2025 Tesla Model 3 RWD review

Life is hard on the high.

Be aware: That is an up to date model of a assessment that first went reside in September 2024. There have been no modifications to pricing or specs since publication.

We have now up to date key particulars with essentially the most up-to-date data accessible. Learn the unique model of this assessment here.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2024 Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD

Even six years on from its Australian debut, surrounded by a raft of newer rivals designed particularly to knock it off its perch, the Tesla Model 3 units the usual for (fairly) inexpensive electrical vehicles.

Its largest competitors on the gross sales charts has come from its SUV stablemate, the Model Y – though a raft of recent rivals from China are lastly making inroads.

How do you replace the most effective? Tesla has targeted on whittling away on the automotive’s tough edges to ship a extra refined all-rounder.

It says the brand new Mannequin 3 is quieter inside, extra comfy on tough roads, and possesses a extra luxurious inside thanks to a couple delicate tweaks. It additionally packs an extended vary… and a set of funky new indicator buttons on the steering wheel.

Issues haven’t gone to plan for Tesla with the brand new Mannequin 3 thus far. It was taken off sale regionally because of a difficulty with a rear top-tether level for youngster seats, though deliveries are actually again up and working.

How profitable has the remainder of the replace been?

Due to Carma Carhire for the mortgage of the Mannequin 3

How does the Tesla Mannequin 3 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Tesla Mannequin 3 in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Tesla

Mannequin 3

How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin 3 price?

There are three variants accessible in Australia.

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What’s the Tesla Mannequin 3 like on the within?

The modifications to the Mannequin 3 inside are delicate, however they do make a distinction.

As earlier than, it’s an aggressively minimalist area. There’s no driver cluster, no standard buttons and, now, there are not any stalks behind the steering wheel. The indications are buttons on the steering wheel, and the drive selector is now a slider on the right-hand facet of the touchscreen.

Sounds bizarre, and it’s bizarre at first. The indications shortly grow to be second nature, simply as they do on a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or any bike – however the drive selector is counterintuitive, even after a couple of days. Even a set of contact buttons on the display would have been preferable.

Whereas we’re speaking about modifications, the brand new mottled gray sprint and door trims feel and look hotter than the white or wood choices beforehand accessible, and the ambient lighting wrapping across the base of the dashboard is a pleasant contact.

With a brief sprint, ultra-low bonnet, and lack of devices in entrance of you, the view out the windscreen is in contrast to anything on the street. Throw within the glass roof, and also you’ve acquired a cabin that’s uniquely mild and ethereal.

All the pieces within the Mannequin 3 is managed by way of that large central touchscreen, together with the mirrors, steering wheel, and windscreen wiper velocity. With no head-up show, the one velocity show is within the high right-hand facet of the display.

It takes some getting used to, however the velocity readout itself is large enough to choose up simply at a look. A head-up show was excessive on our want record for this replace; it’s a disgrace Tesla hasn’t delivered one.

In any other case the display, which has thinner bezels than earlier than, stays one of many slickest within the enterprise. It boots up quick, the graphics are clear and trendy, and all the pieces you utilize steadily may be put inside simple attain.

With no Apple CarPlay, you’re reliant on the robust suite of apps (Spotify, for instance, is baked in) for connectivity on the transfer. Tesla’s voice management isn’t a patch on Siri, and I’d choose to have my messages managed by way of the default Apple app… however the lack of smartphone mirroring isn’t a dealbreaker right here like it might be elsewhere.

The change to what Tesla calls camera-based parking is difficult to know. Within the outdated Mannequin 3, inching as much as an impediment at parking speeds introduced up a intelligent show with a exact warning as to how shut you’re getting.

Within the new one, you get a muddy define of your environment with what feels extra like a prediction about how far you’re away. It’s a step backwards.

As earlier than, there’s extra to this automotive than expertise. The seats are supremely comfy up entrance, permitting our bodies of all styles and sizes to get comfy, and the addition of wonderful ventilated seats to the toasty bum heaters is a win in the course of the Australian summer time.

As soon as the air vents are arrange proper they blow at you from angles unimaginable in different vehicles, too.

Nothing in our tester squeaked or rattled, and it wasn’t a press fleet prima donna. With new Mannequin 3 deliveries on maintain on the time, we had to make use of a rental company to get behind the wheel.

Rear seat area stays barely worse what you’d count on from a 3 Collection or C-Class. Legroom is common at finest, and the bench is about low so longer-legged passengers find yourself with their knees round their chin. Headroom isn’t nice.

ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and due to a latest replace there’s now correct entry to all three rear-seat top-tether anchor factors.

There’s a fold-down armrest with cupholders between the seats, air vents, and USB-C cost ports on supply again there. There’s additionally a brand new display able to enjoying Netflix or YouTube content material.

It’s a neat addition, however we’d wager youngsters will use their iPads on lengthy journeys as an alternative of a small show that performs audio by way of the automobile audio system.

Claimed boot area is 594 litres together with a deep cubby beneath the ground, and an 88-litre entrance boot (or ‘frunk’ in Tesla parlance) up entrance.

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What’s below the bonnet?

On take a look at right here is the entry-level Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD.

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

How does the Tesla Mannequin 3 drive?

The final Mannequin 3 was a enjoyable automotive to drive within the metropolis, but it surely was additionally a bit busy.

The brand new one is extra grown up. For starters, it does a greater job smoothing out tough metropolis roads.

The place the outdated automotive felt sporty and sharp over small bumps and potholes, the 2024 replace does a greater job smoothing over them and isolating occupants. It’s a extra relaxed automotive than earlier than, and is extra carefully aligned with the way you’d count on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3 Collection to really feel.

It’s not a wannabe German govt categorical although. With direct steering that not often requires you take away your palms from the wheel and immediate response from the electrical motors, it’s a enjoyable automotive to level and shoot across the metropolis.

The addition of a blind-spot warning mild within the speaker grilles on the B-pillars is a win on the town, whereas the decision on the blind-spot cameras is significantly better than was beforehand the case.

Regardless that that is the ‘gradual’ Mannequin 3, with rear-wheel drive and modest outputs alongside the Lengthy Vary, you’ll win most site visitors mild drag races for those who’re that method inclined. There’s no want to fret about Launch Management, or being in the correct drive mode right here. You simply plant the accelerator and it goes.

Tesla tuning is the most effective within the sport, with a throttle tune that makes it simple to get precisely the correct quantity of efficiency if you put your foot down, and regenerative braking that makes one-pedal driving a breeze.

You not often want to the touch the brake pedal, and there’s not one of the lurching awkwardness you get in some rivals in cease/begin site visitors. Tesla has been doing this a very long time, and it reveals.

The modifications made to the suspension, tyres, and soundproofing actually present at greater speeds.

Within the final Mannequin 3, you wanted to crank up the radio quantity a couple of notches to drown out the roar from coarse chip Australian highways. It’s not a Rolls-Royce, but it surely’s noticeably quieter than earlier than at 100km/h, whereas the up to date suspension makes it a extra stress-free place to spend time.

Within the technique of filming the Mannequin 3, we did uncover that it’s a bit missing for those who’re a very eager driver. That’s not all the way down to any basic flaws, and is fairly a product of the low rolling resistance tyres fitted as customary.

They’re good for squeezing each drop of vary from the lithium iron phosphate battery pack, however aren’t designed for drivers who’re eager to squeeze each tenth out of their weekend runs by way of the hills. Will most house owners care? In all probability not.

They may care in regards to the Autopilot freeway driving assistant system.

Urgent the button on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel as soon as prompts adaptive cruise management, which maintains a niche to the automotive in entrance. Urgent it twice activates lively lane centring, which is able to take management of the steering to observe the white traces on the street.

As we’ve mentioned earlier than, the Autopilot title is deceptive. For one, you want your palms on the wheel always… and there’s nothing within the base Mannequin 3 that different vehicles gained’t do in 2024.

The adaptive cruise management system is easy and good, though it nonetheless is susceptible to braking for automobiles in adjoining lanes, and the lane-centring system is similar to what’s on supply within the newest Kia and Hyundai vary.

Ticking the $5500 field for Enhanced Autopilot provides auto lane modifications and the power for the automotive to exit the freeway with the system lively – the previous is feasible in Mercedes-Benz automobiles amongst others, the latter is a Tesla particular.

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What do you get?

On take a look at right here is the entry-level Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD.

Mannequin 3 RWD highlights:

• 18-inch ‘Photon’ alloy wheels
• LED headlights with built-in fog lights
• Acoustic glass
• 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Black inside
• Ventilated entrance seats
• Ambient lighting
• 8.0-inch rear touchscreen with local weather, leisure controls
• 9-speaker sound system
• Twin 65W wi-fi cellphone chargers
• Panoramic glass roof
• App connectivity
• Canine Mode (maintains cabin temperature)
• Camp Mode (maintains cabin temperature, retains leisure system on in a single day)
• Sentry Mode (screens automobile, notifies you of potential threats)

The next options are non-compulsory on each variants:

• 19-inch ‘Nova’ alloy wheels: $1800
• Black and white inside: $1500
• Enhanced Autopilot: $5100
  • Navigate on Autopilot
  • Auto Lane Change
  • Autopark
  • Summon
  • Sensible Summon
• Full Self-Driving Functionality: $10,100
  • All Enhanced Autopilot performance
  • Visitors Gentle and Cease Signal Management
  • Autosteer on metropolis streets (upcoming)

A Premium Connectivity subscription is complimentary for 30 days, and provides:

• Reside site visitors data
• Satellite tv for pc maps
• Video and music streaming
• Caraoke
• Web shopping

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

Is the Tesla Mannequin 3 protected?

The most recent Mannequin 3 doesn’t have an ANCAP security ranking.

The pre-update mannequin had a five-star ranking. It scored 96 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 74 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 94 per cent for security help.

Customary security gear consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Reversing digicam

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin 3 price to run?

Tesla backs the Mannequin 3 with a four-year, 80,000km guarantee, with a separate eight-year, 160,000km guarantee for the battery and drive unit (eight years or 192,000km for the Lengthy Vary).

Given it has only a few shifting elements, there isn’t a lot upkeep required on the Mannequin 3. Tesla recommends having the air-conditioning filters modified each two years and checking the tyre tread, steadiness, and rotation each 20,000km.

Due to regenerative braking, the brake pads and discs require work much less steadily than in internal-combustion automobiles. Nevertheless the Mannequin 3 might want to have brake fluid checked each two years, and the pads and discs lubricated each 12 months in colder climates.

To see how the Tesla Mannequin 3 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Tackle the Tesla Mannequin 3

The Mannequin 3 remains to be a category chief, though the hole has closed since its debut.

The enhancements Tesla has made to the suspension have delivered a smoother journey, and the up to date Mannequin 3 is meaningfully quieter than the automotive it replaces.

It stays fearsomely environment friendly, particularly alongside rivals from inner combustion carmakers within the technique of shifting to electrical energy.

The refreshed cabin doesn’t really feel all that completely different – which isn’t a nasty factor, when you’re dialled into its aggressively minimalist structure. The brand new supplies haven’t basically modified the cabin relative to the outdated automotive, however the ventilated seats are a welcome addition… and people indicators are simple sufficient to make use of when you’re dialled in.

Extra competitors is coming for the Mannequin 3, and its management within the electrical automotive world isn’t assured. This replace provides it some further respiration room on the high of the pile although.

Keen on shopping for a Tesla Mannequin 3? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers here.

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

MORE: Everything Tesla Model 3