Tesla Facelift Model 3..The reason why it's so popular is
Jun 14, 2025
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It has improved assembly quality and sophistication, and has a more sophisticated appearance. Previously, the mileage was increased to up to 640 kilometers.It is big enough to use as a family car and is also good for spending time comfortably.The Tesla Supercharger network and excellent navigation system can be charged at once after preheating the battery before arriving at the charging station. Electric cars are also useful for long-distance travel.
The most basic rear wheel drive trim boasts high speed. The four-wheel-drive Model 3 long range and performance overwhelms numerous sports cars.If you don't feel overwhelmed by cutting-edge technology or minimalist interiors, the Tesla Model 3 is a great option. We tested the new Model 3 on AutoExpress.
The Tesla Model 3 is located right under the Model Y, an SUV. The electric sedan first went on sale in the U.K. in 2019 and was named the "Auto Express Car of the Year" in the same year. It has now established itself as one of the best-selling electric sedans in the world.
To maintain the Model 3's competitiveness, Tesla applied facelift to the entry level. These improvements were not limited to new bumpers and new headlights. Model 3 has added more technology, improved production quality and sophistication, and increased mileage.
The basic rear-wheel drive Model 3 can travel up to 511 kilometers on a single charge. The dual-motor Model 3 Long Range boasts a driving range of 627 kilometers. An ultra-efficient long-range rear-wheel drive model with a driving distance of 720 kilometers has also been introduced for long-distance drivers. This car is comparable to the partial change Polestar 2.The Tesla Model 3 performance briefly disappeared as the lineup was updated, but it was revived.
It has a dedicated 20-inch forging wheel with Michelin tires. In addition, for the first time in the Model 3, it offers adaptive suspension, thicker anti-roll bars, unique suspension bushing, custom track mode, and 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 3 seconds.
The interior has a huge, sophisticated touch screen of 15.4 inches. This allows control of almost all functions and systems of the vehicle.Some may be unhappy with Tesla's decision to remove the turn signal lever and replace it with a button on the steering wheel.As confirmed by direct test drive, operational problems may occur in certain situations.
Overall, the Model 3 boasts a very capable steering sense.However, it does not reach the ride comfort and handling of the BMW3 series or i4.The only version that provides a similar level of driving fun to competing models is the performance trim.
The ability to adjust various parameters such as various tuning options, power allocation of front and rear wheel drives in track mode, and three levels of stability control system is attractive. You can not only drive in a straight line, but also show your full potential in cornering.
In the basic type, it is regrettable that the steering feedback will be improved a little more. However, it is a huge improvement compared to previous models. The Model 3 performance is by far the best among the Model 3 test-drive so far.It has always boasted fast performance, but the latest version adds not only speed but also fun.
With numerous improvements, such as reinforcing the chassis technology required for this, it has established itself as a 'BMM3 killer'. Despite falling short of the M3, it is still a high-performance vehicle with incredible performance and incredible cost-effectiveness.
Suspension is a little hard at low speed. Damping is better than competing BYD SEALs, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Polestar 2. Model 3 handles large chunks and irregularities well. The Model 3 brake has excellent braking power when driving at high speed, but its fault is that it lacks pedal feedback and is not easy to control.
When compared to five major competitors, some suggested that it would have been nice to be able to control the brake regenerative braking like the Ionic 6. This is because Model 3 only provides a very strong regenerative braking setting.However, it has a very precise accelerator pedal that can drive smoothly at low speeds.
The ride comfort and handling of standard rear-wheel drive and long-range models are not as impressive as straight acceleration. Still, it's very impressive. The steering of the Model 3 is faster and somewhat hypersensitive compared to competing models. The grip is sufficient and the body control is excellent, so the Model 3 can maintain excellent speed even in cross-country driving such as forest road.
Competitors are still trying to catch up in terms of efficiency. The stress of long-distance travel disappears when you connect to the supercharger network. The smallest battery version has a driving range similar to that of the BMW i4 with the largest battery. Instead, sophisticated 19-inch wheels have a negative impact on mileage.
Tesla did not specify upgrades to the battery or drive system of the new Model 3, but the newly designed front end reduced the air resistance coefficient to 0.219.This is Tesla's lowest number so far.
As important as the official mileage is the actual road driving efficiency. Model 3 is proven to be highly efficient in evaluation.Facelift Model 3 long range was tested by comparison with Polestar 2 and BMWi4. The Model 3 had a fuel efficiency of about 7.6 km per kWh.
Converting this into actual mileage, it is about 567 kilometers. It is only about 10% below the official figure. Facelift Model 3 Long Range impressed with 437 km per kWh in cold weather. This is the highest fuel economy achieved in comparative tests.
The big advantage of Model 3 over competing vehicles is that Tesla Superchargers are available.The basic model 3 has a maximum charging speed of 170 kW. The Model 3 long range is up to 250 kW.
Both versions can charge the battery from 10% to 80% within 30 minutes. With a proper fast charger, you can secure a driving distance of up to about 300 kilometers in just 15 minutes.
One of the most noticeable changes is the steering wheel.It has a turn signal button instead of a conventional steering column lever. Why is that?When I tested it myself, it was quite inconvenient when I had to turn on the turn signal at a place where the rotary exit or steering wheel was not straight.
Tesla seems to admit its failure in this regard.The updated new Model Y kept the turn signal lever intact.I hope this feature will be applied to Model 3. The updated Model 3 removes the gear selection lever and uses gear selection on the center display. In particular, if the front of the vehicle is facing the wall, put in gear that you think will be necessary, such as automatically putting in reverse gear.
Instead of forcing Tesla to control everything from heating wires and cooling sheets to air volume direction with a touch screen, some suggested that there would be a physical button for indoor temperature control. Tesla claims the new Model 3 is 'whispering quiet' as it improves the quality of internal and external assembly. It said that the surrounding noise blocking performance has improved by 30%.
Tesla attributes this noise improvement to 360-degree acoustic glass, improved suspension bushing, seals, and a variety of sound insulation. The new Model 3 size is 4,720mm long, 1,850mm wide, and 1,441mm high.In other words, it is slightly shorter and wider than the BMW 3 series or the electric car i4. Smaller than the discontinued Tesla Model S in the UK, it feels much better adapted to narrow British roads.
All Model 3s are equipped with the default version of Autopilot. However, buyers can upgrade to 'Enhanced Autopilot' or some misleading 'FSD (Full Self-Driving Features)'.The former allows the vehicle to remain in lane position with steering, acceleration and braking if the driver pays attention to the road ahead, and can automatically change lanes.
The misnomer of Full Self-Driving is to recognize and respond to traffic lights and speed-limit signs. However, the driver should pay attention and start driving immediately. The automatic steering function for city driving is not active.
Tesla was a leader in the electric car revolution, but now existing carmakers are quickly catching up. You can clearly see that there are quite a few talented competitors that the current Model 3 has to go head-to-head.
There's the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Polestar 2, which has a charming and excellent finish.There are also traditional luxury car PHEVs such as the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-Class.
The vehicle still has a significant presence in the premium small sedan market. It is powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and utilizes the benefits of electric vehicle tax while continuously driving with a gasoline engine without having to stop for charging when traveling long distances.
Tesla Model 3 is also enjoying high popularity in Korea. As of April 25, 638 units were sold, ranking fourth in terms of imports.
Editor Song Moon-cheol mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
