Tesla Model 3 2024: All the differences and new features of the facelift

The Model 3 has been in production since 2017 and officially available in Europe since 2019. During this time, the mid-size car has set several sales records, but has only received one facelift, at the end of 2020.

But now further improvements have been introduced: The revised Tesla Model 3 2024 was presented at the end of August 2023 and is internally known as the Tesla Model 3 Highland.

Read all about the new Model 3 facelift and the differences to the previous model here.

Tesla Model 3 Highland: The logical next step for Tesla

With the facelift, Tesla is taking an important step to ensure the success of its mid-range car in the coming years. While the Model 3 remains a bestseller and has even made it into the top 20 best-selling cars of all drive types, the competition is not standing still.

The range of electric cars is greater than ever, and new innovations, trends, and improvements are constantly emerging on the market. It therefore only makes sense to refresh a car whose basic design dates back to 2018 and adapt it to current trends. Tesla is following this idea with the Highland model.

The first of these vehicles are already on the roads of Europe and should be easy to recognize – because the changes included in the facelift are not only technical, but also visual in nature.

Tesla has placed a particular focus on increasing driving comfort and further improving efficiency. The digital offerings in the interior have also been expanded.

By the way: While the Highland model has been available in Europe for several months, it only appeared in North American configurators on January 10, 2024. This also demonstrates how important the European market has become for Tesla.

Tesla Model 3 2024: This is new and different

The 2024 Tesla Model 3 facelift aims to bring the best-selling car up to date and make it fit for the coming years. Tesla claims to have replaced or modified 50 percent of all vehicle parts. Since this is difficult to verify, we want to focus on the changes that are actually visible and noticeable. So let's start with the visual updates!

2024 Tesla Model 3: New headlights, new rear end

Perhaps the most noticeable design change is found at the front of the Model 3: The headlights They are significantly narrower and longer than before, which makes the car appear somewhat more aggressive.

In addition, some air intakes and the fog lights in the front bumper were removed; this is now smoother and tidierOnly an air intake below the license plate remains; it's simply not possible to do without one entirely.

Furthermore, the few lines of the vehicle's contour are even sharper than before, resulting in an extremely This contributes to a clean look – the English would say either "very sleek" or "super smooth". All of this improves the drag coefficient (cw value), which drops from 0.23 to 0.219. This makes the Model 3 the most aerodynamic of all Teslas when considering its total surface area, further reducing its energy consumption; more on that later.

Also a real eye-catcher: the new tail. What previous models had a Lettering sticker Previously, customers had to buy cars to have the iconic word on the back; now, the Highland model features the standard "TESLA" lettering.

Furthermore, the lights were also changed here; they are now a single unit. "C"-shaped piece The taillights are now completely integrated with the trunk lid. Previously, they were split into two sections, with only half moving with the trunk lid.

Similar to the front apron, the rear bumper It has been redesigned. The black plastic part now extends further upwards, and the reflectors are integrated into it instead of being separate as before.

Furthermore, the Tesla Model 3 facelift will come in 2024. two new colorsThe new Model 3 features the same paint colors we already know from the Model S and Model X – Ultra Red and Stealth Grey – and the wheel design has also been revised. All these measures contribute to the fact that the "new" Model 3 visually distinguishes itself clearly from the "old" one without losing its distinct identity.

Anyone who uses a measuring tape will be able to distinguish between them even without knowing the visual changes: The Highland model is just under 4.72 meters long. 2.5 centimeters longer than its predecessor. However, the wheelbase, which is crucial for the available interior space, has not changed.

Tesla Model 3 Highland Interior

The visual updates continue inside. One quickly notices the changes to the steering column. no levers There are no more physical buttons – the turn signals are now activated via a touch-sensitive button on the steering wheel. The windshield wipers are also now a semi-physical button on the steering wheel, along with a button for activating the surround-view cameras. There are no longer any freely programmable buttons in the Highland.

For some, the removal of levers may be good news, for others not. In any case, Tesla's design language will be of maximum scope. Minimization This was continued consistently.

