Tesla Model 3 test drive: Elon Musk’s ‘affordable’ electric car is what drivers have been waiting for

Tesla’s Model 3 is the most highly anticipated car of the 21st century. It may be the most eagerly awaited car of all time.

More than 450,000 people put down US$1,000 refundable deposits to reserve one of the “affordable” battery electric sedans after Tesla chief executive Elon Musk unveiled the car and inaugurated the waiting list in March 2016.

Since then, online forums and car news websites have breathlessly reported every Musk tweet, production delay or postponed delivery date.

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Now the first Model 3s are rolling away from the factory in Fremont, California, and we were able to secure one for a weekend test drive.

The Model 3, from its inception as Tesla’s “mass-market vehicle”, promised the transport trifecta of long range, low cost and high performance. The 3 was to be sporty and silent and quick, and emit zero pollutants, while going at least 200 miles (322km) on a single charge and costing less than US$35,000 before rebates and incentives.

Many people assumed it would include Tesla’s technologically sophisticated Autopilot driver assist software (it doesn’t – customers have to pay for an upgrade). Some hoped they would be driving their US$35,000 model 3s by now, but they can’t because the entry-level cars aren’t being built yet: Tesla is producing only the fully loaded 3s at this time. The one we drove costs US$57,500.

The Model 3 delivers on its promises – mostly. The sleek medium-sized sedan, in its base model, is powered by a lithium-ion battery, attached to a permanent magnet motor, that will accelerate the rear-wheel-drive car from zero to 60mph (100km/h) in 5.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph.