Auto Express – August 20, 2019

68 SpecialIssue

ROADTESTS

Visitautoexpress.co.ukforthe latest newcarsand drives

GLEVS XC90

Merc’srevampedSUV

facesmild-hybridVolvo

inseven-seatshoot-out

76

BMW320d

MSport SportAuto

Price:£38,325

Engine:2.0-litre4cyldiesel,187bhp

0-60mph:6.6seconds

Testeconomy:53.3mpg/11.7mpl

CO 2 :113g/kmAnnualroadtax:£145

Tesla’s newModel 3is

ruffling feathersinthe

juniorexec class.We

put theelectricsaloon

up againstBMW’s

class-leading 3Series

Pictures: Otis Clay

HAVEwereachedthepointwhere

you’rebetteroffbuyinganelectriccar

thanaconventionallypoweredalternative?

That’sthequestionwe’reaimingtoanswer

byexaminingeveryareaofthesetwotitans

inthisAutoExpresstwintest.

TheTeslaModel3hasbeenhotly

anticipated–andnowit’sfinallyherein

right-hand-driveform.Therehasalsobeen

acuttothecar’slistpricetocoincidewith

thestartofdeliveriesintheUK,sothe

Model3StandardRangePluswe’retesting

herenowcostsfrom£37,340.

ThatputstheAmericanEVstraightin

thefiringlineofwhatispossiblytheiconic

juniorexecutivesaloonofthepasttwo

decades:theBMW320d.Whenitcomes

toconventionallypoweredmachinery, this

istheclassleaderandthereforetheone

thattheModel3hastoovercome.

EvenTesla’sownboss,ElonMusk,said

theModel3wouldtakeonandbeatBMW’s

bestwhenitlaunched,sothesetwomodels

areaclosercomparisonthanyoumight

think,despitetheirdifferentmethodsof

propulsion.Butisthetimerighttogoall-

electricinacarlikethis?Let’sfindout.

Electric

Dreams

Tesla Model 3

StandardRange Plus

Price:£37,340

Engine:Singleelectricmotor,235bhp

0-60mph:5.8seconds

Testeconomy:4.3miles/kWh

CO 2 :0g/kmAnnualroadtax:£0