Life is hard on the high.
Notice: That is an up to date model of a assessment that first went reside in September 2024. There have been no adjustments to pricing or specs since publication.
We’ve up to date key particulars with essentially the most up-to-date data accessible. Learn the unique model of this assessment right here.
WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2024 Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD
Even six years on from its Australian debut, surrounded by a raft of newer rivals designed particularly to knock it off its perch, the Tesla Mannequin 3 units the usual for (moderately) inexpensive electrical automobiles.
Its largest competitors on the gross sales charts has come from its SUV stablemate, the Mannequin Y – though a raft of recent rivals from China are lastly making inroads.
How do you replace the perfect? Tesla has targeted on whittling away on the automobile’s tough edges to ship a extra refined all-rounder.
It says the brand new Mannequin 3 is quieter inside, extra comfy on tough roads, and possesses a extra luxurious inside thanks to some delicate tweaks. It additionally packs an extended vary… and a set of funky new indicator buttons on the steering wheel.
Issues haven’t gone to plan for Tesla with the brand new Mannequin 3 up to now. It was taken off sale regionally on account of a problem with a rear top-tether level for little one seats, though deliveries at the moment are again up and operating.
How profitable has the remainder of the replace been?
Because of Carma Carhire for the mortgage of the Mannequin 3
How does the Tesla Mannequin 3 evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Tesla Mannequin 3 towards equally sized automobiles.
Tesla
Mannequin 3
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin 3 price?
There are three variants accessible in Australia.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD | $54,900 |
| Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary AWD | $64,900 |
| Tesla Mannequin 3 Efficiency AWD | $80,900 |
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s the Tesla Mannequin 3 like on the within?
The adjustments to the Mannequin 3 inside are delicate, however they do make a distinction.
As earlier than, it’s an aggressively minimalist area. There’s no driver cluster, no typical buttons and, now, there aren’t any stalks behind the steering wheel. The indications are buttons on the steering wheel, and the drive selector is now a slider on the right-hand aspect of the touchscreen.
Sounds bizarre, and it’s bizarre at first. The indications shortly grow to be second nature, simply as they do on a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or any bike – however the drive selector is counterintuitive, even after a couple of days. Even a set of contact buttons on the display screen would have been preferable.
Whereas we’re speaking about adjustments, the brand new mottled gray sprint and door trims appear and feel hotter than the white or picket choices beforehand accessible, and the ambient lighting wrapping across the base of the dashboard is a pleasant contact.
With a brief sprint, ultra-low bonnet, and lack of devices in entrance of you, the view out the windscreen is in contrast to anything on the highway. Throw within the glass roof, and also you’ve obtained a cabin that’s uniquely gentle and ethereal.
Every little thing within the Mannequin 3 is managed by means of that large central touchscreen, together with the mirrors, steering wheel, and windscreen wiper pace. With no head-up show, the one pace show is within the high right-hand aspect of the display screen.
It takes some getting used to, however the pace readout itself is large enough to choose up simply at a look. A head-up show was excessive on our want listing for this replace; it’s a disgrace Tesla hasn’t delivered one.
In any other case the display screen, which has thinner bezels than earlier than, stays one of many slickest within the enterprise. It boots up quick, the graphics are clear and trendy, and the whole lot you employ incessantly may be put inside simple attain.
With no Apple CarPlay, you’re reliant on the sturdy suite of apps (Spotify, for instance, is baked in) for connectivity on the transfer. Tesla’s voice management isn’t a patch on Siri, and I’d favor to have my messages managed by means of the default Apple app… however the lack of smartphone mirroring isn’t a dealbreaker right here like it could be elsewhere.
The change to what Tesla calls camera-based parking is difficult to know. Within the previous Mannequin 3, inching as much as an impediment at parking speeds introduced up a intelligent show with a exact warning as to how shut you’re getting.
Within the new one, you get a muddy define of your environment with what feels extra like a prediction about how far you might be away. It’s a step backwards.
