Tesla Model 3 Tesla Model 3

Overview

The 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance is a stone-cold stunner, blending the "Highland" refresh's sleek looks with face-melting acceleration. As the top-dog of the Model 3 lineup, it’s an electric sedan that delivers supercar-level punch for a fraction of the price. It's designed for drivers who crave cutting-edge tech and a thrilling experience behind the wheel. With a new price of $54,990, it plants its flag firmly in the performance EV space. Even lightly used examples hold strong value, estimated around $43,400, making it a hot commodity on the pre-owned market.

What's New for 2025?

The big news is the full "Highland" refresh treatment, now supercharged for the Performance model. You get the sharper exterior styling, a much quieter cabin thanks to acoustic glass, and a revamped interior. But the real magic is the exclusive kit: new ventilated sports seats to hold you tight in the corners, an adaptive suspension system for the first time, and a wild new Insane driving mode. It’s a proper step up, ditching the old steering column stalks for a cleaner, more futuristic feel, and adding a handy rear screen for passengers.

Design & Exterior

This thing looks meaner than ever. The 2025 Performance model gets the slim, aggressive headlights of the "Highland" refresh but adds a unique, more aggressive front bumper, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, and a new rear diffuser. It's a subtle but effective way to signal its potent performance. Riding on new 20-inch ‘Warp’ wheels, it has a killer stance. It measures up at a tidy 185.8 inches long, 72.8 inches wide, and sits low at 56.3 inches high, giving it a sleek, road-hugging profile that means business.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the minimalist "Highland" cabin gets a racy makeover. The new ventilated sport seats are a game-changer, offering fantastic support for spirited driving. You’re greeted by a massive central touchscreen that controls everything, plus a new rear screen for passengers. While there’s no Apple CarPlay, Tesla’s system is slick. Material quality is a step up, with a cool ambient light strip wrapping the cabin. Practicality is still king, with a generous 21.0 cubic feet in the trunk, expanding to 34.5 with seats down, plus a handy 3.1 cubic foot frunk.

Performance & Driving Experience

Hold on tight. The dual-motor All-Wheel Drive system, featuring an Induction motor up front and a Permanent Magnet motor in the rear, unleashes a staggering 461 kW (about 618 hp) and 547 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to launch this sedan from 0-60 mph in a breathtaking 2.9 seconds. The new adaptive damping system transforms the ride, offering comfort when you want it and track-ready stiffness when you don't. With insane acceleration and go-kart-like handling, it's a true driver's car that redefines electric performance.

Range, Battery & Charging

Powering the insanity is a 75 kWh usable battery pack. Green Cars Compare calculates a real-world range of around 280 miles, with an impressive efficiency of 3.73 mi/kWh helping you stretch the electrons. At home, the 11.5 kW on-board charger can top it up overnight. On the road, its 400V architecture and NACS port allow it to pull up to 250 kW at a DC fast charger, zapping the battery from 10-80% in under 30 minutes. It’s a perfect blend of blistering speed and solid everyday usability.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Tesla’s reputation for safety is rock-solid, backed by top-tier 5-star overall ratings from both the NHTSA in the US and Euro NCAP. Every Model 3 Performance comes standard with Tesla’s Autopilot, which includes traffic-aware cruise control and lane centering to ease your commute. For those wanting more, Enhanced Autopilot adds features like Auto Lane Change and Smart Summon. The top-tier Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package is available as an optional over-the-air upgrade, promising an ever-evolving suite of advanced assistance features for the future.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Tesla backs the Model 3 Performance with a solid warranty package. You get a basic new vehicle warranty covering 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Crucially, the expensive bits—the battery and drive unit—are covered for a lengthy 8 years or 120,000 miles, with a guarantee of at least 70% battery capacity retention during that period. Unlike some rivals, Tesla doesn't include complimentary scheduled maintenance, instead following a condition-based servicing model where the car tells you when it needs attention, keeping things simple.