Model 3 is a four-door all-electric sedan from the electric car manufacturing company Tesla. This vehicle was first launched in 2017 and received an overhaul in late 2023.

This model was the first electric vehicle to surpass 1 million global sales in 2021 and is often considered a pioneer in bringing plug-in electric cars into the mainstream car industry. This mid-sized sedan is known as a family car and can seat up to 5 people comfortably.

While the model is already established in the global car market, here is everything to know about Model 3 from overview to key features setting it apart from other cars in its category.

Overview

Tesla Model 3 changed the electric vehicle market when it was first launched in 2017. This plug-in electric sedan was affordable for average US car buyers making it one of the most sought-after EVs. Since its launch, the car has only progressed by shattering record after record due to its popularity.

This model in particular has seen a lot of advancement in terms of design and technology in the past seven years of production.

Recently, Tesla announced an exterior and interior overhaul of this model to make it more aerodynamic in the exterior to increase range by up to 10% and make the interior more comfortable and simple.

Features And Specifications

All Tesla vehicles come loaded with features, perhaps, they are among the most technologically advanced production vehicles in the market. Model 3 is no exception with lucrative technologies working together to make driving safe and enjoyable.

Some of the features of Model 3 that are not available in comparable vehicles include active sentry mode, dog mode for your furry friends, 360-degree live camera, and many others.

Below are some basic specifications for Tesla Model 3:

  • Weight: 3,891 lbs (1765 Kg)
  • Cargo Capacity: 24 Cubic Feet (680 liters)
  • Wheels: 18 - 19 inches
  • Seating: 5 Adults
  • Display: 15.4-inch front, 8-inch rear
  • Ground Clearance: 5.4 inches (137.16 mm)
  • Overall Width: 82.2 inches
  • Overall Height: 56.7 inches
  • Overall Length: 185.8 inches
  • Tire Tracks: 62.4 inches
  • Charging Capacity: 170 kW

What's New for 2024?

Project Highlander, the internal name given to Model 3 by Tesla, saw big updates in late 2023 which started rolling out in late 2023 in China and early 2024 in North America. The overhaul includes both cosmetic and performance enhancements.

As part of the overhaul, Model 3 now has a sleeker front end, a quieter cabin, and updated standard features. While the changes on the outside seem not so prominent visually, the impact on the performance is drastic. Tesla claims the new sleeker and more aerodynamic nose and better rear diffuser adds up to 10% range to the vehicle.

Model 3 also received several updates on the interior. Tesla claims the interior materials were upgraded to add more soundproofing to the vehicle and new acoustic glasses are used to keep the road noises outside. Moreover, the steering column lost the stalks as everything now is controlled via the big touchscreen.

However, the upgrade does not end there. The new Tesla Model 3 comes equipped with an 8-inch touch screen for rear passengers as well. The audio system comes equipped with 17 speakers now. The new HW4 camera and processing technology help improve the autopilot performance and Tesla's vision.

Pricing And Which One To Buy

Tesla Model 3 starts at around $40,630 and goes all the way up to $55,000. However, every Model 3 can be customized by the buyer and prices vary to a great extent, also add-ons like enhanced autopilot or full self-driving capabilities cost extra.

Although the variables are many when it comes to the pricing of a Tesla Model 3, the general rule of thumb is $40,630 for the base model and around $50,000 for the all-wheel drive long-range model on Tesla's official website. That price also differs based on the delivery location as well.

Moreover, if you wish to have enhanced autopilot helping you drive the car then you will have to buy that feature for $6000 extra and if you wish to get the most capable version called Full Self-Driving add-on, it will burn a $12,000 hole on your pocket.

EV Motor, Power, And Performance

As an electric car, the most important thing to look for is the motor used in the vehicle as this will be the power source for your vehicle. Furthermore, the power output of the vehicle and its performance are also worth noting but Model 3 is a fairly confident vehicle of its class.

EV Motor

Model 3 comes with a single motor and dual motor configuration, the standard range comes with only one motor driving the rear wheels while the long-range comes with two motors driving all four wheels.