As earlier than, there’s extra to this automobile than expertise. The seats are supremely comfy up entrance, permitting our bodies of all sizes and shapes to get comfy, and the addition of wonderful ventilated seats to the toasty bum heaters is a win in the course of the Australian summer time.
As soon as the air vents are arrange proper they blow at you from angles unimaginable in different automobiles, too.
Nothing in our tester squeaked or rattled, and it wasn’t a press fleet prima donna. With new Mannequin 3 deliveries on maintain on the time, we had to make use of a rental company to get behind the wheel.
Rear seat area stays barely worse what you’d count on from a 3 Collection or C-Class. Legroom is common at finest, and the bench is about low so longer-legged passengers find yourself with their knees round their chin. Headroom isn’t nice.
ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and because of a current replace there’s now correct entry to all three rear-seat top-tether anchor factors.
There’s a fold-down armrest with cupholders between the seats, air vents, and USB-C cost ports on provide again there. There’s additionally a brand new display screen able to enjoying Netflix or YouTube content material.
It’s a neat addition, however we’d wager children will use their iPads on lengthy journeys as an alternative of a small show that performs audio by means of the automobile audio system.
Claimed boot area is 594 litres together with a deep cubby beneath the ground, and an 88-litre entrance boot (or ‘frunk’ in Tesla parlance) up entrance.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s underneath the bonnet?
On take a look at right here is the entry-level Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD.
| Mannequin | Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 57.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (per EVDatabase) |
| Energy | 208kW (per ADR filings) |
| Torque | Not provided |
| Pushed Wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1765kg (tare) |
| Vitality effectivity (as examined) | 12.8kWh/100km (blended driving) |
| Claimed vary | 513km |
| Max DC cost charge | 170kW |
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the Tesla Mannequin 3 drive?
The final Mannequin 3 was a enjoyable automobile to drive within the metropolis, however it was additionally a bit busy.
The brand new one is extra grown up. For starters, it does a greater job smoothing out tough metropolis roads.
The place the previous automobile felt sporty and sharp over small bumps and potholes, the 2024 replace does a greater job smoothing over them and isolating occupants. It’s a extra relaxed automobile than earlier than, and is extra intently aligned with the way you’d count on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3 Collection to really feel.
It’s not a wannabe German government specific although. With direct steering that hardly ever requires you take away your arms from the wheel and on the spot response from the electrical motors, it’s a enjoyable automobile to level and shoot across the metropolis.
The addition of a blind-spot warning gentle within the speaker grilles on the B-pillars is a win on the town, whereas the decision on the blind-spot cameras is a lot better than was beforehand the case.
Regardless that that is the ‘gradual’ Mannequin 3, with rear-wheel drive and modest outputs alongside the Lengthy Vary, you’ll win most site visitors gentle drag races if you happen to’re that method inclined. There’s no want to fret about Launch Management, or being in the best drive mode right here. You simply plant the accelerator and it goes.
Tesla tuning is the perfect within the sport, with a throttle tune that makes it simple to get precisely the correct quantity of efficiency whenever you put your foot down, and regenerative braking that makes one-pedal driving a breeze.
You hardly ever want to the touch the brake pedal, and there’s not one of the lurching awkwardness you get in some rivals in cease/begin site visitors. Tesla has been doing this a very long time, and it reveals.
The adjustments made to the suspension, tyres, and soundproofing actually present at increased speeds.
Within the final Mannequin 3, you wanted to crank up the radio quantity a couple of notches to drown out the roar from coarse chip Australian highways. It’s not a Rolls-Royce, however it’s noticeably quieter than earlier than at 100km/h, whereas the up to date suspension makes it a extra enjoyable place to spend time.
Within the strategy of filming the Mannequin 3, we did uncover that it’s a bit missing if you happen to’re a extremely eager driver. That’s not right down to any elementary flaws, and is moderately a product of the low rolling resistance tyres fitted as normal.
They’re excellent for squeezing each drop of vary from the lithium iron phosphate battery pack, however aren’t designed for drivers who’re eager to squeeze each tenth out of their weekend runs by means of the hills. Will most homeowners care? In all probability not.
