No, the promised basic price of the Model 3 of $ 35,000 Tesla reaches in the US not yet. If you omit the tricks in the configurator there come out net $ 46,000. The version with 75 kWh and two engines is $ 7,000 more expensive, for the performance version you have to add another $ 11,000. It will soon come a cheaper version with 50 kWh. The long range with 2WD/4WD is offered in Germany for 49,000/57,900 euros.

With the color you have to pay another $ 1,500 to $ 2,500, except for black. Even 19-inch cost in the basic version of $ 1,500 more. A partially white interior makes $ 1,000 more. The autopilot is included in all outfits. However, its activation ex works costs $ 5,000 and subsequently $ 7,000, in Germany 6,000 euros. Depending on the state, taxes are added. Subsidies for Tesla have finally expired.

A Model 3 is a 4- to 5-seater, conventional sedan with an expiring rear and small opening for the luggage compartment. The rear seat backrests can be folded in a ratio of 1 to 2. The interior reaches the space of the middle class, the luggage compartment only, if one adds the separate 85 liters in front. However, there is also a deep cave behind the rear axle on offer.

The door handles are recessed as in the larger models, do not go out electrically, but purely mechanically, as soon as you have held the simple chip card to the B-pillar. The door locks work both electrically and purely mechanically. Both functions are available from the inside. The rear luggage compartment can be opened from the inside, amazingly the front one too.

All functions have to be operated from the 15-inch touch screen, with the exception of two thick buttons for fine adjustment of the respective functions on and two levers behind the steering wheel and the switch for the hazard warning lights prescribed by law. However, the display has a bar at the bottom with buttons. There you can choose for a group of functions, which by symbols and designation makes it clearer what they are for.

Particularly favorable is the touch screen for ventilation. This comes through two slots that extend across the full width of the dashboard. The one aims slightly upwards, while the other tends towards the passengers. One or two focal points can be set precisely for both the driver and the passenger side.

It works with a tap and is very intuitive. So you can get along with the map at the navigation sytem. At first glance, it's similar to Google Street View, but it shows areas higher traffic, zoo. Again, one works with the fingers, enlarged by spreading and can even turn the map view.

The steering is three times adjustable, the recuperation twice. Restrictions on the possible discharge of the battery are easily adjustable. However, you must also open the glove compartment by touch screen. Important are the settings of the theft treatment with possible notification via mobile phone.

The emergency braking can also be switched on or off. Until it stops, however, it only works up to a certain speed. The lane departure warning system can also be switched on/off.

Unfavorable, however, is the situation in case of failure of the drive or complete discharging of the battery. If that also concerns the 12V battery, you have to charge it first to be able to release the handbrake by screen. Then you have 20 minutes to move the car to the charging station with a sliding speed. Otherwise there is only the possibility of loading on a transporter.

And then this tiny note in the data: all-season tires. As if the e-cars were not already decried enough to have unfavorably long braking distances. Winter tires with steel wheels do not seem to be a hit in sunny California. It also saves the six-monthly adjustment of the pressure sensors.

Hubcaps in front of the alloy wheels. Who thinks up such things? What kind of aesthetics is that? Since you can take steel rims, yes, no one sees. And they are much heavier not anymore. To prevent hubcaps from loosening, they need to be firmly clamped, which in turn can compromise clear-coat protection.