Mainstream carmakers have unleashed a stream of new electric vehicles in the past year, some with relatively attractive prices. But it’s wise to look a little closer.
Tesla is embarrassing its EV rivals on the sales charts, accounting for almost half of all electric car deliveries in Australia.
Why? Because, as we discovered on a 2000km interstate road trip, the American brand simply does things better than the rest.
While other carmakers were lobbying governments to subsidise a national charging network, Tesla simply went ahead and built one for itself.
That bespoke network takes the hassle out of recharging on long distance trips, while continual improvements to its vehicles widen the gap to its rivals.
Range
We took the updated Tesla Model 3 Long Range from Sydney to Melbourne and back to test its range and get an idea of the challenges of road tripping in an EV.
The claim of 629km is achievable in city driving but 110km/h stints sap the range. We found we needed to recharge after about 500km of freeway driving.
Polestar and Hyundai can match the Tesla’s range but a lot of rivals fall short by 100km or more. On the road, extra range means time and convenience.
Road trips are less hassle in a long-range EV. Picture by Toby Hagon.
Charging
The size of the Tesla charging network took a lot of stress out of our journey – there were 11 supercharger stations and 89 chargers on the route.
At Albury, for example, there are 16 charge bays.
Another advantage of the Tesla is its ability to take on charge quickly. It can charge at up to 250kW, while the recently launched Toyota bZ4X accepts only 150kW.
Tesla claims the Model 3 can add 282km of range in just 15 minutes, while the Toyota takes almost twice as long, taking 30 minutes to add 305km. Cheaper models from Chinese makers such as BYD and MG4 are slower again. The MG4 51kWh model, for example, takes a claimed 33 minutes to add 210km of range.
On long trips, that makes a difference.
Tesla charging stations have more chargers than public stations. Picture by Toby Hagon.
Tesla also scores point for the ease of charging. You simply pull up to a charger and plug it in. If you own an EV from a rival brand, you’ll need up to half a dozen apps to pay for your charging.
Finding the right app and scanning a code to authorise payment all takes time.
Toyota has promised to make charging easy for customers, but currently only seven of its dealers – three in far north Queensland, one in Brisbane, one in Sydney and two in the ACT – are offering up to 50kW.
Thankfully Tesla is opening up its charging infrastructure to other brands, although it is charging a premium for the service.
Tesla’s chargers are reliable, while it’s not uncommon to come across a broken charger at public stations. Picture by Toby Hagon.
Reliability
Toyota may own the reputation for reliability in cars, but Tesla owns it with chargers.
Whereas it’s common to find many universal access ultra rapid chargers out of order, Tesla’s network delivers.
Of the 89 Supercharger bays available between Sydney to Melbourne only one was out of order on our trip.
The Model 3 also displays the availability of all its chargers through the maps on the central touchscreen, making it easy to decide.
Those maps even give you advice as to projected wait times at chargers, although we had no issues with that on our trip.
If you have to wait to charge, the on-board tech makes the time pass more quickly. Picture by Toby Hagon.
Technology
Time flies when you’re having fun, and Tesla has entertainment options while you’re charging. Aside from Netflix and YouTube, you can play arcade games using the car’s steering wheel.
Tesla also regularly updates its software over the air and those updates can add features. A car we drove recently had its matrix headlights upgraded to allow it run permanently on high beams without dazzling oncoming drivers.
Audio
Tesla has one of the best sound systems on the market, including those offered by luxury brands.
The Model 3 Long Range has 17 speakers, including two subwoofers for some serious punch.
Some buyers will be put off by the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which are default on all rivals these days.
But the in-built apps – including Apple Music and Spotify – are easy to set up and personalise.
Tesla generally offers more bang for your buck. Picture by Toby Hagon.
Value
Teslas aren’t cheap, but they justify the premium.
The Model 3 Long Range accelerates to 100km/h in a claimed 4.4 seconds, which is comfortably quicker than most luxury cars its price.
This Model 3 Long Range costs about $76,500 drive-away and comes well equipped with 18-inch wheels, electric front seats, a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, heated seats front and rear and matrix LED headlights.
By comparison, Hyundai’s long-range, all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 Dynamiq costs almost $88,000 drive-away.
Flaws
It’s not all rosy for Tesla.
As with all electric sedans, the Model 3 does without a spare wheel, something that can ruin a road trip.
And the much-hyped driver-assistance technology doesn’t always do a great job.
On four occasions we had the auto braking system activate aggressively on the freeway when it wasn’t required.
Fortunately there were no vehicles close behind, but it’s something that catches your attention.