Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2020 Tesla Model 3

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

Fully electric
2020 Tesla Model 3 4-door sedan
2019 Tesla Model 3 shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system (built before May 2021)
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system (built before May 2021)
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range 4-door

The Tesla Model 3 was introduced in the 2017 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's overall survival space was maintained well, despite moderate intrusion of the lower part of the door hinge pillar and buckling of the door sill.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Although intrusion overall into the driver's space was minimal, door hinge pillar intrusion contributed to a moderate risk of injury to the left lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1906
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 21
Footrest (cm) 12
Left toepan (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1906
Head
HIC-15 88
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.87
Right 0.68
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.8
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 60
Right 33

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2017-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 4-door

The Tesla Model 3 was introduced in the 2017 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2019 Model 3 conducted by Tesla.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1925
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 3
Right toepan (cm) 2
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 2
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1925
Head
HIC-15 54
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 17
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 37
Right 44

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1925
Head
HIC-15 66
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.39
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 29
Right 27

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2017-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 4-door

The Tesla Model 3 was introduced in the 2017 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF1904
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -9
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1904
Head
HIC-15 177
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.32
Maximum tibia index - right 0.32
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 42
Right 38

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2017-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 4-door

The Tesla Model 3 was introduced in the 2017 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1905
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -22.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1905
Head HIC-15 237
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.27
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.97
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.0
Combined force (kN) 1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.1
L-M moment (Nm) 52
A-P moment (Nm) -28

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1905
Head HIC-15 78
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 29
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.89
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.30
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.3
Combined force (kN) 1.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 65
A-P moment (Nm) -19

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2017-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,563 lbs
Peak force20,835 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.85

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leatherette seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leatherette seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 15
Distance below top of head (mm) -3
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.6
Head contact time (ms) 55
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 155

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve, fair on the gradual right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 100.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 57.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 52.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 178.3 m
Straightaway left edge 168.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 81.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-21 models built before May 2021

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Collision Avoidance Assist

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2017-21 models built before May 2021

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 3 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 34 mph. A warning was issued 2.7 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimStandard Range Plus
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimStandard Range Plus
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 19
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation