New Tesla Model 3 scores surprising result in real-life range test

The new, refreshed Tesla Model 3, codenamed Highland, is now starting to be delivered to customers in North America. And, luckily for us, one of those customers decided to put it through a range test, driving it from full to empty at or around 70 mph.

You can watch the full video below to find out how the new Model 3 fared (the range test starts at 7:34), but spoiler alert: it did very well. For this particular model, the EPA-estimated range is 341 miles. In the real-life test, at 70 mph, with outside temperatures hovering from 55°F to 60°F, the new Model 3 did 327 miles to 0% battery left.

That's incredibly close to the EPA estimate, and it once again confirms that EPA range numbers are the most accurate compared to WLTP and especially CLTC. Furthermore, Tesla is known to have a buffer even 'below' 0%, so if the test would have continued until the car actually died, it might have actually made it to 341 miles.

Speaking of accuracy, the Tesla's computer estimated 332 miles when the test started, so it was off by only the tiniest amount. That's commendable too.

Now when it comes to charging, the new Model 3 managed to gain 160 miles of range after being plugged into a V3 Supercharger for 15 minutes, starting from a nearly empty battery. Tesla advertises you can get "up to" 175 miles in 15 minutes, but that may involve battery preconditioning, which hasn't been performed in this case.