Tesla Model 3 – What you need to know

The all-electric Tesla Model 3 sedan arrived in 2019 and immediately became Australia’s top-selling EV, deferring only to its sister Model Y when the SUV joined the range in 2021.

In late 2023, the Chinese-built Model 3 received major chassis and body upgrades, new software, even more tech and a host of other changes, although the EV powertrain options and battery packs carried over.

Two models are available: the entry-level Model 3 single-motor rear-wheel drive – priced from $61,900 plus on-road costs – and the Model 3 Long Range dual-motor all-wheel drive, starting at $70,900 plus ORCs. A flagship Model 3 Performance is due to launch during 2024.

The entry-level Model 3 RWD has a range capacity up to 513km and has the following equipment as standard:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 15.4-inch front infotainment screen, 8.0-inch rear infotainment screen
• FM and DAB+ digital radio
• Glass tinted roof
• Front, rear and side cameras
• Faux leather seats
• Adaptive cruise control
• Climate control with remote start

Don’t think either Tesla Model 3 EV comes standard ‘with the lot’. Optional on both variants are 19-inch ‘Nova’ alloy wheels for $1800, while a black and white interior adds $1500.

Not yet activated, but expected to be (via a future software update), is the Enhanced Autopilot system that will set you back $5100. For that you gain navigation on autopilot, auto lane change, parking guidance and Smart Summon, which moves the car forward and backwards up to 12 metres, in and out of a parking space.

Five exterior colours are offered, with white the standard hue. Solid Black and Deep Blue Metallic add $1500, while Stealth Grey costs $2300 and Ultra Red an eye-watering $2600.

The Model 3 doesn’t have a spare tyre or even a repair kit, and assuming you want a kit, it’ll cost you $125 from the Tesla shop.

Both Tesla Model 3 variants come standard with seven airbags and a high level of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).

Tesla’s Autopilot suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane centring assist, lane departure warning with passive steer assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot cameras, blind spot monitoring lights, traffic sign recognition, a driver attention warning and tyre pressure monitors.

There are eight on-board exterior cameras, with the front and rear ones also acting as parking sensors and both variants come with auto wipers and auto headlights, the latter with auto high beam.

A rear speaker has been added and provides a warning sound when the car is reversing.

An element of a future software upgrade will be a warning to the driver if it detects a child has been left in the back seat.

Prior to the latest upgrade, the Tesla Model 3 had a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, awarded in 2019. At the time of writing, the Model 3 was officially unrated, waiting for testing to be carried out on the latest series.

The big 15.4-inch centre-mounted front touch-screen is the nerve centre of the Tesla Model 3 and controls not only infotainment functions including sat-nav, music and phone streaming, but others like safety system settings, air-con temperature, fan speed, operating the windscreen wipers and even opening the glove box!

For all its cleverness, the Model 3 doesn’t include Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

An 8.0-inch touch-screen is provided for back seat dwellers, who can stream videos and have different content streaming to what’s on up front. Rear occupants can also hook up Bluetooth headphones so they don’t disturb those up front.

The Tesla Model 3 stereo units have come in for an upgrade, with the entry model now featuring a nine-speaker system and a new amplifier. But jump up to the Long Range variant and you get a premium 17-speaker, in-house-engineered sound system with new amplifiers, new speakers and now two subwoofers instead of one.

The latest upgrade sees a boost to the mobile phone reception, improvement to the Wi-Fi antenna, plus the addition of an interior camera, so owners can watch a livestream of the cabin when the car is parked. And when it’s dark the camera provides an infrared view.

More powerful USB-C chargers are provided, with one up front and two in the rear, and there are two wireless phone charging pads, along with a 12-volt socket.

A complimentary 30-day premium connectivity subscription includes live traffic information, satellite maps, video and music streaming, karaoke and internet browsing.

The interior of the Tesla Model 3 has been revamped with the latest upgrade, but the large touch-screen on the dash remains the centrepiece.

The centre console, redesigned seats and steering wheel have been covered in new materials for a more upmarket look.

Would you like leather trim? It’s unavailable in the Model 3, but the EV does come with synthetic, leather-look trim draped over most of the interior, including the seats. These front positions also have power adjustment in several directions.

What about heated seats and a heated steering wheel? The good news is the front pews have both heating and cooling functions, with the rear having a heating function on the outboard seats. (There was previously one for the centre-rear position, but that has now gone.) A heated steering wheel is also standard.

Rear seat niceties include a fold-down centre arm rest with cup holders, map pockets at the back of each front seats and, to assist with securing child restraints, two ISOFIX and three top tether anchor points.

If you want to add a bit of mood to the cabin, a customisable ambient lighting strip runs across the base of the windscreen. And the handiness of a powered tailgate is a standard feature in both variants.

Is dual-zone air-conditioning a must? Both Model 3 variants come with that, and for greater climate control and quietness, both have double-glazed side windows.

But the air-con in the Model 3 does much more, offering two modes: Dog Mode (maintains the cabin temperature), while Camp Mode maintains cabin temperature and keeps the entertainment system on.

Does the word sunroof appear on your wish list? Buy either Model 3 variant and enjoy the sights through the fixed panoramic glass roof.

Outside, both Tesla Model 3 variants feature LED headlights and tail-lights, updated 18-inch wheels with large plastic aero covers, flush door handles and auto-dimming, power-folding and heated door mirrors.

Known simply as the ‘Model 3’, the entry-level Tesla Model 3 has a single electric motor that produces 208kW of power and drives the rear wheels via a single-speed auto transmission.

The battery is a carryover CATL-sourced LFP battery and can provide a range up to 513km (WLTP).

The Model 3 Long Range has two electric motors for a total output of 366kW, driving all four wheels through a single-speed transmission. The Long Range also has a carryover NMC battery with a higher energy density, offering up to 629km (WLTP) before needing to recharge.

When it comes to recharging, Tesla claims a DC charging rate of up to 170kW for the entry model and 250kW for the Long Range. It says up to 282km can be added in 15min for both models.
Tesla stopped providing a mobile charging cable for connection to a three-pin domestic AC power outlet some years back, so you need to stump up $550 for one, or install a wallbox at home.

The Tesla Model 3 measures 4720mm long, 1933mm wide and 1441mm tall. Wheelbase length is 2875mm. It has a ground clearance of 138mm.

Gross vehicle mass ranges from 2200kg to 2263kg, depending on the variant, while kerb weight spans a 1761-1824kg range.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 1000kg, and the cargo capacity in the five-seater Model 3 is 682 litres.

Both Tesla Model 3 variants look identical and are similarly specified, so while you get niceties such as a better sound system in the Long Range, you’re essentially paying almost 10 grand extra for that longer-distance convenience and extra performance.

There’s so much more of just about everything in the latest upgrade that the entry-level model really is exceptional value for just over $60,000, so that’s where I’d be heading.

How much does the 2024 Tesla Model 3 cost?
Rear-Wheel Drive – $61,900
Long Range – $70,900
*Prices exclude on-road costs