A glimmer of hope for all opponents of this approach: The horn It moves to the center, onto the airbag, where it can be operated quickly and easily, and where it's located in almost every other car. The steering wheel itself remains round; there's no yoke or anything similar.

Further changes can be found on the dashboard: This is now covered by a Ambient LED strips Surrounding the car is a strip that runs along the windshield and extends into the doors. This gives the cockpit a futuristic look. As expected, the color of the LED strip can be changed at any time.

As part of the facelift, the wood trim that previously adorned the Model Y's dashboard also disappears in favor of a fabric-like panelsIt looks more modern, youthful, and technologically advanced than its predecessor. If Tesla now masters autonomous driving and can do away with the steering wheel, the cockpit will simply be a stylish backdrop for the prominently placed display.

For those who want to upgrade their new car even further, our Tesla Model 3 Highland Accessories Numerous useful additions are available.

Changes to the rear seat

But Tesla isn't just making improvements to the cockpit; the rear seats have also been upgraded. Especially practical for families: the rear seats now also have a display integrated into the back of the center console – similar to what you find in the Model S and Model X.

This 8-inch display It can be used to adjust the air conditioning, select music, and of course, watch movies and play games. Perfect for Tesla driver with children on long holiday journeys.

Another new feature in the back seat: The Seats They are now positioned further from the floor and better padded, which should make sitting in them significantly more comfortable. Previously, some customers and automotive journalists had expressed negative opinions about the rear seats, which were mounted too close to the floor and thus forced passengers into an uncomfortable sitting position.

To some extent, this problem is unavoidable given the high floor due to the battery and the sloping roofline, but Tesla seems to have found a way to enable at least a small improvement.

Technical changes and new materials

Numerous innovations in the Model 3 Highland also affect the hardware and the materials used, with a particular focus on Noise reductionExcessive wind noise was one of the main criticisms of the Highland's predecessor, which Tesla has now addressed with various measures.

So there is all around double-glazed windows (Previously, only the windshields and the two front windows were fitted with acoustic glass), The interior materials were also selected based on their noise absorption capacity. According to Tesla, this also increased the overall quality of the materials used.

The new Model 3 will also be quieter thanks to specially developed TiresThe new tires are designed to reduce rolling noise and also increase efficiency. Unfortunately, they also reduce the top speed, dropping it from 225 or 233 km/h to 201 km/h.

In addition to noise reduction, the new tires are also intended to contribute to a more comfortable driving experience, as they offer better cushioning than before. To improve this area even further, Tesla has also completely redesigned the vehicle's suspension. chassis Redesigned, with new springs and dampers, as well as new geometry and revised suspension points.

Technical innovation in the interior

Inside, no technical changes are immediately apparent, but they do exist. The Highland Model 3 gets a new, brighter display (although the underlying computer remains the same). Thanks to a narrower bezel, the screen actually offers more usable area despite maintaining its 15.4-inch size.

Tip: If you drive a new Model 3 Highland and want to keep both displays in pristine condition, then protect them with suitable screen protectors. Protective lenses.

Furthermore, in addition to the already existing seat heating, Tesla is also introducing a Seat ventilation for the front seats This results in a significant increase in comfort during the summer: finally, no more sweaty T-shirts and trousers sticking to the seat. To enable this feature, the seat surfaces are perforated, which also noticeably contributes to a high-quality interior look.

The sound system, which now features over 17 speakers (previously 14) in the premium version and It has two subwoofers. The basic system at least gets... nine speakers and a subwoofer.

Premium sound is available in the Model 3 Long Range, while the basic system is available in the rear-wheel-drive Model 3. Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal are integrated into the infotainment system in all cases, but still require the Premium connectivity in order to be able to function on the go.

Last but not least, Tesla also wants to improve connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE mobile network They have been further optimized. However, since these already worked excellently before, it is questionable whether the user will notice the improvements in everyday use.

Tesla Model 3 Highland Range

All the changes to the exterior design make the Model 3 even more efficient than before. Up to The efficiency increase is expected to be 8%. to amount to or decrease consumption.

