The Model 3 is Tesla’s most affordable EV but just what type of speed can a buyer expect? As electric vehicles become more common, questions typically associated with gas-powered vehicles are also likely to be asked more often, such as how much cargo can it hold and how fast can it go. This is in addition to some of the more specific questions related to an electric vehicle, such as how long it takes to charge and how far the vehicle can travel on a single charge.
Tesla now offers a variety of vehicles to choose from and they all vary in multiple ways, with each model often specifically designed to cater to a certain type of buyer. With the Tesla Model 3, the emphasis is on the price and this inevitably means that there are some compromises on what's included and the driving experience, including the acceleration and top speed.
The standard Model 3 is rated to go from zero to 60 mph in as little as 5.8 seconds and comes with a top speed of 140 mph. With a current starting price of around $48,000, the Model 3 also offers an estimated range of 267 miles on a single charge. While this is one of the slower Tesla vehicles that a consumer can buy, that's somewhat to be expected when considering it is also the cheapest. Not to mention, it is also a real-wheel drive model which further impacts on its power and performance.
You Can Buy A Faster Model 3 If You Want
Similar to the other Tesla vehicles that are available to buy, the Model 3 is available in more than one version and both acceleration and top speed can be affected by this choice. For example, while the standard Model 3 can go from zero to 60 mph in as little as 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph, the Long Range model only takes 4.2 seconds to get up to 60 mph and pushes the top speed to 145 mph. If opting for the Performance version, things suddenly get much faster. The Performance Model 3 is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds, and comes with an overall top speed of 162 mph.
Of course, the Long Range and Performance models will set buyers back more money - the base Performance version adds as much as $15,000 to the cost of the standard model. However, they do come with a number of performance upgrades that help achieve the faster acceleration and higher top speeds. For example, both the Long Range and Performance models are dual motor all-wheel drive vehicles. In addition, the Performance Model 3 comes with a carbon fiber spoiler which not only helps the vehicle to accelerate from 0-60 mph as quickly as it does, but also helps to improve stability when travelling at top speed. Tesla’s Performance Model 3 also comes with 20-inch Überturbine wheels, performance brakes, and aluminum alloy pedals to further help handling at faster speeds.
Source: Tesla