2024 Tesla Model 3 RWD 'Highland' Can Handle the Autobahn, but It's Not Made for That

If we allow ourselves to disregard most of the comfort creatures we ask from our cars nowadays, the Model 3 shines as one of the best cars ever made. It's truly the next-gen commuting appliance that has grown up nicely. But you don't have to believe me. Here's an impromptu test that proves the new unit can handle it all, including high-speed travel.

The journey started with the battery charged to 100%, translating into 262 miles of estimated range. The driver chose to have the acceleration in standard mode. The tires showed approximately 41 psi, which is what Tesla recommends.

The content creators don't wait around at all and start going.

They immediately noticed the cabin's quietness, made possible through double-pane windows, an improved suspension setup, and slightly quieter tires.

However, it's still not as good as something like the BMW iX. But the new Model 3 costs around $48,700 with tax included in the UK, whereas BMW's zero-emission crossover starts from around $85,220 in the same country. No matter how anyone looks at it, there are multiple noticeable improvements right from the get-go with the facelift.

For example, there's no physical horn anymore. The car uses speakers to alert those around you of your Model 3's presence. That makes the noise less noticeable for those inside.

The seats are also better and have the ventilation function borrowed from the Model S and Model X.

But when they jumped on the highway, the driver noticed some steering wheel vibration. That may have been caused by a variety of issues like alignment or premature tire deterioration from sitting still for too long, none of which have to necessarily be related to build quality. Those can be fixed easily.

After about 20 minutes of highway driving, they notice the efficiency: 23.9 kWh per 100 miles or 4.1 miles per kWh. While that's impressive, remember that the initial portion of the test happened in the Netherlands, Europe. The speed limit on highways is 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) during the day. It increases to 81 mph (130 kph) from 7 PM until 6 AM.

They soon cross into Germany, where the highway speed limit is recommended to be 81 mph. On most portions of the Autobahn, there is no legal speed limit. They reached a top speed of 126 mph, and the wind noise made itself noticed but was not as prominent as in the older model.

Legal high-speed driving also helped the pair to notice that the softer suspension system doesn't provide the same exuberant level of dynamism. The new Model 3 is capable of high speeds, but maneuverability was traded for increased comfort.

Given the constant acceleration, the consumption shot up to 44.7 kWh per 100 miles, which can also be interpreted as 2.2 miles per kWh.

But keep in mind that this is the single-motor rear-wheel drive unit, the cheapest Model 3 Highland available. It doesn't even come with matrix headlights. Tesla should soon introduce a Performance variant that might boast some sporty and arguably necessary suspension upgrades to improve its cornering ability.

They drove 100 miles from the Netherlands to Germany and arrived at a V3 Supercharger with the high-voltage battery sitting at 39%. The car used 35 kWh of electricity. That's impressive, considering that most of the trip happened on the Autobahn at high speeds and with battery preconditioning turned on.

The vehicle started pulling energy at a rate of about 155 kW, which gradually dropped as the charge level increased. But the advantage of an LFP pack is that it can be charged to 100% almost all the time without worrying about accelerated degradation.

The wisest thing do is to charge at home or, if possible, at the office because it will be a lot cheaper in the long run.

All in all, the Model 3 facelift proved to be a great car right from the get-go, exactly like an iPhone – it works right out of the box. It remains to be seen what dependability will be like in the long run.