The Tesla Model 3 was already launched in 2017 and has since been one of the world’s most popular electric cars.
After over seven years on the market, the car has now received its first real facelift.
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Evolution over revolution
To the untrained eye, it may actually be difficult to see that it is a new version of the Model 3, as the visual updates are quite mild.
The most noticeable thing is that both the front and rear lights have received a neater design, and that the front is now slightly lower.
The latter provides a lower drag than before, which ensures that the range has been improved despite both the battery options and the motors being identical to before.
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A rational construction
Something that is distinctive about Tesla is that the company is significantly more profitable than most other car manufacturers, which is largely due to its focus on efficient and rational production.
Among other things, they have invested heavily in more time-efficient manufacturing methods, they do not offer many options, and the detail quality has always leaned more towards function than finesse.
On the new Tesla Model 3, this thinking can be seen in the fact that, for better or for worse, they have simply rationalized away certain components.
Exteriorly, the changes are modest – Marcus Berggren
On the exterior, for example, there are no longer front fog lights, which is no great loss, and on the interior, the levers behind the steering wheel have been removed.
Indicators, high beams and wipers are now operated instead with touch buttons on the steering wheel, while the gear selector is now a slider on the large touch screen in the middle.
An increased refinement
What you probably save by removing these components has been spent on giving the car a more refined driving and riding experience.
Among other things, materials of higher quality have been chosen for the interior, which are also sound-absorbing to provide a lower noise level in the passenger compartment.
For the same reason, insulating glass has also been installed in all windows, and the bushings and suspensions in the chassis have been reworked.
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An updated interior
When you jump behind the wheel, you are greeted by a completely new dashboard. However, if you have not spent any length of time in the old car, the difference is not immediately obvious.
The material choices are much better than before, but they are still not on par with the German competitors, and the fit leaves something to be desired in some places.
In the interior, there are no longer levers for gears and blinkers – Marcus Berggren
The back seat, just like before, is not the best as the floor is too high, but in any case they have spent money on a new touch screen in the back which, among other things, controls the ventilation and the sound system.
I also still think it’s a shame that the car is a sedan and not a hatchback as this would have made it much more practical.
A pleasant driving position
In the driver’s seat, however, you sit well and it is easy to find a reasonable driving position. The chairs now offer both heating and ventilation, but are a bit frugal in terms of side support.
The view out of the windshield is different from pretty much any other sedan as the hood is very low and sloping, which means you can see the road very close to the car.
The unusually low hood makes the car easy to place on the road – Photo: Marcus Berggren
This in turn ensures that the car is easy to place on the road.
Despite the low hood, there is a luggage compartment up front that is actually worth the name, which many significantly bulkier competitors cannot boast of.
Very good road characteristics
Out on the road, the Tesla Model 3 has a somewhat unexpected sportiness in its character.
Steering is nimble, cornering roll is limited, and the chassis feels so well balanced that it seems a shame the anti-skid system can’t be disengaged.
Out on the road, the car is extremely well-mannered – Photo: Marcus Berggren
On a day-to-day basis, the car is both agile in city traffic and stable and relaxing on the highway, and despite the underlying sportiness, comfort has not been significantly compromised.
The chassis is well balanced and overcomes both small and large bumps with ease. The sound level is significantly lower than before, but at the same time not class-leading.
With the screen in the center
What bothers me most about the Tesla Model 3 is, just like before, that pretty much all functions must be delivered by and controlled from the large screen in the middle.
This means, among other things, that the speedometer is not in the field of vision, and that you have to take your eyes off the road and look far down at the screen to adjust the windshield wipers.
The narrower headlights are the most obvious update – Photo: Marcus Berggren
However, the fact that the gear selector is now on the screen does not significantly affect you, but it is important to be good at preheating the car as it is not possible to shift gears if you are wearing gloves.
The indicator buttons on the steering wheel also work well most of the time, but they are difficult to find during large steering wheel movements – for example in roundabouts.
Rationalization that irritates
Worse is that they have also removed the parking sensors, the radar for the autopilot and the rain sensor, to let these functions be managed by the car’s cameras instead.
This proved to be a problem during the week we tested the car, when there was plenty of both snow and slush.
The car is missing a lot of important sensors – Photo: Marcus Berggren
On snow-lined roads with slush on the lens, the cruise control works poorly, the windshield wipers often go at the wrong speed for the conditions, and the park assist is of limited use in tight parking lots.
The fact that the outside door handles occasionally freeze solid and that the ventilation sometimes suddenly starts injecting cold air into the passenger compartment also suggests that the car is not really developed for Nordic winters.
Still at the forefront
Despite these annoyances, the new Tesla Model 3 feels significantly more refined than the previous version.
It is very pleasant to drive, the range is fantastic and it offers good interior space for its size. Also, the price is really good.
Tesla Model 3 is still at the top of the segment – Photo: Marcus Berggren
At the same time, it is easy to get angry at the slightly over-rationalized details such as replacing important sensors with cameras, as this simply works worse.
If you can live with these disturbances and the slightly boring detail quality, the new Tesla Model 3 is still one of the best electric cars in its class.
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Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD (2023)
Engine: An electric motor on each axle. Tesla does not specify power and torque
Transmission: 1-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 4.4 sec
Top speed: 201 km/h
Electrical range: 629 km
Weight: 1,828 kg
Dimensions (length/width/height): 4720/1933/1441 mm
Award: From SEK 609,1700