THE GOOD (AND BAD) BITS OF OWNING A TESLA MODEL 3 LONG RANGE RWD

EV Channels Review

This long-term review of a 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD highlights its strengths as a performance sedan, emphasizing its quick acceleration and excellent cornering capabilities despite its weight. The reviewer praises the intuitive interface, effective voice recognition, and the highly convenient driver profiles. Charging experience is a major positive, with the car's battery preconditioning for fast charging significantly reducing stop times on road trips. Winter driving in the RWD configuration is deemed surprisingly capable, especially with appropriate snow tires, and superior to front-wheel drive EVs due to the lack of torque steer. However, the review points out significant drawbacks, including terrible automatic wipers that rely on cameras, fragile paint, inconsistent panel gaps, and a lack of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support, which limits infotainment integration. Issues like the replacement of front upper control arms and a stress fracture in the rear glass are noted, though covered under warranty. Despite these flaws, the reviewer concludes that a used Model 3, especially at the discounted price they paid, remains a compelling option for those seeking a capable and engaging EV, provided they are aware of the potential compromises.