Tesla Model 3 falls short of Consumer Reports recommendation

Salwan Georges | The Washington Post | Getty Images

Tesla’s new Model 3 car on display is seen on Friday, January 26, 2018, at the Tesla store in Washington, D.C.

Tesla’s Model 3 sedan fell short of a recommendation from Consumer Reports on Monday.

The vehicle has many attributes that could make it a competitor to the Audi A4 or the BMW 3 Series, but there are some traits that kept the group from giving the car a full-throated endorsement, Consumer Reports said.

“Our testers also found flaws—big flaws—such as long stopping distances in our emergency braking test and difficult-to-use controls,” said a review in the publication.

In particular, the car’s stopping distance of 152 feet from a speed of 60 miles per hour was slower than any of its contemporaries, including the Ford F-150, a full-size pickup.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment to CNBC, however the automaker told Consumer Reports that Tesla’s own tests yielded a stopping distance of 133 feet, saying that several factors, such as weather, road surface, and tire temperature could account for the discrepancy.

Tesla has had a rocky relationship with Consumer Reports. The automaker bashed the CR automotive team in October after it predicted the Model 3 would have “average reliability.” The group has also criticized the Model X’s falcon-wing doors, and Tesla’s tendency to focus on features that surprise and delight.