I put the Tesla Model 3 up against its nearest | Tech News

China has turn into a main participant in the motor industry with manufacturers together with BYD proving in style with British drivers. This has been underlined by gross sales of Chinese automobiles hitting 285,000 final yr, in contrast with simply 384 a decade earlier.

New entrant car manufacturers have secured a 15.8% share of the UK new car market, with China offering the greatest menace to the Western car market but. BYD outsold Tesla for the first time in July 2025, however a yr on the American model is back on prime, with the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 first and second in the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traderscar registration information.

So we’ve examined the best of China’s new wave of electric automobiles (EVs) against a Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive to see who comes out on prime.

Stepping into the Tesla is sort of like sitting in one thing different than a car. It’s minimalist. There are hardly any bodily buttons, with a large 15.4-inch touchscreen proper in the centre. The Model 3 is a tech fan’s dream, with most options accessible into a useful digital app.

The Tesla presents sharper handling than the BYD, however does lack a bit on efficiency, with the RWD model solely hitting 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds. The car can also be electronically restricted to 125mph. The RWD Model 3 has a vary of up to 332 miles and topping-up at a Tesla Supercharger station is a doddle, succesful of 250kWh DC charge ensures the battery can zap from 20 to 80% in round 20 to 25 minutes.

Tesla’s full autonomous driving is just not but allowed in the UK, however the Autopark and AutoPilot options can be utilized for a month-to-month subscription. It’s a full sport changer and actually needs to be seen to be believed.

Clicking a swap and letting the technology neatly steer into a bay is a large security enhance; no more clipping the kerb when this turns into mainstream.

The Model Y is the larger, more family-friendly model, however the 3 nonetheless has round 682 litres of storage space. The solely gripe is that the car would not benefit from a heads-up show, that means having to show your eyes away from the street to have a look at the centre screen to examine the speedometer.

The very first thing you’ll discover is the BYD is far faster on acceleration, hitting 0-62mph in simply 3.8 seconds, However, the Seal tops out at simply 112mph, down on the Model 3’s 125mph. The Seal advantages from BYD’s newest LFP Blade Battery technology, boosting the sturdiness of the essential part.

However, in my expertise, the Seal appeared to undergo from a sharper drop in vary and appeared to run out of juice a lot faster than the Model 3. Charging may even take longer. The Seal is capped at a most of 150 kW DC, that means it’s going to charge a battery from 20% to 80% in up to 34 minutes.

BYD doesn’t have any of the self-driving options that make the Tesla so revolutionary, though it does include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems as normal. Something that can also be included in the Tesla.

This contains security tech comparable to lane preserving help, collision warning systems and site visitors signal recognition. However, I wasn’t eager on the irritating velocity restrict warning chimes, however these could be turned off at the click on of a button.

The Seal has a barely more comfy inside, with a suede dashboard that rivals the very best on the market. BYD’s model has a 45mm longer wheelbase than the Model 3, which interprets into noticeably additional space for rear passengers.

It’s simple to see why the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3 have been slugging it out to see who’s the EV prime canine for months. Both automobiles offer a lot of bang for his or her buck, but when I needed to choose only one, I’d choose up the Tesla in a heartbeat. The Model 3 simply feels more refined and optimised than the BYD Seal at this stage. At below £40,000, it’s most likely the best EV I have examined.