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Owner of Tesla Model 3 Performance & BMW X3 M40i compares his two cars

5th April 2024, 13:05 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

This EV handles “almost” like a sports car. On the other hand, I have driven larger BMW SUVs like the X5 and X7 and in my opinion, the X3 is a lot more enjoyable.

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2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. 2021 BMW X3M40i

Thanks to TorroRosso asking this question, “How does the Tesla Model 3 Performance fare compared to my BMW X3 M40i”. Well, it’s not the first time I got this question and surprisingly, I can never provide a straight answer to folks who ask me “Which one of these 2 performance cars is better" because it’s truly a very difficult answer as both are really fast cars and have many upsides with negligible downsides.

I decided to finally put a rest to this quandary and have been collecting my thoughts to see if I can nail down which of these 2 cars is better. I have owned both cars for a reasonably long time to tell the difference between each of them.

The final result may be surprising, keep reading and try to put yourself in my shoes and feel free to comment if you own any one (doubt if someone will have the exact same combo at home...haha!) of these amazing machines. Will your final result be different?

BMW X3M40i has clocked 34,000 miles (~ 55,000kms) in 3 years and Tesla Model 3 Performance is approaching 16,000 miles (~ 26,000kms) so that’s 80,000kms combined in 3 years with just me as the single driver (not counting the limited driving of my better half). This comparison is most certainly not an apples-to-apples type of comparison but, will have factors like emotional, tangible, placebo effect and not to mention the overall feel playing key roles.

Let’s look at the broad categories/parameters that we generally consider when selecting a car (All my car purchases till date have always focused on a single parameter for decision-making- “Performance” because I enjoy driving fast and love a good handling automobile. Other parameters are good to have but, they have never swayed my decision when buying any automobile).

Performance

Tesla Model 3 Performance

This is a drag strip king and will demolish everything that is stock that comes into its path- Be it a BMW M3/M4, Lamborghini or a Ferrari. Its instantaneous acceleration that propels you to 60mph (96kph) from a standstill in 3.1 seconds is an experience not for the faint-hearted. This acceleration is the #1 factor for purchasing this car. It’s simply an other-worldly experience.

BMW X3 M40i

This car is no slouch. A stock version does 60mph (96kph) in 4 seconds which is ridiculously fast as well. The feeling of how this accelerates is very different from the Tesla. It is loud, has lots of pops and bangs, rattles your internals and brings a thrill to your body that is felt till the bones. On the other hand, Tesla’s acceleration feel like you are sitting in an airplane and being propelled forward in complete silence which is quite eerie but, exhilarating at the same time.

Winner

Both have exhilarating acceleration but, giving it to Tesla Model 3 Performance purely for reasons of it being faster.

Handling

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Firstly, it’s a compact sedan and secondly, it’s lighter than the BMW so it has 2 primary factors favoring it. Obviously, it handles better than the BMW. Being a performance model, it has stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and can also be used as a RWD or AWD as the bias can be changed by flick of a switch (via. an internal computer). It’s easy to make this change when you want the tail to step out in corners.

In short, the Tesla Model 3 handles “almost” like a sports car. With a little bit of modifications to its suspension which I personally feel needs to be tauter (It isn’t even as taut as the X3M40i) and it can be compared with any Porsche in the handling department.

BMW X3 M40i

Well, it’s a BMW. It feels tight, crisp, and better than good handlers. It’s a Compact SUV, It’s heavier than the Tesla. Despite all these odds, It handles better than 90% of sedans out there. Having driven the larger SUVs in BMW stable like the X5 & X7, in my opinion, the X3 is nimble, changes direction pretty fast and being smaller it is a lot more enjoyable handling experience.

It certainly has some body roll (felt especially during the roundabouts near home) but, for 90% of regular road driving including tight cornering in mountains which I have been doing ever since I got this car, it feels absolutely marvelous. Its technology is highly reliable, and its AWD system never made the car miss a step even in horrible conditions (Snow Blizzards, Heavy Rains) in the mountains where I have never curtailed my speeds. In short, it can shame many sedans in the handling department.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance as it’s definitely a better handler than the BMW.

Ride, Comfort & Braking

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla has premium vegan seats (Optional) and they are big, soft, cushy and really comfortable. As I had mentioned before, it was designed with the big “American backside” in mind. It almost feels like sitting on a couch at home as they are that comfortable.

Ride on the 20” Uberturbine wheels is comfortable on “Tar” highways but, the moment the car traverses on cemented freeways, road joints, or patchy sections, the ride is not that cushy anymore and you can feel a bit of harshness creep in. However, it’s not really uncomfortable or harsh in any sense, especially on WA road infrastructure.

BMW X3 M40i

Leather Seats are BMW M spec leather which means it’s harder on touch and feel and also feels premium than the Tesla seats. Overall seat construction is on the harder side & the bucket-styled seats somewhat snug into your thighs (Including the hard pull of seat belts when you start from a standstill) so, it’s not as comfortable as the Tesla. Ride is better than Tesla being on 19” wheels and now with Michelins, it just glides over patchy roads. Washington state road infrastructure is excellent including in the mountains.

Whenever I am in a fast lane, I always see the car in front of me give way (move into the slower lane) after they notice the quintessential “BMW Headlights” in their rearview mirror. This happens so often that I tell my wife by instinct that the car in front of us will move. We had a wager on this topic a few times and I won always. That’s the power of the “BMW” and I love it.
I always park next to a BMW if I find one and I see that happens with me also so many times when I return to the parking lot, I see another BMW next to me.
In the US, this is common. If I see another BMW on the road, he is either going fast, not giving indicators (Though, I personally follow all rules to the T) OR, wants to race you. This rather childish behavior is what the BMW brand has imbibed in the owners, and everyone seems to do it in some form or fashion. LOL!

Overall Thrill & Final Summary

This may come as a total surprise after seeing that the Tesla Model 3 Performance winning literally every category that I listed above. But, from an overall thrill, emotion and feel perspective, I enjoy driving the BMW X3M40i more than the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the primary reason for that is the relentless power, torque across every inch of the rev range, that amazing B58 exhaust note, the pleasure of using those paddle shifters to play with the rev range and finally, of course, the badge value which I feel is more prestigious than the Tesla.

B58 Exhaust (This is what makes you love this more than anything else in the world).

Driving the BMW X3 M40i for 50 miles in one of the craziest blizzards that I encountered in my life.

A useless feature from Tesla- But this makes you love it equally as much.

Well, I have several acceleration videos of both cars which I have always refrained from sharing on the forum so as not to break any rules.

Hope you enjoyed this "Apple-2-Oranges" comparison.

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