The Tesla Model 3 has been named the most reliable car on two fronts by UK magazine, Whatcar?, in both the electric and executive categories.
Introduced to UK and Australian markets in 2019, the Tesla Model 3’s raison d’être is to shake up auto markets according to the Californian electric car maker and energy storage company’s mission to accelerate sustainability.
The spectre of the Model 3’s success in the auto market, disrupting the industry in the US, Europe and China, has also seen Tesla claim the title of most shorted stock on the Nasdaq.
Tesla vehicles have been the target of numerous negative stories in the media due to crashes, faults or fires, but such news stories often neglect to mention the fact that similar incidents happen much more often in petrol and diesel vehicles.
The new results from Whatcar? show that contrary to these claims, the Tesla Model 3, which is available in Australia from $73,900 before on-road costs, is more reliable than its counterparts.
According to a survey conducted by the magazine and published on Wednesday (UK time), UK owners of the popular Tesla Model 3 said they experienced faults in just 5% of their vehicles, and that none of those faults caused them to not be able to drive their car.
And no wonder – all the faults were all related to interior trim according to the survey, whereas cars in other segments suffered faults ranging from motor, engine and non-engine electrics, gearboxes, engines, exhaust and bodywork.
“Tesla’s newest model is its most durable so far, with a score that not only puts it ahead of every other electric car, but all the petrol, diesel and hybrid executive cars, too,” the magazine wrote via its website.
“Just 5% of Model 3s suffered a fault, and those that did could still be driven. All were fixed in a day or less at no cost to the owners.”
The Tesla Model 3’s winning title of most reliable electric and executive car follows another executive Whatcar? gong by the popular electric car.
In August, Whatcar? named the Tesla Model 3 the best executive car of 2020, saying that it “was at the bleeding edge when it arrived, it’s at the bleeding edge today, and it’s a bleeding good car full stop.”
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model 3 and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.