2023 Tesla Model 3 vs 2020

What's the difference?

The Tesla Model 3 is already an historically significant vehicle.

It’s not the first EV, it’s not even close to being the first mass-produced EV. But, it is the most popular EV in the world during a once in a generation shift toward electric drivetrain technology.

To give you an idea of this car’s popularity in Australia, in the first half of 2022 the Model 3 is only about 450 sales behind the Toyota Camry.

The Model 3 has made electric cars more accessible, and even cool, and since we last reviewed it, it has even managed to weather the storm of price rises relatively well.

The question is, with rivals bearing down on it locally and overseas, does the Model 3 deserve to be known as Australia’s best-value electric car?

We’ve grabbed its most popular variant, the entry-level Rear Wheel Drive, to find out if it has what it takes. 

Forget the Volkswagen Beetle - could the Tesla Model 3 be the new People’s Car?

I’ll leave you to join the dots between the men behind each of the two vehicles in question, but the Tesla Model 3 is the first ‘affordable’ EV from the breakout US brand.

Affordable is relative, of course - and we wanted to find out whether the entry grade variant - the Model 3 Standard Range Plus - is the Tesla you should be buying.