What's New in the 2021 Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3, What’s New?

Model 3 is Tesla’s cheapest EV.

I’m not going to call it “affordable” because it is still very far from that. At over 80,000 shekels, it is well into posh-owner-club territory. It got a bit of a touch up recently, with the blackening of the satin-finish door handles and sundry other blackened trim. The HVAC pump from the Model Y makes Model 3 the most efficient car in the world, so they say. The tacky plakky covered wheels have gone thankfully, and tyres are “more efficient” with the top model grabbing a nice set of 20” Uberturbine wheels. It is highest ever rating vehicle in ANCAP, so there’s that.

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The bootlid is now powered, which is handy but not necessary.

Inside, the most notable change is a double Qi charger on the centre console.

Above: This Week: Tesla Model 3 – What’s New, What’s Changed, What do I like and loathe

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ABOVE: 2021 Tesla Model 3

The cabin is still obsessively neat and tidy, with levers for gears, indicators, and a button for hazard flashers, but that’s it. We discovered the single swipe wipe/ washer button on the end of the indicator stalk too. I’d like an HUD (heads up display), even is just speed and directions shown. The central tablet remains a constant annoyance.

There is a lever to unlock the doors, but Model 3 gets the irrits if you don’t use the electric button release on the armrest instead.

You’d be forgiven for missing the changes, such is their nebulous nature.

The cabin was known for being a comfortable place to be, and is full of vegan-friendly coverings. Much of what you see and touch can be recycled when the death knell sounds.

The last change was a big one, there is no free super charger access since the launch of Model 3. The downside is that where there are co-located Tesla/generic charging stations, Teslas now occupy positions other EV drivers could use. Most of those are still free, and despite paying big bikkies for their cars, Tesla owners are cheap. Alas, Australian charging is still a complete pig’s breakfast.

I asked Tesla about bi-directional charging, like that of the Nissan Leaf (currently under testing), but there was no information available. It allows your car to be used as a mobile battery at home. Once upon a time you’d have been able to get free power at the Super Charger, and use it at home. I guess that means Tesla is definitely developing the bi option.

There is a kind of DashCam built in, but I BYO’d.

Performance

Tesla hasn’t made much of the face-peeling acceleration, so I will. Our mid-range Model 3 gets to 100kph in 4.4 seconds and has a range of 657km. We managed 500km at best, remembering that a 20-minute charge was enough to top us up to around 80%. It is a strange sensation to be going that fast without bits of unburnt dinosaur being spat out the back.

The drive is a calming, meditative experience.

I drove through some of the most atrocious weather with torrential storms lashing the east coast. Flooding surrounded us, which we obviously kept well away from. Water lay across the highway as it does in heavy rain, but Model 3 was unfazed. Somewhere in the back of my mind were those murder mysteries where someone chucked a toaster in a bath tub.

The Model 3 has AWD in the dual motor models, and it never put a foot wrong. In fact, the Tesla simply ignored the foul conditions.

Auto Pilot is a much-touted autonomous driving programme that does the work for you. In most jurisdictions, self-driving cars are a no-no. if you take your hands off the wheel for too long, you get a terse seeing to, which eventually turns the system off for the duration of the trip. Computer says NOOOOOO.

What I like

Decent looks, and an uncluttered interior remain Tesla’s go-to for compliments. The cabin is designed by someone with extreme OCD, which I like a lot.

Space is generous because there is no hump in the middle of the floor, and no engine or transmission to intrude into the passenger space.

Dual motor models have a drive module at either end, with cables from the battery and control units. It’s a beautifully neat set-up. Unlike most other EVs, Tesla was designed for electric drive in the first instance, rather than one that is shared, or developed from, a platform to take fossil fuelled engines.

There are enough chargers to make long distance travel worthwhile. The thing is, how many actually do road trips? Put your hands up if you do. No, not you. Put your hand down you lying hound!

What I don’t like

I still dislike the central tablet, and probably always will. An HUD would go a long way to fixing it, and would cost bugger-all to fit.

Even on a slightly warm day such as that in our film, the glass roof got toasty. I’m not a fan of glass in roofs at the best of times, but those without internal shades are a balls-up waiting to happen. Most of the time it is more a matter of personal taste, but on a 47c summer day, you’d burn your bum on the vegan seats. You can activate the AC from the phone app if you dare. That is particularly handy if it is still tethered for a feeding post at the time.

Quality control has been hit-and-miss over the last few years. While at the Tesla Service centre I noticed variable shut-line gaps between identical models, regardless of the model. Some had trims that didn’t line up between the doors and the body. Others had plakky parts that looked like they didn’t really want to be there.

Conclusion:

I have a few reservations about EVs generally, but fall more on the suck-it-and-see side. I certainly wouldn’t knock one back as a gift, but charging is still an issue, I don’t care what the car makers claim.

Servicing is cheap, because there is nothing to service. Our car’s left-hand camera was on the blink and needed replacing. It took about 5 minutes and we were on our way.

Unless something breaks or wears out, there is no need to visit a service centre ever. You rarely need to use brakes, so they’re more likely to rust than need fixing.

Finally, don’t forget: Tesla is always watching you.

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