In the autumn of 2023, the Tesla Model 3, not an insignificant player in our country, received a major facelift. Not only the nose changed, the butt and the interior were also carefully examined. Tesla did not tinker with the powertrains, but the car did become slightly more streamlined. But how far does it get in practice?
To be precise, the Cd value was reduced from 0.225 to 0.219. A marginal difference, but sometimes even the smallest bits help. What has not changed is the battery capacity, which is 57.5 kWh net for the standard RWD version and up to 75 kWh for the Long Range and Performance. The corresponding range is quite impressive: up to 513 km for the RWD and 629 km for the four-wheel drive Long Range.
Range Tesla Model 3 Highland RWD
The updated Tesla Model 3 has only been on the market since September 2023, yet many drivers have already recorded their experiences, most of whom opted for the cheaper RWD version. To start with the bad news: no one has yet achieved the specified driving range of 513 kilometers. We deliberately say ‘not yet’, because the more favorable summer in terms of consumption is yet to come.
The values we have been able to collect so far show an average range of 403 kilometers, with a corresponding consumption of 14.25 kWh per 100 kilometers. One kWh more than Tesla itself states as WLTP consumption. There is a catch: most WLTP averages you encounter include charging loss, usually around 15 percent. In short, to achieve the specified 513 kilometers you must reduce consumption to 11.2 kWh per 100 kilometers. That actually seems to be in the cards, because a Belgian driver writes during his first findings: “I have a positive experience of the car’s economy, currently an average consumption of 12 kWh/100 km over 1,500 km.”
We were also satisfied with the consumption of 14.7 kWh/100 km and a range of 391 kilometers in an AutoWeek double test, in which the Model 3 competed against the Volkswagen ID7. “In wet, cold weather, the Tesla Model 3 still produces less than 15 kWh per 100 km and that is a really good value,” was the conclusion.
The Model 3 Highland Long Range comes this far
We have considerably less data available for the Long Range, but we can give an indication of the expected range. Four drivers together achieve an average of 478 kilometers and a consumption of 15.7 kWh/100 km. The winter does not work in favor of this Tesla, but the drivers also contribute a lot. “Consumption over the last 12,244 kilometers is 18.3 kWh/100 km,” writes the user, who can drive an average of 410 kilometers. “About 6,500 km of this was covered on winter tyres, mainly on the highway. And I must say that I have not fine-tuned my driving behavior to drive as economically as possible.”
A winter holiday also does not benefit the expected driving range, another driver shows. “Consumption for the holidays was 16.3 kWh/100 km in winter. After the holidays, the total consumption is 17.7 kWh/km, with large stretches covered at 130 to 150 km/h, heavily loaded and on winter tires.” Seen in that light, we still think a range of 423 kilometers is very decent. A third rider shows that things can be done differently. “With an average speed of around 108 to 110 km/h on autopilot, I achieve an average consumption of 12-13 kWh per 100 kilometers, with an outside temperature of around 10 degrees. This is really super economical!” The promised range of a Model 3 Long Range also comes very close.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl