Farizon V7E vs Tesla Model 3

What's the difference?

Farizon, the commercial vehicle division of Chinese automotive maker Geely, is a new competitor in Australia’s van market having recently launched its full-electric V7E.

Designed to attract buyers in the popular mid-size (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment, Farizon claims its V7E has the payload capacity, cargo volume and pricing needed to compete with traditional diesel rivals.

We recently spent a working week aboard this new Chinese contender to see how it measures up as a potential tool of trade for tradies, couriers, SMEs, fleets and other commercial van buyers.

It’s been in Australia since 2019 and despite the arrival of a comprehensively upgraded version in late 2023, the Tesla Model 3’s once gargantuan popularity has been declining in recent years.

A seemingly never-ending influx of pure-electric alternatives, primarily from China, has eroded the mid-size sedan’s positioning as the go-to, best-value EV choice. 

But to its credit Tesla has again evolved the Model 3 proposition with the introduction of this Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive grade in October last year, at the time positioning it as “the longest-range EV in Australia”.

Since then, Tesla has adjusted the model grade name to Premium Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive.

Some additional tweaks, made in response to customer feedback, also illustrates the EV pioneer’s determination to step up in the face of increasingly fierce competition.

So, does this latest Model 3 do enough to earn a spot on your electric vehicle shopping list? We spent a week behind the wheel to find out.