Tesla Model 3 reviews, latest news: Some design choices may hurt general appeal, but will not affect car performance

First production model of Tesla Model 3 out the assembly line in Fremont, California.REUTERS/Tesla Handout

The brand name Tesla has almost become synonymous with electric cars nowadays, especially since the Model 3 recently rolled out to consumers. Turns out that Elon Musk's company kept its promise by making the mentioned model one of the best cars available today.

The Tesla Model 3 is expected to be different, but in ways that are entirely new to potential drivers that would take it for a spin. For instance, almost every aspect of running the car can be made via the controls on the 15-inch center-mounted touchscreen panel.

In a way, it is like another electronic gadget, except one can ride in it and it can take the user to places. It may seem overwhelming to drive the car at first, but users will get full instruction manuals regarding everything they need to know about driving a Tesla Model 3.

However, experience with the Tesla Model 3 can be unintuitive at first, simply because it is not like any other car before it. There are more features hidden away within the screen controls— for example, the steering can be programmed to control the side mirrors.

Interestingly, German engineers seem to have high praise for the design of the Tesla Model 3. One of the most impressive aspects they mentioned is the seeming lack of internal wiring in the car. They also praised the minimalist implementation of the central touchscreen.

"The whole thing is bare, cool plastic, sparingly decorated with open-pored wooden slats. There are no instruments, but unfortunately no head-up display. The usual hundreds of knobs, buttons, cogs, and levers were struck by the spell of Tesla boss Elon Musk," the engineers said.

The Model 3 is not without its flaws, although those have more to do with design and not with the car's actual performance. For instance, the German engineers also mentioned that the Model 3's doors have a "clunky" locking system.

The Tesla Model 3 started shipping to select drivers last fall and costs around $60,000.