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Blind Spot Sensor
• Forward Collision and Rear Collision

2018 Tesla Model 3 V/S BMW i3

The BMW i3 is reputed as a unique and unconventional electric car. The carbon fiber and aluminum structure of the BMW derives its energy from the 170 horsepower electric motor and has an optional 184 horsepower electric motor allotted to its i3s trim sporty version which has phenomenal driving dynamics and great suspension.

When compared to the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan, the BMW has a less powerful engine, slow acceleration, and braking and thus, it needs some tweaking on its end to put up a stronger fight.

2018 Tesla Model 3 V/S Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is an ideal electric vehicle for everyday usability due to its long driving range. The 40kwh battery runs the electric motor and has an economy of 151 MPGe. It features DC quick charging that has the capability of recharging 90 miles worth of power in 30 minutes.

Adding to that, the camera-based self-steering lane-keeping assist and pro pilots assist adaptive cruise control is optional. In comparison with the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan, it lacks engine performance, has very poor acceleration and braking and hence, it still doesn't match the standards of the Tesla.

2018 Tesla Model 3 V/S Chevrolet Bolt EV

The quick and exciting Chevrolet Bolt is really worth its value, thanks to its floor-mounted battery powering its electric motor and generating a horsepower of 200. It has a range of 190 miles in a single charge and 96 MPGe of efficiency. The acceleration is great and it drives significantly well over rough terrains. The Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatible infotainment system have a 10.2-inch touch screen and an additional 8-inch digital gauge are eye-catching interior features.

Up against the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Sedan, the engine is less powerful yet decent, the acceleration suffers a little and so does the braking. It does have larger cargo space and hence, all these factors make it the only tough competition with Tesla.

Leading the class with barely any worthy competitors the Tesla reigns supreme quite easily and does not break a sweat whilst doing so too. The car has garnered quite a following in the short time since its inception and passes most of the segment parameters with flying colors. Excellence assured the electric vehicle can be said to be futuristic all thanks to the far-fetched vision of Elon Musk.