Long-term test of 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance – part 2

Yes, this 2019 Performance model will still do 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and out-accelerate most things on the road. But the longer I live with it, the more it’s the small, thoughtful touches – the things you only discover in real life, with real people, on real trips – that make the biggest impression.

And few places test a car’s everyday usability like Buxton, Derbyshire, in the depths of winter.

Buxton FC’s stadium is the highest in England and, on the day we visited, felt colder than most domestic freezers. After the match, we trudged back through the icy streets, cheeks stinging and morale sinking. Every few minutes came the same plea from the kids: “Can you put the heating on yet?”

Normally, the answer would be no. But this is a Tesla.

The clean lines of the 2019 Model 3 Performance are clear to see from this angle

Five minutes before we reached the car, I opened the Tesla app, tapped Climate, and watched the temperature inside begin to climb from sub‑zero to toasty. By the time we arrived, the cabin felt like stepping indoors.

And that’s the thing: while Teslas are often discussed in terms of range, Autopilot or acceleration, it’s moments like this where the tech really earns its keep.

Cold-weather heroics aside, this long‑term test has highlighted just how well this seven-year-old car’s cabin design has aged.

Against Tesla’s newer designs, this 2019 Model 3 has gained a surprising charm. The big 15‑inch touchscreen still dominates, and while newer models are sleeker, the original’s simplicity – the clean dashboard, the absence of physical buttons – now feels almost classic Tesla.

The full-length tinted glass roof is one of the car’s best features. Even on grey winter days, it brightens the cabin and stops the whole place feeling claustrophobic.

The Model 3’s 425 litres of storage has already proved itself. The front boot swallowed muddy walking boots with ease, leaving the main boot free for everything else a family day out requires.

In terms of performance, it’s the nature of the delivery that impresses most. The instant torque can deliver gut-punching acceleration that leaves occupants breathless, but the car is equally capable of being completely silent and relaxing in slower traffic.

The sleek 2019 Model 3 Performance has a hint of retro charm

This dual personality – ferocious performance paired with refinement –represents the Model 3 Performance’s most compelling attribute.

On slippery roads over the moors towards Buxton, the traction control system proved remarkably sophisticated. With a potential 490hp deployed through all four wheels, wheelspin remained virtually absent, with the car feeling very sure-footed.

As the name hints, the 2019 Model 3 Performance prioritises handling precision over comfort, a trade-off amplified by performance-oriented suspension tuning. It’s a firm ride, particularly on broken road surfaces, but that makes for a more engaging drive.

The minimalist interior of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance

In terms of steering, Tesla calibrates the system with artificially heavy weighting. Whilst this creates an initial impression of precision and directness, the absence of tactile feedback can prove frustrating.

Despite this, body control felt exceptional on our outing to the Peak District, partly thanks to the supercar-low centre of gravity courtesy of the floor-mounted battery pack.

It’s so far, so good for my long-term test of this used Tesla.

THE LOWDOWN: Tesla Model 3 Performance

YEAR BUILT: 2019

MILEAGE: 44,294

ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds

TOP SPEED: 155mph

RANGE: Potential 329 miles (WLTP) when new

PRICE: Estimated £22k to £25k in today’s market