Standard Range, Long Range and Performance — which one?
Standard Range Plus (SR+, 2019-2021) — RWD, 250-mile WLTP, real-world ~210 miles in summer / ~170 winter. Most affordable Model 3, £16-£20k currently.
Long Range (LR AWD, 2019-onwards) — Dual-motor AWD, 348-mile WLTP. Real-world 280 summer / 220 winter. The Model 3 sweet spot. £20-£28k.
Performance — LR battery + bigger motors. 0-60 in 3.1s. £25-£32k. Big tyres burn through quickly.
For most UK buyers, an LR is the practical pick. SR if budget-limited and you don't do long journeys. Performance only if you actually want the speed.
Battery degradation — what to actually expect
Tesla batteries degrade much less than the meme suggests. Realistic figures from telematics data on UK Model 3s:
0-30k miles: 0-3% capacity loss. Negligible.
30-60k miles: 3-7% loss. Still well within warranty (Tesla warrants 70% retention for 8 years/100k+ miles).
60-100k miles: 8-12% loss. Range drops by 15-30 miles.
Ask the seller for a recent screenshot of the full-charge range estimate at 100% SoC. A 2019 LR should show 285+ miles at full charge; below 260 miles is heavy degradation.
Fair UK Model 3 prices by year
2019 (SR+, 50-70k miles): £15,500 - £17,800
2020 (LR, 40-60k): £19,500 - £22,000
2021 (LR refresh, 30-50k): £21,500 - £24,500
2022 (LR or Performance): £24,500 - £28,500
2023 (Highland refresh): £28,000 - £32,000
Prices have stabilised in the last 60 days after a steep decline through 2024. Check live data via the live market scraper.
Used Model 3 inspection checklist
Service history — Teslas have no service intervals (officially) but check brake fluid, cabin filter, AC condenser cleaning records.
Battery health screenshot — full SoC range estimate. Compare to original WLTP figure.
FSD (Full Self-Driving) status — does it have the £6,800 upgrade? Worth £2-£3k on resale.
Premium Connectivity — was it bought lifetime or is it a subscription? Lifetime adds £200 on used.
Bodywork panel gaps — early Model 3s had inconsistent build. Check panel alignment.
Heat pump — fitted 2021 onwards. Better winter range. Pre-2021 cars use resistive heating — more range loss in cold.
MCU2 vs MCU3 — 2022+ cars got the Ryzen-based MCU3. Much snappier. Pre-2022 are MCU2.
Model 3 vs alternatives
vs Polestar 2 — Polestar interior is nicer but range is less efficient.
vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 — Ioniq 5 has 800V architecture (faster charging) and more space, but worse efficiency.
vs BMW i4 — i4 has the better interior; Model 3 has the better software and supercharger network.
See our used EVs UK guide for a wider comparison.