The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Tesla Model 3 Falls Short of a Consumer Report Recommendation


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Despite record range and agile handling, issues with braking, controls, and ride quality hurt the Model 3’s Overall Score

2018 Tesla Model 3 braking test

May 22, 2018; Patrick Olsen writing for CR reported that Tesla’s Model 3 represents the electric automaker’s first attempt at a more affordable mass-market car. In Consumer Reports’ tests, we found plenty to like about the luxury compact sedan (which originally was priced at $35,000 but has goes all the way up to $78,000), including record-setting range as well as exhilarating acceleration and handling that could make it a healthy competitor to performance-oriented cars such as BMW’s 3 Series and the Audi A4. Our testers also found flaws—big flaws—such as long stopping distances in our emergency braking test and difficult-to-use controls.

These problems keep the Model 3 from earning a Consumer Reports recommendation.

The Tesla’s stopping distance of 152 feet from 60 mph was far worse than any contemporary car we’ve tested and about 7 feet longer than the stopping distance of a Ford F-150 full-sized pickup.

A Tesla spokesperson told CR that the company’s own testing found stopping distances from 60 to 0 mph were an average of 133 feet, with the same tires as our Model 3. The automaker noted that stopping-distance results are affected by variables such as road surface, weather conditions, tire temperature, brake conditioning, outside temperature, and past driving behavior that may have affected the brake system.

In a series of tweets on Monday night, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the braking issue CR identified could be fixed with a firmware update, which will be rolled out "in a few days." Musk went on to say that with further refinement "we can improve braking distance beyond initial specs." CR has reached out to Tesla for confirmation and will update this story as we receive more details.

See Complete Article: HERE

Tesla Says It Will Issue Fix for Model 3 Brakes

The automaker responds after Consumer Reports finds a problem with braking performance and other flaws May 22, 2018; Patrick Olsen reported that Tesla will issue an over-the-air update to improve the Model 3’s braking performance, CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter Monday night. His tweets came after Consumer Reports said it would not recommend the latest Tesla electric car because of several major flaws, including long stopping distances. CR measured the Model 3’s stopping distance at 152 feet from 60 mph, which was far worse than any contemporary car we’ve tested. Musk responded by vowing that Tesla would fix the Model 3 braking performance and also make it best in class. “Tesla won’t stop until Model 3 has better braking than any remotely comparable car,” he tweeted. Musk said that a firmware update could fix the problem and that Tesla would be “rolling that out in a few days.” MORE ON TESLA 3 FIXES