Highs

Swift acceleration in all configurations, improved ride comfort, plenty of driving range.

Lows

Controls rely too heavily on the touchscreen, real-world range comes up shy of ratings, Autopilot still not true to its name.

Verdict

Recent updates make the Model 3 an even more attractive small EV option

Overview 

The Tesla Model 3 practically invented the electric compact sedan category and it remains a highly appealing choice for EV shoppers. The recent "Highland" updates to the Model 3 addressed some of our biggest gripes with the car: Suspension improvements that smooth out the ride are appreciated, as are the nicer interior materials. Those updates helped it along to a spot on our 10Best list this year. However, the infotainment system still lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, and now even more physical controls have been jettisoned—the Model 3 has gone stalk-free, moving the turn-signal controls to the steering wheel and the gear selector to the display. It's as quick as ever, though; the Performance model delivers particularly brutal acceleration, and even the slowest version, the rear-drive Long Range model, manages a 4.6-second run to 60 mph. Real-world highway range falls short of the advertised numbers but still beats many other EVs. Rivals include the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Polestar 2.