Tesla Model 3 vs Mercedes-Benz Vito

What's the difference?

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.

The latest VS20 Vito range, comprising Vito/eVito light commercials and Tourer/V-Class people movers, brings the first major facelift to Mercedes-Benz’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) van since 2015, along with numerous comfort, convenience, technology and safety upgrades.

The workhorse fleet is available in medium wheelbase (MWB) and long wheelbase (LWB) Panel Vans and Crew Cabs, with a variety of drivetrain specifications including the all-electric eVito LWB van.

We were recently handed the keys to one of the latest turbo-diesel variants to see how it measures up from a tradie/business perspective in one of Australia’s most competitive vehicle markets.