I've noticed that many people are concerned about this issue recently, so I'll share my Tesla usage experience in detail, all of which is the truth.
I bought my Model 3 on August 20, 2019, and at that time, I bought an imported car. The unfortunate part is that I also paid over 30,000 in purchase tax because the salesperson didn't tell me that Tesla was exempt from the purchase tax after September. Later, I found out that this money can't be refunded, so I just had to accept it.
All in all, I spent nearly 480,000 RMB. Now, after more than 6 years of driving, the warranty has long expired. I have the rear-wheel drive long-range version.
First, let's talk about range.
Tesla's aluminum battery vehicles generally recommend charging to 90%. It's not advisable to charge to 100% every time, mainly for battery maintenance reasons. When I first got the car, charging to 90% showed 470 kilometers. As time went on and fast charging increased, the range gradually decreased; now charging to 90% gives about 410 kilometers. But to be honest, it's completely sufficient for city commuting.
Let's talk about performance.
As an electric car, the acceleration is really fast; that feeling of being pushed back is something combustion cars can't compare to, especially when overtaking on mountain roads, it's extremely enjoyable. Maintenance costs are also almost negligible; just changing the air conditioning filter and air filter every year is enough, and the cost is very low. Just go to the service center for periodic checks, and there's basically no need to worry.
Let's emphasize safety.
I've mentioned an experience before: one morning on my way to work, I was preparing to change lanes without signaling, glanced in the rearview mirror and thought there was no car, so I merged directly (a typical visual blind spot). Suddenly, there was a rapid alarm, the steering wheel intervened automatically, and it forcibly pulled the car back into the lane. Right after that, a white sedan drove past from the side I was about to merge into. At that moment, I really felt panicked. This is Tesla’s active safety system; to be honest, it really saved me. Even with insurance, a car crash is troublesome—time wasted, no car to drive, dealing with insurance, and premium increases the following year... none of that is better than having nothing happen at all.
Then there's front collision warning.
I can't remember how many times this feature has saved me; as long as it's set up correctly, it will remind you in advance. Without this feature, I guess a rear-end collision is just a matter of time.
Also, there’s active braking. Once, I almost rear-ended someone, and the system intervened directly, stopping the car.
Of course, these are all aids; awareness and following distance are the most important. If the distance is too close, even with active braking, it may not be enough time.
By the way, a comparison. Some brands' cars have active braking that cannot be turned off, which can be more dangerous when misjudged.
I just came back from Dubai, took a special car from Emirates Airlines, and the driver chatted with me saying that his friend just bought a Mercedes (forgot the specific model), and the active braking cannot be turned off. A car passed by from the side; it actually didn't hit, but the system misjudged and suddenly slammed the brakes on the highway, causing a severe rear-end collision.
Smart cars are indeed a trend, but they are not without problems. Overall, I personally still recommend Tesla.
If I had to change cars now, I would consider the new Model Y's 6-seat version.
Alright, I've written a lot of scattered points; I hope they can provide some reference value for the brothers who are concerned about this issue.