The 2024 Tesla Model 3 has finally arrived in North America, bringing with it a refreshed design seven years after the electric sedan first launched. After driving the reengineered Model 3 for a few days it is clear that Tesla has been able to take everything they have learned over those seven years and refine the already popular Model 3 into something that should make legacy automakers take note.
With updates in design, ride quality, interior sophistication, and build quality, this iteration of the Model 3 sets a new standard for not only the electric car market, but the broader car market in general considering its price point.
What’s Changed?
At first glance not much has changed on the exterior of the 2024 Model 3, with the average person likely not able to tell the difference between the legacy model and the new model. For Tesla fans however, the changes are distinct, with new, sleeker headlights and taillights.
On the inside there is an all-new steering wheel. Like the Model S and Model X, Tesla has eliminated the gear and turn signal stalks, opting for touchscreen controls to change gears and buttons on the steering wheel to activate your turn signals, wipers, and with a few other functions.
Also new on the inside is a screen for the rear passengers, where they can control climate functions, play video games, and watch and listen to streaming video and music services, all without bothering the front passengers thanks to Bluetooth headset support.
Tesla has also introduced new wheel designs, with redesigned 18″ aero wheels, now called Photon, and new 19″ Nova wheels. Under the hood, the core electric powertrain remains largely the same, and while there is little perceptible difference to the body of the vehicle, it does boast a sleeker design, reducing its drag coefficient, improving the efficiency and range of the new Model 3.
Our test vehicle had the 19″ Nova wheels, and even with the larger wheels, over the span of several days and nearly 600km (373 miles) we we able to average 155Wh/km.
Ride Quality
Perhaps the biggest change you will notice on the new Model 3 is not something visual, but rather something you feel, or in this case, don’t feel. Tesla has put a lot of effort into refining the ride quality of the 2024 Model 3, and it is evident in the new suspension system that has been overhauled for a smoother ride, with the electric sedan absorbing road imperfections with ease and providing a more comfortable driving experience, almost akin to the ride quality of the the Model S with air suspension.
The smooth ride is enhanced even further by the now extremely quiet cabin, thanks to the acoustic glass now on all four passenger windows.
Steering and handling feel just as responsive, or if not more responsive, giving the driver great control and confidence on the road.
Interior
The interior of the 2024 Model 3 is where the most dramatic changes and updates have occurred. The minimalist design philosophy remains, but the quality of materials and the attention to detail have seen significant improvements, with the inclusion of premium materials throughout the cabin elevating the Model 3’s interior to luxury car standards.
One of the bigger changes to the interior is the new dash, which now has a fabric insert instead of the wood panel that has been on the Model 3 since it launched in 2017. Also new on the dash in ambient LED lighting, which we found to be a surprisingly nice touch. The LED light strip, which you can customize to any colour, wraps around the dash and extends all the way to the rear doors.
Then there is the aforementioned steering wheel, and lack of stalks. It took maybe half a day to get used to the turn signals being on the steering wheel, with more than a few instances of muscle memory kicking in to reach for the stalk. However after that, it became second nature, and I actually ended up preferring it over the stalks after driving the 2024 Model 3 for a few days. Other functions have also been mapped to the steering wheel, and like with the turn signals, once you become acclimated to the new layout, it is nothing to concerned about.
The new Model 3 also has a center airbag horn, so one of the biggest complaints with the yoke has been addressed.
Ventilated front seats are also new, adding to the premium feel of the interior. The seats continue to be extremely comfortable, and I have no complaints after driving the new Model 3 for several days.
Build Quality
Historically, Tesla has faced criticism over inconsistencies in build quality, but the 2024 Model 3 marks a notable improvement in this area. Panel gaps are non-existent, even on this pre-production build from the Fremont factory. Gone are the rattles and squeaks, with the overall fit and finish reflecting a high level of precision engineering, with the new Model 3 living up to the premium tag it is so often associated with.
Should I buy the 2024 Tesla Model 3?
The 2024 Model 3 is a testament to Tesla’s commitment to constant improvement. It builds on the strengths of its predecessors while addressing areas that needed refinement. With its enhanced ride quality, luxurious interior, improved build quality, and the fact that it will continue to get better with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, the 2024 Model 3 is definitely worth a hard look if you are thinking of upgrading from an older Model 3.
If you are looking to get into an electric vehicle for the first time, the 2024 Model 3 should be at the top of your list. Not only is it a significant step forward for Tesla, but it also sets a new benchmark for what consumers should expect from not only an EV. but a car in general.
What makes the 2024 Model 3 even more impressive is that the price has remained the same, and when you add in that both the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range variants qualify for the $5,000 federal iZEV rebate, and additional provincial rebates where applicable, we are hard pressed to think of a better EV, or even a better car, to buy in Canada today.
