• Minimalist interior design dominated by touchscreen
• All functions handled from the screen
• Build quality is improved over the Model S and X 

How is the quality and layout?

Even getting into a Model 3 is unconventional. You unlock the car by waving a key card around on the car’s door pillar (or using your smartphone, once you’ve downloaded the Tesla app). This is about as minimalist as car interiors go, and the modernist cabin is distinguished by a near total absence of buttons and switches.

Apart from window switches and traditional controls to move the electric seats, all other functions are operated by the touchscreen infotainment system – even Reverse and Drive. Thankfully, the logic is impeccable and if you can use a smartphone, you’ll be absolutely fine with the interface in here.

The steering wheel gets a pair of roller switches designed to scroll through a variety of services, from audio controls to the adaptive cruise control and Autopilot systems. The control wheels work vertically and horizontally, so take your time to acclimatise to them.

The interior can come in very light shades, and some family owners might find this off-putting. The good news is that this is easy-to-clean and hard wearing, with some upgraded trims, materials and mood lighting for a more premium feel in the 2024 models.

162

Infotainment and tech

The dashboard is dominated by the 15.4-inch touchscreen which looks sleeker thanks to its slimmer bezel than before. It is your control panel for everything. Where as the adjusters for the mirrors, the steering wheel and the climate control system? They are all located in the central screen’s top-level menu system.

The centre console therefore becomes a supremely-roomy depository for your phones, wallets and coins, with matte black trim panels lifting to reveal cubbies below. A lot of thought has gone into these, and it’s been expanded for even more storage.

The centre consolt also has two separate wireless phone charging pads, as well as USB-C slots. So if your phone connects via USB, remember to get an adapter. There is a standard fit USB slot in the glovebox for dash cams too. Rear-seat passengers now gets a standard 8.0-inch screen for controlling the aircon or watching videos.

162

Comfort

• Updated seats are chilled as well as heated
• Lots of legroom upfront, not so good in the rear
• Glass roof and panoramic windows make it very airy inside

The upgraded seats in a Tesla Model 3 are comfortable and supportive. The cheapest models come with the so-called Partial Premium interior, which brings 12-way electric adjustment and a simpler leather upholstery.

If you order the Long Range, you automatically receive the Premium Interior package, with upgraded seat material and other niceties such as an improved 17-speaker stereo, streaming services for music, internet browser and other services.

As usual in an electric car, there is no transmission tunnel. So, there is plenty of space for feet and limbs, especially in the rear passenger compartment. It’s not as roomy as a BMW i5, but compared its more direct rivals, such as the BMW i4 or Polestar 2, it’s more than acceptable.