Sold my old Model 3 for the Highlander version: Quick list of changes

Overall a modern, improved and nuanced update with a price reduction of 6000€ compared to the old model. What more one wants!

BHPian carthick1000 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Time for an update / upgrade:

It has been exactly 5 years since I got this model 3 and the lease came to an end. I had the option to extend the lease. But this car had served me so well that my confidence with the whole Tesla ecosystem (products, sales, service, charging) helped me decide not to extend the lease, but purchase a new one.

Happy to share with you all the highland model 3. It is the same base RWD model and the same color but it has improved a lot and become much more mature (in design) and sophisticated (in ride, handling and interior).

I just got the car a week ago and here is a short summary of observations:

• Handling is similar to the legacy Model 3 - sporty.
• Seats are slightly stiffer and good on firm side like most European brands.
• Cabin noise is 30-40% less
• No hard suspension jolts like legacy model 3 but smooth and sophisticated on bridge expansion joints, pothole covers etc. Thanks to the new frequency selective dampers.
• Display/ Computer has become quite fast (AMD Ryzen with Full self-driving computer).
• Ambient light all around gives a lounge feel
• Turn signals on steering wheel takes some getting used to but the operation is even quieter than the handles
• No PRND shifter handle. That is done from screen or automatically by the car.
• Powered hands-free Trunk without dirty hands
• Adaptive (matrix) headlights really work well
• Steering wheel and the buttons location and design has become much more ergonomic and comfortable. A slight flat bottom too helps in the clearance space for legs
• Interior wooden trims are long gone. All replaced by durable fabric, which goes well with the updated interior
• Front seats are now not only heated but also cooled. Steering wheel heating and rear seats heating is added too.
• A small touchscreen in the rear comes in handy for my daughter to watch her films and videos on long drives. All aircon and heating controls are possible from rear screen as well as streaming with dedicated rear only sounds enabled
• The battery capacity increased from 50 to 60kWh and the coefficient of drag reduced from 0.23Cd to 0,219Cd. Both these factors contribute easily to an increased realistic range of around 400kms (I got around 300km with legacy model 3)
• Gets heatpump instead of legacy model 3’s resistive heating system for cabin, battery pack and power electronics. This helps largely in minimizing the negative impact of cold weather on range.

Overall a modern, improved and nuanced update with a price reduction of 6000€ compared to old model. What more one wants!!

Here is a short overview from Tesla

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.