The Model 3 is the plucky little brother of Tesla’s Model S sedan, and punches well above its weight in the competitive mid-size sedan market
Tesla’s Model 3 is smaller, simpler and more affordable for those in the market for an electric car. Designed and built as the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, it provides the most efficient bang for one’s buck in the Tesla line-up.
The Model 3 is a well-packaged combination of performance, safety and technology, and Tesla’s R&D engineers deserve a pat on the back for the intelligent design which maximises interior space to comfortably fit five adults and all of their gear.
Tesla started with all its expertise and learnings from developing and improving the Model S over the years and cut it down to size to make a more affordable mid-size electric car. It doesn’t feel as though anything has been lost in the process, as performance, ride quality and comfort levels are superb and certainly meet and exceed expectations from what one would expect of a car competing against the likes of the BMW 3 and 4 series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4 and A5.
And Tesla is wiping the floor with these competitors. Demand has long outstripped supply of the Model 3 (which Tesla has been criticised for by investors and analysts – but show me any other manufacturer that has this good problem to have and that has experienced the kind of sales growth that Tesla has). Even though it’s still relatively early days for the Tesla Model 3, initial sales figures for the model are way ahead of competitors as well.
The driving experience
There are plenty of great reasons why the Tesla Model 3 is in such high demand. Those who have driven a Model S will be familiar with the exceptional build quality of Tesla sedans, and the Model 3 follows suit. Behind the wheel it initially feels like a go-kart version of the model S, with a lower driver position looking over a neatly curved bonnet, combined with a more compact interior and dash arrangement (just one big 15-inch screen in the centre).
“While it doesn’t possess the same brain-straining acceleration of the Model S P100D (0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds), the Model 3 is still a mighty quick car”
The Model 3 comes with the option of dual motor all-wheel drive. Unlike traditional all-wheel drive systems, these two motors digitally control torque to the front and rear wheels. This provides for better handling and traction control and the dual motors respond to changing conditions in as little as 10 milliseconds. The car can drive on either motor, so in the highly unlikely event of one electric motor failing the other one will always be available.
The steep torque curve associated with all-electric cars is also readily accessible in the Model 3, which accelerates from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.4 seconds for the Performance version. While it doesn’t possess the same brain-straining acceleration of the Model S P100D (0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds), the Model 3 is still a mighty quick car and will max out at a top speed of 261 km/h. For a fairly discreet-looking, mid-size car (that weighs up to around 1.8 tonnes thanks mostly to its batteries) its performance statistics are certainly impressive.
Safety first
The Model 3 also ticks every box in the safety department, and Tesla says safety is the most important part of the overall Model 3 design. A unique combination of passive safety, active safety, and automated driving is crucial for keeping Tesla drivers and passengers – and all drivers on the road – safe, according to Tesla.
The metal structure is a combination of aluminum and steel, which provides for maximum strength throughout the whole car. In a roof-crush test, Model 3 resisted four times its own mass (that is the same weight as two full-grown African elephants) even with an expansive all-glass roof. Additionally, the Model 3’s lack of an engine up front is replaced by a large crumple zone that helps it absorb energy more effectively than a gas car would, dissipating force away from the passenger cabin. This crumple zone contributed to Model 3’s top rating in IIHS’ frontal crash protection tests.
The Model 3 has received top overall marks in multiple tests, like roof strength, head restraints and seat tests, and autonomous driver-assistance systems tests, much in part due to the advanced safety technology special in the car. In fact, the Model 3 stood out in Euro NCAP’s passive safety tests, scoring an impressive 94 per cent in the safety assist category for halting automatically for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as correcting inattentive driving.
Autopilot comes of age
One of the most remarkable features of the Model 3 is its autopilot feature. This technology has come a long way in recent years, and with the latest version 10.0 software version, the Model 3 makes the life of the driver a breeze.
Autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system (classified as a Level 2 automated system according to a standard endorsed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), which means it is intended for use only with a fully attentive driver who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time.
While Autopilot is designed to become more capable over time, in its current form, Tesla says it is not a self-driving system and does not turn the Model 3 into an autonomous vehicle. How does it work in practice? Superlatively well. As long the driver keeps their hands on the wheel, the Model 3 will reliably and safely drive the car with little to no input from the driver. It operates best on open roads such as motorways and can turn an otherwise long and boorish drive into a refreshingly relaxing experience.
All Teslas (built since October 2016) include eight external cameras that feed our Tesla-developed neural net, 12 ultrasonic sensors for detecting nearby obstacles, a forward-facing radar that senses through fog, dust, rain, snow, and under cars, and a powerful onboard computer that process these inputs in a matter of milliseconds. Tesla is years ahead of competitors in the autopilot space and deserves another pat on the back for its innovation in this department.
Technology galore
Advanced technology is a prominent feature and selling point of the Model 3. Apart from its active safety and autopilot features, the Model 3 is a technophile dream. Smartphones can be paired as the vehicle key via a secure Tesla app, which provides access to all driver controls in the central 15-inch touchscreen – including opening and closing your garage door via HomeLink, defrosting the vehicle’s cabin at the maximum temperature, and remotely controlling the car’s windows.
“It operates best on open roads such as motorways and can turn an otherwise long and boorish drive into a refreshingly relaxing experience”
The “smart summon” feature (available in cars with full self-driving capability or enhanced autopilot) for example, enables the car to navigate a parking lot and come to the driver as long as their car is within their line of sight. The Model 3 is essentially a valet service (which requires no tipping).
Another great feature is the Model 3’s dashcam and sentry modes, which activate the car’s cameras to record video clips to an internal USB drive when movement is detected in the car’s immediate vicinity. The car will also flash its lights and blinkers as a warning to people who come too close to it. The car is its own security guard too.
The latest software version (10.0) comes with an impressive range of other gaming, music and other features, including:
- Tesla Theater (which connects to your Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu or Hulu + Live TV accounts for viewing while the car is parked),
- Karaoke (or “car-aoke”, as Tesla calls it) which comes with a library of music and song lyrics for those who feel like singing on a journey,
- Music and podcasts, with Spotify premium account access in all supported markets (in addition to Slacker Radio and TuneIn)
- Tesla Arcade, which features a range of interactive games including “cuphead” (a popular run-and-gun action game which is playable using a USB controller in single-player and co-op modes)
Practical considerations
A critical component of the adoption of electric vehicles is to create a seamless and convenient charging experience wherever drivers choose to travel. Australia is not as advanced as the US or Europe in its charger network (yet) but it is fast gaining ground and Tesla drivers can quite safely travel between major cities between access to superchargers as well as a comprehensive destination charger network at hotels, restaurants, and resorts.
All-in-all, the Tesla Model 3 is not just an evolution of the modern car but gives drivers a sense of what an automotive revolution feels like. The base model of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 retails for $66,000 (up to $98,624 for the Performance model) – which certainly provides potential buyers with a lot of technological bang for their buck.
Images: supplied
