Summary
- The Tesla Model 3 is finally getting a much-needed facelift after seven years, with a new exterior design and improved interior aesthetics, comfort, and technology.
- The interior changes are the focus of the renovation, with a sleeker dashboard, customizable ambient lighting, and a quieter driving experience. The touchscreen size has increased, and rear passengers now have access to climate controls and entertainment options.
- The new Model 3 has a revamped exterior design, with a more imposing fascia and improved aerodynamics. The wheels contribute to better airflow and increased range, and the rear features revised lights, a new bumper, and relocated reflectors. The exact range for the U.S. market is unclear, but it is expected to be more efficient than the previous model.
The renovated Model 3 is here at last! After seven long years, the flagship sedan is finally getting the facelift it definitely needed for so long. Sure, the Tesla Model 3 has managed to assert itself as one of the best-selling EVs of all-time, and is only topped by the Model Y, which is itself a global success.
Nonetheless, this lack of attention from Tesla towards its cheapest, introductory EV threatened to give a sizable advantage to the wave of rising competitors. New models like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 have recently started exceeding the Model 3 in terms of elegance and interior comfort. The Texas-based manufacturer now seems intent on ending such bold moves with the revamped Model 3, formerly codenamed Project Highland. The reinvigorated sedan will come back in 2024 with a new aura. The exterior design has now been rejuvenated, while the interior was taken to a different level in terms of esthetics, comfort, and technology.
Tesla reportedly changed 50-percent of the parts of the vehicle in the process. Although the manufacturer has not shared any details yet regarding when this new version will come to the United States, it is likely to make its U.S. debut before the end of 2023, while deliveries might kick off in Q1 of 2024.
Finally, A High-End Looking Cabin
It seems like Tesla was more focused on the interior changes than anything else, which makes sense, considering the cabin definitely needed a more premium appeal. The dashboard is now noticeably sleeker, and blends rather nicely with the rest of the cockpit. The new design gives off hints of the luxurious sedans of old, and is a welcome departure from the minimalist bore-fest that has become prevalent in some EVs. The area around the dashboard and door panels are now animated with a new, customizable ambient lighting system. We were wondering why Tesla hadn’t implemented such features, but we’re surely glad they caught up. This new layer of sophistication is being matched by a quieter driving experience on the refreshed model, courtesy of 360 acoustic glass.
The steering column is now less crowded, the stalks have notably been deleted, and the gear selector has now been moved to the center touchscreen. The turn signals have been moved to the left side of the steering wheel. The latter has been fine-tuned as well, and now looks sportier and more modern. The flagship tablet is also here to stay, with slightly bigger proportions this time.
The new Model 3 Highland now features a 15.4-inch touchscreen, compared to the 15-inch touchscreen of old. However, there still isn’t any gauge cluster to speak of, which forces you to take your eyes off the road and stare at the central screen to get your basic information. However, there is a new rear 8-inch touchscreen, providing rear passengers access to climate controls and entertainment functions. The sound system has also been upgraded to 17 speakers, while the outgoing model only offered 14 in comparison. The other upgrades also include:
- Ventilated front seats, which can be controlled through the Tesla app
- Softer rear-seats
- Optimized Bluetooth microphone performance
- Improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
A Revamped Look And A New Attitude
The exterior design is noticeably different, and deviates from the soap-bar look of old. Instead, the new Model 3 harbors a more imposing fascia. Gone is the bump on the front bumper, in favor of a more defined face, with an improved aerodynamic appearance. The new headlights are squintier, giving the refreshed sedan a more serious demeanor. The fog-lights have also been removed, giving way to a simpler We’ve previously heard rumors of Matrix LED technology on the new headlights, but the company has yet to confirm that.The new car also includes elongated cutouts for side Autopilot cameras.
2024 Tesla Model 3 Dimensions
Length | 185.8 inches |
Height | 56.7 inches |
Width | 76.1 inches |
Ground-clearance | 5.4 inches |
The base model now offers 18-inch Photon wheels. The latter helps with air-flow restriction, which in turn minimizes drag. As a result, the revamped EV now boasts a Cd of .219, which is unparalleled in the Tesla panoply. As a frame of reference, the departing Model 3 has a Cd of .225. This improvement on its own translates into a range increase of 5-8 percent. 19-inch Nova wheels are also available as a substitute, for an extra fee. The rear cargo space has also been improved to 21 cubic feet (594 liters), up from the previous model's 19.8 cubic-feet (561 liters).
The rear was subjected to minimal changes, but they remain noticeable nonetheless. There are newly revised C-shaped lights. A block-letter Tesla inscription also replaces the customary T logo. A new bumper has also been introduced, along with relocated light reflectors.
Up To 370 Miles Of Range In The U.S.?
The range of the new Model 3 is subject to ambiguity. The official website shows a range of 629 kilometers (390 miles) on the Long Range, all-wheel drive model, and 513 kilometers (318 miles) for the rear-wheel drive variant. However, these specs fall under the WLTP ratings, which means they’re higher than U.S. EPA numbers. In any case, this new model should likely be more efficient than the current one by all metrics. We can possibly speculate over 350 miles on a full charge for the Long Range version, by American standards. Regardless of these speculations, we can reasonably expect the Model 3 to retain its place as one of the most efficient offerings on the market. Amidst all of this, we can notably notice the absence of the Performance variant from the new line-up. Remains to be seen if the latter will be added at a later stage.
Twitter (X) account Teslascope, revealed in a series of posts that the upgraded Model 3 will benefit from Hardware 4 and a new Autopilot computer. These changes will apparently be complemented with upgraded cameras and a new bumper camera. Tesla is also reportedly planning on removing the temperature sensors on the Model 3. The updated version is expected to indicate the exterior temperature based on the GPS locating using weather data, meaning the results might be less accurate if you’re in a garage or a parking lot. Again, the company has yet to confirm or deny such reports, but most of the rumors have turned out to be pretty accurate regarding this model, so far.
2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance Specs (Current Model)
Model 3 Standard | Model 3 Long Range | Model 3 Performance | |
Powertrain | Rear-Electric Motor | Dual-Motor Setup | Dual-Motor Setup |
Maximum Power | 271 horsepower | 435 horsepower | 455 horsepower |
Maximum Torque | 310 pound-feet of torque | 363 pound-feet of torque | 487 pound-feet of torque |
Acceleration (0-60mph) | 5.8 seconds | 4.2 seconds | 3.1 seconds |
Electric Range | 272 Miles | 333 Miles | 315 Miles |