Tesla's new Model 3 makes NZ debut: Up close and personal with Elon's latest EV

Friday, 24 November 2023

It might look a lot like the old one, but Tesla says the new Model 3 is constructed out of 55% new parts.

Tesla’s much anticipated updated Model 3 has made its debut in New Zealand – the American carmaker showcasing the nameplate’s first update to media and selected customers at its Ponsonby store last night.

Known internally and amongst Tesla’s biggest fans as ‘Project Highland’, the new Model 3 is set to arrive proper for customers in Q1 of next year. Order books opened upon its unveiling, with Tesla hoping to see some models arrive for deliveries in December.

Even more of the Tesla’s functions have been integrated into the touchscreen, including the drive mode selector.

First unveiled to a theatre of excited fans in 2017, the original Model 3 was a landmark model for Tesla. After a wobbly start, it quickly became the company’s first high-volume global seller, helping pave the way for the Model Y that followed a few years later.

Tesla has opened the doors to its second store in Auckland, featuring a huge car delivery area, parts area, and service center.

Even now, despite its age, it remains one of the most popular EVs on the market, outsold locally only by the Model Y, BYD Atto 3, and MG ZS. And the addition of a new-look update is likely to give the model an added shot in the arm.

As with its predecessor, the Model 3 range starts with a standard, rear-wheel drive, single-motor, self-titled entry-level model priced at 67,900 (a $5,000 premium over the outgoing equivalent). Having been axed a few years ago, the Long Range dual-motor Model 3 is back, priced from $76,200.

For now, the Model 3 range is just those two variants. But, a Performance flagship is expected to join the line-up next year – most likely with a price-tag just north of $100,000. In the absence of a ‘ludicrous’ leader, customers buying at launch will have to be happy with a 0–100kmh of either 6.1 seconds (Standard) or 4.4 seconds (Long).

Customers got their first look at the updated Model 3 in Ponsonby, last night.

As previously reported, the new MY2024 Model 3 gains refreshed styling front and rear. At the pointy end, it adopts a pair of headlights that appear to be inspired by the forthcoming Tesla Roadster, whilst simultaneously losing the once controversial looking grille outline from its predecessor. At the back, it gets a more aggressive diffuser set-up and C-shaped tail lights built solely into the boot lid.

The more slippery shape has some range benefits, too.

The rear screen can be used for climate control adjustment, changing the music, moving the front passenger seat, and video streaming.

Tesla boasts that the Model 3’s range capabilities have grown by 22km to 513km in the Standard Range and by 27km to 629km in the Long Range. Some of this range expansion also relates to the use of slightly larger CATL-sourced batteries, too, in the form of a 60.9kWh unit in the base and an 84.6kWh unit in the dually.

In the flesh, it’s a surprisingly different looking car. Not necessarily in its side profile, of course, where not a lot has changed. Moreso up front, with simplified snout and Roadster elements. The Ultra Red option appears to be much deeper and ‘candied’ than the last metallic red colour. Some of me misses the character and oddball look of the outgoing Model 3’s front end.

The Cybertruck also made an appearance! But, maybe not the Cybertruck some Tesla enthusiasts wanted to see Down Under.

Tesla’s tweaks to the Model 3’s styling aren’t the biggest story here, though. The change that’s had the most tongues wagging, arguably, is what they’ve done to the Model 3’s indicators and drive selector functions.

Gone is the drive selector stalk and matching indicator stalk. These functions have shifted to new places – the indicators to a pair of haptic-feedback buttons on the left-spoke of the steering wheel, and drive selection to the touchscreen.

Using the buttons at launch was interesting. The indicator buttons activate with a satisfying haptic ‘bump’ through the wheel. Drive mode selection, meanwhile, sits on the extreme right-hand side of the touchscreen. Slide the picture of the car upwards whilst you’re on the brake pedal, and it slots you into drive. Slide the picture backwards, and you’re switched into reverse.

The touchscreen hasn’t grown between generations, but Tesla says it’s brighter and quicker to react to inputs.

Tesla hopes for a handful of models to arrive for customers before the end of the year.

The C-shaped tail lights are now built into the bootlid opening.

Note the curve at the leading edge of the dashboard. It accommodates an ambient light that continues through the doors to the back seats.

Both decisions feel like a solution in wait for a problem, but nevertheless they worked reasonably well. Revisiting this while testing the Model 3 in the real world is near the top of our to-do list.

Of course, the interior space is about more than just the absence of a couple of stalks. Tesla has made other changes, too. The 15.4-inch landscape touchscreen is back, brighter and quicker than ever before (in Tesla’s words). The bezels surrounding the screen are tighter, and occupants in the back seat get a new 8-inch touchscreen to play with for climate control and infotainment adjustment. Boot capacity has also grown from 425L to 682L.

Clambering inside ourselves, though, the most noticeable change to the cabin was the ‘wraparound’ shape of the dashboard. The dash might appear more or less unchanged (it is basically a screen and a few panels, after all), but the rounded ambient lighting strip and curved dash give the cabin a more cockpit-like and purposeful feel. The new wheel looks good, too, still featuring its scroll-wheel systems for wing-mirror, steering column position adjustment and the like.

It’s worth mentioning the stuff you can’t see, too. Tesla has reportedly worked on improving the Model 3’s refinement. There’s more sound deadening, better seals, and plenty of acoustic glass for keeping the interior feel quiet and isolated. Well … that’s Tesla’s view, anyway. We’ll get back to you on the Model 3’s refinement levels once we’ve taken one away for a full test.

Bonus images