I admit that I really wanted to test this car, the Tesla Model 3; and also, to do it in its simplest and most affordable version. This electric car has a starting price of 41.490 euros, but with the brand's discounts and if we can benefit from all state aid you can stay at 26.990 euros.
That said, let's analyze the cheapest car from tesla. It is the version with a โsmallโ battery, with 60 kWh capacity, which approves 513 kilometers in this Tesla Model3. It develops 283 HP. Will it be enough to cover the main needs? Is it a good electric car? Is it a good car overall? Let's find out.
A design that is too conservative, but not displeasing
This 3 Tesla Model 2024, also known as Highland, it is not a new generation, but a deep update of the model launched in 2017. That is to say, it is a notable evolution with changes that go beyond aesthetics, but the basis remains the same.
At a design level, they have mainly changed the headlights and bumpers, which improves aerodynamics and has allowed them to extend the range, in addition to visually rejuvenating it and making us believe that it is a totally new car. The rear lights also change.
If I tell you my opinion, I think it has a pretty design. ahmed, offering just 5 body colors and a couple of wheel styles. Of course, as it has such a low-risk aesthetic, it is an image that you will not fall in love with but that it is easy to fit into the market.
By the way, this test unit does not cost โฌ41.490 because it has 3 or 4 extras. One is the metallic blue paint which costs โฌ1.300 and another is the 19โ wheels which cost โฌ1.600. And another thing I didn't want to forget: this car It doesn't seem like it's very big, but it's 4,72 meters long., like a Mercedes GLC more or less, to give you the idea.
This is the interior of the Tesla Model 3 2024
Inside there are notable improvements compared to the old versions but... there are two or three things that in my opinion are unforgivable.
Starting from the side positive, we have a correct feeling of quality, a section in which Tesla has made a good leap because previously it left a lot to be desired. It's not that it reaches the quality of an Audi A4 or a BMW 3 Series, but it's not bad.
Now we have much nicer materials on the dashboard, on the doors and on most upholstery. They have also left aside the glossy black plastic, which is always appreciated.
Furthermore, it has a good number of hollow to leave objects in the center console area and they have a lid, which is good for us to hide them. Also with a wireless charging tray for the mobile phone and spaces in the doors to leave more objects, which are lined to prevent, for example, if we leave some keys they make noises.
What for me are three big mistakes
And hold on because we move on to the negative side. For me, the worst thing about this car is that we don't have a turn signal lever. I think it's inexcusable and I don't understand it at all. It is true that Tesla is a brand that wants to attract attention by doing strange things, but I think that with this one they have gotten out of hand.
We have to turn on the turn signal with the buttons on the steering wheel. It is impossible to put them in a natural way when the steering wheel is turned, and I say this after having done almost 2.000 kilometers with it this week. To this we must add that the most normal thing is that, after using it so much, if the client uses it, the button ends up wearing out sooner rather than later, although the latter is the least of it.
The second major flaw is that we don't have an instrument panel, but to see the speed you have to look at the upper left corner of the screen. This implies that we must take your eyes off the road too much and we don't have it at a glance. Furthermore, if you are a very short person your driving position is probably very forward and with the steering wheel very far out, so your right hand could cover precisely that area of โโthe screen.
There is also no traditional gear selector., but we have to tap on the left side of the screen and order with a gesture if we want to go in one direction or another. I think a roulette or similar would be more practical and faster.
The multimedia equipment, one of its great virtues
Releasing tensions and changing the subject, where the Tesla Model 3 has practically no rival is in the entire multimedia system section. The entire car is controlled and configured with the 15,4-inch monitor. Unfortunately, also the air conditioning, something that is neither practical nor comfortable and therefore I rate it as a negative point. Nor is it positive that not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You already know that Tesla goes a little on the ball with him in certain things...
But leaving that aside, the truth is that the touch of the screen itself and the speed, fluidity and organization of menus of this entire nerve center of the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best things on the market right now. To this we must add the navigation system with route calculations and stop estimates based on the remaining battery.
Otherwise, it is a car large enough in width and height for adults of normal size. Since we have the sunroof, the feeling of space is even larger, although in the hot summer it is not the most pleasant.
The driving position is comfortable, although we noticed that the floor is somewhat higher than normal due to the position of the legs. The seats do not provide much lateral support but are comfortable And as far as options are concerned, for 1.050 euros we can have the interior go white. For cleanliness and wear, I recommend the black one.
Good rear seats, and with standard entertainment
Access to the rear seats is slightly uncomfortable for elderly or less agile people due to the shape of the roof, but nothing out of this world. Once seated we have a good knee and head room, which is always positive.
We have less space for our feet, because since the batteries are on the floor there is no space to put them under the front seat and, furthermore, Our knees are a little high.
It must also be considered that the absence of an electric curtain For the huge rear glass it has the advantage of giving us more habitability, but feeling the sun beating down strongly in summer is not the most pleasant thing either.
@actualidadmotor โ I invite you to watch a movie โ To your house? โ No, to the rear seats of my car โ โฆ This is how peculiar the rear seats of the Tesla Model 3 2024 are #cars #cars #tesla #teslamodel3
Aside from that, and focusing on added elements, we can highlight the 8 inch for this second row that is standard, with which trips and recharging times can be made more enjoyable thanks to platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, Netflix or built-in video games. You can also control the climate control, the audio equipment and even slide the passenger seat when it is unoccupied.
