Skip to main content

Aced it! Tesla’s Model 3 earns a five-star crash-test rating

Tesla has long argued it makes some of the safest new cars on the road today. There’s no doubt it can aggressively talk the talk, and results published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now prove it can walk the walk, too. The company’s entry-level Model 3 has received a five-star crash test rating.

The rear-wheel drive Model 3 impressed the NHTSA’s testers by achieving a five-star rating across the board. It was jettisoned against a fixed barrier to simulate a front-end impact in which both vehicles are traveling at 35 mph; it passed by successfully protecting the front occupants. It was t-boned at 38.5 mph and thrown against a fixed pole; it passed again, achieving high marks for its ability to shield the front and rear occupants. The NHTSA ended the ceremony by rolling it; it passed yet again.

Tesla’s suite of electronic driving aids also met NHTSA performance tests. These include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support. They’re all found on the list of the Model 3’s standard equipment. The NHTSA does note that Tesla doesn’t offer dynamic head restraints.

The Model 3 joins an elite group of cars who have earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. The list of five-star models includes every current member of the Volvo lineup that has received a rating from the agency, which is hardly a surprising feat considering the Swedish firm’s decades-long reputation for safety. The Audi Q5, the Volkswagen Golf, the Dodge Charger, Tesla’s own Model X, and the Honda Ridgeline are also among the models with five stars.

The NHTSA is one of the two main agencies in charge of testing new cars in the United States. The second one is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It hasn’t fully tested the Model 3 yet. Its rating will play a significant role in cementing the car’s reputation as one of the safest new models on the market because it usually takes a stricter approach to crash testing. The results are promising: the IIHS gave the Model 3 a “superior” rating for crash prevention, noting it avoided a collision at 12 and 25 mph, and gave its headlights an acceptable rating.

Editors' Recommendations

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Volkswagen ID.4 vs Tesla Model Y
volkswagen id4 vs tesla model y 2021 id 4 blue charging

The electric car world is seriously heating up, with a number of high-end electric crossovers now available, albeit still at a higher price than comparable gas-powered cars. The Tesla Model Y is one of the first of these, offering the Tesla design, a high-tech software experience, and more. But another one of the older of these models is the Volkswagen ID.4, which was first released in 2021 and also offers among the better electric car experiences out there.

Can the ID.4 compete with one of the best-selling electric cars out there? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to compare between these two cars is design, and they take a slightly different approach.

Read more
The Tesla Model Y is far from my favorite EV, but I’m pretty close to buying one
Tesla Model Y One Millionth Car

I may finally be on my way toward buying my first EV. Sure, I've tested dozens of electric car models over the years, but despite that (or perhaps because of it), I have yet to buy one. But my family is growing, and my wife and I aren't so sure about carting our future kids around in an aging car that lacks the safety features of modern vehicles.

Because of the fact that we're expecting our kid in January, we have a bit of a deadline. So what are we leaning toward? Well, despite the fact that it's far from my favorite EV, we may actually end up just getting a Model Y.
Timing makes a difference
If the baby was coming along in a year's time, things might be completely different. There are a few reasons for that.

Read more
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more