The dual motor version generates around 365kWH power (or 490.814 BHP) and has a 493 Nm torque output making it a powerful machine.

Power

This model is equipped with 60 to 82 kWh 350 V lithium-ion batteries giving the car over 272 miles of range on the standard model and over 341 miles of range in the long-range model.

Performance

Tesla is known for its peak performance within its class of vehicles. The Model 3 despite being known as a beginner EV can reach 0-60 Mph in just 4.2 seconds (dual motor version) and 5.8 seconds (standard version).

Similarly, the base model or the standard version has a top speed of 140 miles per hour and the long-range model with its two motors can climb up to speeds of 145 miles per hour.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

As discussed earlier in this article, the Tesla Model 3 comes in two variants with different power capabilities and different ranges. The charging time and batter life are also different in both versions.

Range

The Tesla Model 3 standard version has an EPA estimated range of 272 miles with a full charge, which is 437.74 kilometers. Similarly, the long-range version of this sedan has 341 miles of EPA estimated range, which is 548 kilometers in one full charge.

Charging

Model 3 can be charged in quite a few ways. The most common mode of charging for owners is at their home using a wall-mounted 240v charger which fills the battery at the rate of up to 44 miles or range per 1 hour of charge.

However, Tesla Superchargers or mobile connectors can also be used to charge the vehicles on the go. Supercharges can charge your Model 3 up to 80% in under 20 minutes while mobile connectors take 3 to 4 days to charge up your car.

Battery Life

All Tesla batteries and drive units come with an extended warranty covering up to 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever is first. However, some consumers have reported dropping a few miles worth of range in the first few thousand miles.

Interior, Comfort, And Cargo

Tesla is known for its simplistic, clean, and functional interiors. Moreover, the technologies used in Model 3 are not just for better performance or safety, but also for the comfort of the passengers and driver inside. With two boot spaces, one at the front and another at the back, storing cargo has never been an issue for Model 3.

The revamped interior gets new materials which are claimed to be of superior quality than those previously used. Moreover, the steering column has been cleared getting rid of the gear selector stalk and indicator stalk, now both can be done from the big touch screen.

The vehicle is equipped with heated and ventilated seatings at the front, making the seating arrangement as comfortable as it gets. Moreover, the two cargo holds (trunk if you prefer) make storage easy providing up to 24 cubic feet of storage, that's about 679 liters.

Infotainment And Connectivity

The big 15.4-inch center-mounted screen is the hub for both information and entertainment in Model 3. However, the lack of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay may feel like less connectivity with the car but the Model 3 has its offers.

The touchscreen has all the necessary controls of the car from turning on the wipers to selecting the gear (well it is automatic). This screen also displays your maps, and information about the route and required charging stations when on a road trip. Furthermore, you can also play games on this screen while waiting for your battery to charge.

However, to address the elephant in the room, Model 3 does not support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay which can be hard for people habituated to using these applications. Tesla has its version of connectivity which can use Wifi and play songs and videos from your phone via Bluetooth. So, you don't need to worry about connectivity issues.

Safety And Driver-Assistance Features

Tesla vehicles are known for their exceptional safety features and ratings. Model 3 being one of those vehicles excels at safety features and rating making it one of the safest cars in its category.

The safety of this car is rated 5 out of 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), among others.

Moreover, the advanced Driver-Assistance features such as autopilot, enhanced autopilot, and full self-driving technology (the latter two are optional) enable Model 3 to drive mostly autonomously with minimal input from the driver. However, its worth noting these are just assistive features and are not meant to be used as substitution for actual driving.

Warranty And Maintenance Coverage

Tesla has the longest warranty coverage among electric vehicles covering 50,000 miles or four years, which ever comes first. The drive train and batteries are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles for the standard variant and 8 years and 120,000 miles for long-range varients, which ever comes first.

However, the Tesla vehicle warranty does not cover the corrosion or bodywork warranty. Furthermore, the after-sales or maintenance does not include any complimentary servicing leaving room for improvement in the maintenance coverage front.

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