These are its two trunks
El main trunk has a maximum capacity of 425 liters. The shapes are practical and usable for suitcases, also having a large double bottom, but since it is a three-volume sedan and does not have a complete tailgate, we will not be able to load very large things since the tray is fixed. It also has a step that will make loading certain objects a little uncomfortable. It wouldn't hurt to have some rings or hooks to hold cargo.
It is notable that this Model 3 has a second trunk located in the front. As usual, it is not that big, but its 88 liters They can come in handy to store, for example, charging cables or a fairly large backpack without going any further.
The three mechanical options of the Tesla Model 3
And now, after all the previous review, we are going to drive this Tesla Model 3 Highland. The first thing to comment is that it is available with three different mechanical options.
Version | Motor | Power | Autonomy | Battery |
---|---|---|---|---|
Version | Motor | Power | Autonomy | Battery |
RWD | rear engine | 283 CV | 513 km autonomy | 60 kWh capacity |
Great autonomy | Dual Engine (4ร4) | 498 CV | 629 km autonomy | 75 kWh capacity |
Economical performance | Dual Engine (4ร4) | 627 CV | 528 km autonomy | 75 kWh capacity |
At the wheel of the RWD (Rear-wheel drive with 283 HP)
As we said at the beginning, in our case we are testing the cheapest of all Teslas, the Model 3 in RWD version, that is, the one with a single motor, less power and less autonomy. Be careful, what is the cheapest, but probably the most advisable of the three variants available.
The price of 41.490 euros makes it very tempting and I think that, Unless you make a good number of long trips each year, it is not worth paying the extra 10.000 euros that they ask of us for the โGreat Autonomyโ. Yes, it also has all-wheel drive and almost double the power, but with this access we are not going barefoot and 10.000 euros, at least for me, are not a small thing.
Leaving that aside, I recognize that The Model 3 has surprised me a lot when driving. And I say this as something very positive and in practically all aspects of the dynamic. The suspension has a configuration that is difficult to improve because it holds the almost 2.000 kilos of weight well when we drive aggressively but then is soft on potholes, bumps, cobblestones or manhole covers. It also does not transmit many noises or sharp knocks when going over very sharp bumps.
It is true that the steer axle truck It doesn't communicate any information to our hands and we don't really know what the front wheels are doing, but this is very common in new cars. In its favor I can say that it is quite fast and sufficiently precise. Since I'm talking about direction, I must remember about the turn signals on the steering wheel. On a roundabout it is impossible to activate it without releasing one hand from the steering wheel. if it is very closed.
It is also important to mention the improvement in the insulation section acoustic, both aerodynamic and rolling, even at high speeds. Before it was quite scarce and now it is the best general electric car in this section, at least among those I have tested.
And if we talk about performance, with 283 HP you can imagine that we are not going barefoot at all. Based on the data, we can do the 0 to 100 in 6,1 seconds and reach 200 km/h. Furthermore, with more than decent recoveries. Personally, I haven't missed more power. I admit that I would like to try a Performance, but honestly if I had to pay for it myself, I think I would stay with this version.
Something that I have remembered is be able to manage retention, energy recovery. Not only do we not have paddles on the steering wheel to play with them, but we also cannot modify it from the screen. It is always the same and, for example, on the highway I would like it to be a little looser than going down a mountain pass. Definitely, it would be nice to be able to control it.
Consumption and autonomy
As far as energy consumption and electrical autonomy are concerned, it turns out that it is one of the most efficient mid-size electric cars, if not the most. On the highway at 120 and driving normally we will be normally between 16 and 17 kWh per 100 kilometers.
This, together with its 60 kWh battery, will allow us to make runs of more than 320 kilometers on a charge and leaving a certain margin of โreserveโ, although it always depends on the pace, weather conditions and slopes.
Conclusions
It's not that I'm one of those people who defends electric cars to the death. Neither do thermal ones. But I admit that the Tesla Model 3 has surprised me very positively. Both in efficiency, as well as in rolling quality and dynamic balance.
Yes, It has those three huge and unforgivable flaws of the turn signals, the gear selector on the screen and the absence of an instrument panel as such or, at least, a head-up display. Really, there's nowhere to get it. I don't know what they're thinking about when they do things like that, like when they do a half-assed steering wheel or when they call something that's not an autopilot autopilot...
Except for that, yes, I think it's a good car overall and, honestly, I think it's the best mid-size electric car I've ever driven.. In any case, if you don't have a charging point at home I don't recommend it as I wouldn't recommend any other electric.
Tesla Model 3 Prices 2024
And focusing on prices, the Tesla Model 3, as we have already said before, is part of the 41.490 euros in RWD version of official rate. Honestly, there is no other electric car that comes close if we weigh size, performance, efficiency and, of course, price.
The extended autonomy option is 10.000 euros more and the Performance another 6.000 more, that is, 57.490 euros rounded up.
Editor's opinion
- Editor's rating
- 4 star rating
- Excellent
- Tesla Model 3
- Review of: Diego Avila
- Posted on:
- Last modification:
- Exterior design
- interior design
- front seats
- rear seats
- Trunk
- Spring Suspension
- Consumption
- Comfort
- Price
Pros
- Efficiency
- price-output ratio
- dynamic behavior
Cons
- Without turn signal and windshield wiper controls
- Absence of instrument panel
- Everything is controlled by the screen
Tesla Model 3 Highland Gallery
Images | Current Motor News