The car that set a new standard for electric vehicles just got better, giving rival brands something to worry about.
As traditional car makers scramble to play catch-up on electric vehicles, Tesla has shifted the goalposts once more.
The EV leader has launched an updated version of its popular Model 3.
Tesla has revised the Model 3 electric car for 2024.
As the first electric car to reach more than 1 million sales around the world, the original Tesla Model 3 was a breakthrough model that made the electric dream a reality for countless customers.
Launched in the US in 2017 before making its local debut in 2019, the compact sedan benefits from widespread changes inside and out for 2024.
The Model 3 has the same silhouette as before, but new detailing.
Revised bodywork, including a new bonnet, bumpers and lights, lends a futuristic look that also translates to improved aerodynamic performance and a little more driving range.
Tweaks to the cabin aim to close the gap to the likes of Audi or BMW – there’s ambient lighting, improved soft-touch materials and thicker windows as part of a concerted effort to make the car a quieter, classier proposition.
A highset seating position is accentuated by a low belt line for its large windows, and the close proximity of an enormous panoramic sunroof.
Rear accommodation is much improved thanks to heated seats augmented by a new 8-inch touchscreen that allows back-seat passengers to adjust their climate control, or even watch video from YouTube, Netflix or Twitch while on the move.
The enormous 15.4-inch screen upfront benefits from new games and apps, along with a stereo system that shames cars costing triple Tesla’s starting price, about $65,000 drive-away.
The most prominent changes surround a new steering wheel that deletes conventional stalks for the indicators, windscreen wipers, transmission and cruise control.
The Tesla Model 3’s touchscreen is loaded with features.
Those features move to the touchscreen and wheel as part of Tesla’s reductive approach to cabin design.
Indicator arrows on the left side of the steering wheel are reasonably easy to get along with.
We were sceptical of a decision to shift transmission controls to the right side of the main touchscreen, but the move is surprisingly intuitive as transmission controls only appear when you’re stopped with your foot on the brake.
The car also has a clever feature that guesses which gear you would like to use. Reverse into a car park, for example, and the car will assume that you will want to drive forward on return to your vehicle, and preselect that gear when you tap the brake pedal.
Revised shock absorbers join quicker steering and fresh rubber in a chassis set up intended to be more comfortable than before.
Ultra-quick steering is feather-light on centre but loads up as cornering forces increase, though it lacks feel compared to more engaging rivals.
The Model 3 is available with rear-drive or all-wheel-drive traction.
Softer suspension returns a reasonably comfortable ride, though there is increased body roll when you tip into a bend. Soft-edged, wavelike imperfections are soaked up with ease, though sharp bumps are still felt – and heard – to a more pronounced degree than you might expect.
A slightly wooden brake pedal doesn’t have the textured feel of a great car with conventional stopping power and you can’t customise the regenerative effect of its battery and motor.
Eerily unflappable traction remains a strong point for the Model 3 – Tesla’s throttle pedal response and electronic stability control systems do an impressive job of harnessing the bulk torque doled out by its rear-mounted electric motor.
Mid-grade variants need just 4.4 seconds to hit 100kmh.
The brand remains cagey about power figures. It doesn’t supply official power and torque statistics, saying only that the entry level car tested here can reach 100km/h in 6.1 seconds, and that it can drive for 513 kilometres on a full charge.
Pay an extra $10,000 and you get an all-wheel-drive version with 629km of range and the ability to hit 100km/h in 4.4 seconds.
Range anxiety isn’t a huge concern for Tesla drivers, who benefit from access to the company’s Supercharger network, along with myriad other charging stations offered to all electric vehicles.
The new Tesla Model 3 is on sale now.
VERDICT
Four and a half stars
A premium cabin and improved ride only serve to increase the appeal of one of the most accomplished cars on sale.
TESLA MODEL 3 REAR WHEEL DRIVE
PRICE About $65,000 drive-away
MOTOR Rear-mounted electric, about 200kW and 350Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICE 4-year/80,000km, no capped-price servicing
SAFETY Six airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
RANGE 513 kilometres
CARGO 649 litres
SPARE Repair kit
Keyword: 2024 Tesla Model 3 first drive