Test: Tesla Model 3 – now also with refinement

Why is the Tesla Model 3 so important?

If we had to name one car that helped introduce the EV, it would be difficult not to mention the Tesla Model 3. The most affordable and smallest Tesla serves as a kind of blueprint for many competitors, whether it concerns the highly digitalized operating concept, the appearance or the technical design of the car. It has brought Tesla many customers since the launch of the Model 3 in 2017 (in the US), but precisely because of this imitation, that success is no longer as self-evident as it was a few years ago. Unlike then, there are now alternatives, such as the BYD Seal about which you can quickly see a video.

What has been updated about the Model 3?

To keep the Model 3 up to date, Tesla holds the car up to the light all around. In terms of appearance, with a new nose and different rear lights, but especially when it comes to the interior. It is actually completely new, decorated with nicer materials and finished with more attention to detail. The minimalism remains, that’s for sure, but with a nice edge of mood lighting, a dashboard that fits better with the door panels and a new, high-quality center console, this interior looks more ‘finished’. The seats have also been adjusted and now have small holes in the black or white upholstery, because the Model 3 now also has seat ventilation. For the first time, rear passengers can control their own seat heating on their own touchscreen, which can also play videos. The rear seat is at a slightly different angle, so that the seating position is more comfortable than before. That certainly couldn’t hurt. At

What else changed in the hardware?

Of course, nothing will change in the space supply itself. The Model 3 still has a luggage compartment in the front and a very spacious ‘box’ in the back, with a kind of cellar under the loading floor. Despite the small sedan tailgate, a surprising amount can still be carried. The new rear lights go up with the flap, after which, if necessary, lights come on in the bumper to take over the function of the actual light units. The number of reversing lights – also in the bumper – doubles to two, but the Model 3 no longer has front fog lights. As usual, a tow bar can be placed under the new rear bumper, but unlike before, it can also be retrofitted. The maximum towing weight remains the same: 1,000 kg.

Does the Model 3 no longer have levers, just like the S and X?

Just like with the Model S and Model X, the levers on the steering column have disappeared. Switching between P, R, N and D is now automatic (moderate) or via a slider on the touchscreen, while windshield wipers, high beams and indicators are controlled with buttons on the steering wheel. That works quite well after some getting used to, except on a roundabout. With the steering wheel upside down it is virtually impossible to properly indicate direction, so that will cause some annoyance for fellow road users.

Is the car also quieter and more comfortable?

Fortunately, the driver of a new Model 3 is in a great mood, because the car is a lot quieter than before due to all kinds of interventions in the insulation, different tires, an extra look at the streamline and the new interior. On the somewhat coarse asphalt around Oslo, this is difficult to determine in terms of rolling noises, but wind noise and ambient noise indeed remain more at a distance than before. This also applies to bumps in the road. The adjusted suspension and damping, together with a further reinforced body, ensure a car that now eliminates bumps, potholes and other inconveniences in a quiet and mature manner, while the Model 3 has usually thundered over them with some violence. The chassis is actually softer and therefore more comfortable, which is somewhat at the expense of the ‘kart feeling’. The car leans a little more and feels a little less sharp, but the direct steering and great stability still ensure that you can go around a corner quite quickly.

How far does the updated Model 3 go?

We drive the cheapest version, the unnamed rear-wheel drive. Just like the Long Range, it has the same electric motor and battery pack as before, but is even more efficient than before. This is due to the improved aerodynamics and the tires. The top speed is lower due to the more economical rubber (201 instead of 225), but depending on the wheel choice you can also travel 513 to 554 kilometers on one battery charge. Of course, it is also fast, although for the real Tesla experience you need at least a Long Range. The Standard Range responds clearly less strongly to pressing the right pedal, but still leaves most other cars behind. Both versions are €1,000 more expensive than before. However, you will certainly feel the money lost due to all the improvements and even with a starting price of €43,993, the Model 3 remains a player that you simply cannot ignore. Come on, competition!