They’ll care concerning the Autopilot freeway driving assistant system.
Urgent the button on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel as soon as prompts adaptive cruise management, which maintains a niche to the automobile in entrance. Urgent it twice activates lively lane centring, which is able to take management of the steering to comply with the white traces on the highway.
As we’ve stated earlier than, the Autopilot identify is deceptive. For one, you want your arms on the wheel always… and there’s nothing within the base Mannequin 3 that different automobiles gained’t do in 2024.
The adaptive cruise management system is easy and good, though it nonetheless is liable to braking for automobiles in adjoining lanes, and the lane-centring system is akin to what’s on provide within the newest Kia and Hyundai vary.
Ticking the $5500 field for Enhanced Autopilot provides auto lane adjustments and the flexibility for the automobile to exit the freeway with the system lively – the previous is feasible in Mercedes-Benz automobiles amongst others, the latter is a Tesla particular.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
On take a look at right here is the entry-level Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD.
Mannequin 3 RWD highlights:
- 18-inch ‘Photon’ alloy wheels
- LED headlights with built-in fog lights
- Acoustic glass
- 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Black inside
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Ambient lighting
- 8.0-inch rear touchscreen with local weather, leisure controls
- 9-speaker sound system
- Twin 65W wi-fi cellphone chargers
- Panoramic glass roof
- App connectivity
- Canine Mode (maintains cabin temperature)
- Camp Mode (maintains cabin temperature, retains leisure system on in a single day)
- Sentry Mode (screens automobile, notifies you of potential threats)
The next options are non-obligatory on each variants:
- 19-inch ‘Nova’ alloy wheels: $1800
- Black and white inside: $1500
- Enhanced Autopilot: $5100
- Navigate on Autopilot
- Auto Lane Change
- Autopark
- Summon
- Good Summon
- Full Self-Driving Functionality: $10,100
- All Enhanced Autopilot performance
- Site visitors Mild and Cease Signal Management
- Autosteer on metropolis streets (upcoming)
A Premium Connectivity subscription is complimentary for 30 days, and provides:
- Stay site visitors data
- Satellite tv for pc maps
- Video and music streaming
- Caraoke
- Web shopping
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the Tesla Mannequin 3 protected?
The newest Mannequin 3 doesn’t have an ANCAP security score.
The pre-update mannequin had a five-star score. It scored 96 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 74 per cent for weak highway consumer safety, and 94 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security gear contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Reversing digital camera
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin 3 price to run?
Tesla backs the Mannequin 3 with a four-year, 80,000km guarantee, with a separate eight-year, 160,000km guarantee for the battery and drive unit (eight years or 192,000km for the Lengthy Vary).
Given it has only a few transferring components, there isn’t a lot upkeep required on the Mannequin 3. Tesla recommends having the air-conditioning filters modified each two years and checking the tyre tread, steadiness, and rotation each 20,000km.
Because of regenerative braking, the brake pads and discs require work much less incessantly than in internal-combustion automobiles. Nonetheless the Mannequin 3 might want to have brake fluid checked each two years, and the pads and discs lubricated each 12 months in colder climates.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Tesla Mannequin 3
The Mannequin 3 continues to be a category chief, though the hole has closed since its debut.
The enhancements Tesla has made to the suspension have delivered a smoother experience, and the up to date Mannequin 3 is meaningfully quieter than the automobile it replaces.
It stays fearsomely environment friendly, particularly alongside rivals from inside combustion carmakers within the strategy of shifting to electrical energy.
The refreshed cabin doesn’t really feel all that completely different – which isn’t a foul factor, when you’re dialled into its aggressively minimalist structure. The brand new supplies haven’t basically modified the cabin relative to the previous automobile, however the ventilated seats are a welcome addition… and people indicators are simple sufficient to make use of when you’re dialled in.
Extra competitors is coming for the Mannequin 3, and its management within the electrical automobile world isn’t assured. This replace offers it some further respiration room on the high of the pile although.
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