Consumer Reports (CR) recently rated the Tesla Model 3 as one of its top picks of 2020. Tesla as a brand also jumped 8 spots into 11th overall on their list of the best auto brands.
They also recently pointed out that in their testing of the 2019 Model 3, they were able to achieve almost exactly the same range as the EPA ratings, listed at 310 miles (498km – the ratings for the 2020 Model 3 were recently updated to 518km).
In their article however, they noted that in “Long Range mode”, they were actually able to achieve well over the rated range, and were abel to squeeze out 350 miles (563km) in their testing.
Since Tesla vehicles don’t have a long range mode, we’re not quite sure what CR is referring to. There is of course the Long Range (LR) version of the Model 3. They might also be referring to Chill Mode, which can extend the range as it limits the amount of acceleration in the car.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, without clarifying the reference to “Long Range mode”, posted the CR article to his Twitter account, thereby validating the claims made by CR.
Model 3 achieves 350 mile actual range vs 310 EPA sticker in Consumer Reports testing https://t.co/5hqRhjP4bV
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2020
While Tesla’s website still lists the range of the LR Model 3 as 518km, it is quite possible that the EPA rating just hasn’t been updated yet. In the Q4 2019 earnings call, Musk made mention of the fact that their vehicles actually achieve better range than what is listed on the website, and the EPA ratings aren’t accurate anymore.
This was confirmed a few weeks later when Tesla released the Long Range Plus versions, which featured increased range, of the Model S and Model X. It is probably only a matter of time (soon) before we see revised ratings for the Model 3 as well.