According to official WLTP figures, the standard rear-wheel-drive model achieves a fuel consumption of 13.2 kWh per 100 kilometers, the long-range model with its two engines takes its time for this route 14.0 kWh – both extremely good values.

To put this into perspective: The fuel consumption figures correspond to the calorific value of 1.35 or 1.43 liters of diesel. No combustion engine can achieve this consumption per 100 kilometers; even assuming that the Tesla's WLTP consumption is not entirely realistic.

For the WLTP range, the economical consumption figures mean the following:

Important to note: The values ​​for 18-inch rims are estimates from Tesla; only the 19-inch values ​​are official.

For comparison: The Highland's predecessor had a range of 491 kilometers (standard) or 602 kilometers (long range) according to WLTP and consumed 14.4–14.7 kWh per 100 kilometers. Such a Increase in reach Achieving this without major modifications to the vehicle is quite remarkable.

Interestingly, despite these significantly improved figures, other performance data such as acceleration (6.1 and 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h, respectively) have remained unchanged. Furthermore, there is no indication that the battery has been modified. The improvements are therefore solely attributable to changes in aerodynamics and any advancements in drive technology.

Another point to consider: The fact that Tesla can squeeze another 8% out of the Model 3, which is already one of the most economical and efficient electric cars, speaks volumes about the innovative strength and expertise of Tesla engineers. However, it also demonstrates the intensity of the competition and the resulting pressure to innovate in this sector, and how crucial range remains as a key purchasing factor.

Tesla Model 3 2024 Price

Despite many changes and improvements, the new Tesla Model 3 hasn't actually become more expensive. The Tesla Model 3 Highland currently costs... €42,990 for the standard version and €51,990 for the long-range model.

This means that the Highland costs less than its predecessor did for a long time – although Tesla prices are known to fluctuate quite a lot and frequently.

The only reason why the Model 3 Highland might ultimately be more expensive than previous versions is the discontinuation of the government's electric vehicle subsidy. This subsidy was discontinued at the end of 2023 as a cost-cutting measure, though neither Tesla nor the new model is to blame for this.

It remains to be seen whether and how strongly this change will affect Tesla's sales figures and the electric car market in general. In any case, rising effective prices increase the importance of a solid product and excellent marketing – both strengths of Tesla. But back to the pricing of the Model 3 Highland:

The two new colors “Ultra Red” and “Stealth Grey” will each cost an additional €2,000.In addition, the colors “Solid Black” and “Deep Blue Metallic” are still available for €1,300, as well as the “Pearl White” option at no extra charge.

Otherwise, little has changed regarding the optional extras. The newly designed 19-inch Nova wheels are available for an additional €1,700, the white interior for €1,200, and the tow bar suitable for a one-ton towing capacity for €1,350. The two autopilot packages, "Enhanced Autopilot" and "Full Self Driving Capability," also remain unchanged at €3,800 and €7,500 respectively.

Performance version coming later

As you may have noticed while reading this text, only the standard and long-range versions of the Model 3 are ever mentioned.

This is not because these two variants already cover all the new features, but because the performance version of the Highland facelift has not yet been presented and is not currently listed in the Tesla configurator (as of March 2024).

The Model 3 family's performance powerhouse is expected back later this year – we are curious to see if it will be even faster than before, or if the changes, like those of the rest of the Model 3 family, will be limited to appearance and comfort.

Tesla Model 3 Highland: Conclusion

With the changes introduced as part of the Model 3 Highland facelift, Tesla has addressed key criticisms and further improved already well-functioning components. The increase in range is particularly noteworthy, as are the improvements in comfort (noise reduction) and entertainment (rear-seat display) – and, of course, the fact that all of this is available at the same price as before.

With these improvements, the Model 3 is more than ever the “little brother” of the luxurious Model S, which is only slightly inferior in size and performance.

In this way, the Model 3, already a bestseller, secures its place at the very top of the electric vehicle world and is once again the latest trend in terms of design. The only real concern is the discontinuation of subsidies for electric cars; however, Tesla has consistently proven successful in the past, even in challenging market conditions.

Do you think Tesla has succeeded with the new Model 3? Comment below with your opinion.