10 Changes That Make the Refreshed Tesla Model 3 a Vastly Improved Car

The overhaul of Tesla's base model has been a hot topic for the past year or so since the first rumors about the so-called "Project Highland" have surfaced in the news. The enigmatic project name has inflamed the imagination of many Tesla fans, becoming one of the crucial factors that made the refreshed Model 3 the most talked-about Tesla project. Shortly before the updated Model 3 was unveiled in Europe, searches for "Model 3 Highland" were beating the Cybertruck by a margin.

Few people know the true story behind Project Highland, and those who know it deny that the name even existed. Last January, speculations abounded about it being somehow connected with Highland Park, the place where Ford started the car manufacturing revolution. As such, it was given gargantuan proportions, amounting to a new industrial revolution. This was not just gossip in a teenager forum. Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley, one of the most reputed industry analysts, talked about it in one of his reports.

Project Highland's name has nothing to do with Highland Park

Since the Project Highland rumors started at a time when Tesla was also expected to overhaul its manufacturing processes, it's easy to understand how the two got mixed. Only two months later, during Investor Day, Tesla unveiled the Unboxed-Vehicle manufacturing process and its next-generation EV platform. Only then did it become clear that Project Highland is not connected to this new process.

Intriguingly, despite Project Highland becoming emblematic of the Model 3 to the point that everyone now calls it the "Model 3 Highland," Elon Musk denies that it even existed. Tesla's CEO replied with "It's not real" to someone asking him about the origin of the Highland name. This didn't make sense because even the Tesla website mentioned the Highland name, including in the parts catalog.

However puzzling this might be, maybe Musk was right, and we should move away from the Highland name. As the refreshed Model 3 has replaced the old model in all markets, there's no need to differentiate between them anymore. Instead, we should focus on the improvements brought by the new Model 3 because there are many changes to process. Here are what I believe to be the most important ten features that make the new Model 3 better than the one before.

1. Welcome Design changes

The first thing people notice about the revamped Model 3 is the fresh, new design. Tesla has been very conservative in this regard until now. This is obvious when comparing the original Model S and the variant currently in production. Although several updates have been introduced between the two, it's hard to tell the differences. That's not to say that the Model S hasn't evolved. Beneath the skin, the current model is light-years ahead, with many new technologies and improvements.

The Model Y has also received many upgrades under the hood without any slight changes on the outside. This is why the Model 3 Highland, despite retaining many characteristics of the old model, is decisively different, starting with its design. Tesla says that 50% of the parts in the refreshed Model 3 are entirely new. This is obvious when comparing the new and old models side by side, as only the rear quarter panel and the doors appear similar.

The new headlights and the more pointed front fascia give the Model 3 a bolder stance, which many Tesla fans have appreciated. Despite being a mild refresh as far as design is concerned, this feels like a brand-new model. It's not only bolder, it's also more elegant, an impression that only gets more substance once you get to see the car in person.

2. Improved aerodynamics

The design changes are not just cosmetic, as Tesla let us know. The refreshed Model 3 feature improved aerodynamics as well, with benefits in terms of efficiency and wind noise. Those who criticized Tesla's build quality in the past should notice how much tighter the panel gaps have become. Minor design changes and improved build quality resulted in a marked improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, with the coefficient of drag lowering from 0.225 to 0.219.

Tesla also lowered the Model 3's body, which made the ground clearance drop by about 0.1 inches (2.54 mm). This is a small detail that is unlikely to be noticed in real life but has important implications for overall efficiency. Slight variations in weight (Long Range is 4 pounds lighter, while RWD is 29 pounds heavier than before) add to this to make the refreshed Model 3 more efficient and, thus, go further on a charge.

While the RWD variant retains the 272-mile EPA rating, the Long Range trim has 2.4% more range: 341 miles. This seems like a modest improvement, but keep in mind that the EPA changed the conditions for EV range tests to include more unfavorable settings and configurations. The changes made other Tesla models lose up to 37 miles of range. Even a tiny improvement in the case of the Model 3 amounts to a hard win.

3. The Model 3 Highland is adaptive headlights-ready

Tesla Model 3's headlights have a higher purpose besides looking good. They are also the first to be certified as adaptive headlights. Don't get me wrong, all Tesla Models have been shipped with LED matrix headlights since 2020. Still, none of them has adaptive headlight features because they were not enabled in the software.

The Model 3 Highland has been certified with adaptive headlights in Europe, being the first Tesla offering such features. Although not guaranteed, I expect them to also be offered in North America via an upcoming software update. If you're wondering what Tesla is waiting for, the new feature needs to be certified in the US the same way it was in Europe.

Adaptive headlights allow some neat tricks with the light, which is why, in Europe, they are also called "curved lights." Not because they are really curved (light only shines straight) but because the beam can be formed in different shapes to suit various scenarios. These include the ability to mask oncoming vehicles while keeping full beam on around them for optimum visibility.

4. A more upscale interior

If the exterior design is one of the Model 3 Highland's highlights, there is also plenty to talk about on the inside. Tesla really outdid itself in this department, making the Model 3 one of the most pleasant cars to live with in the entire lineup. It comes with higher-quality, softer materials, improving the tactile feel. All seats are now perforated, which allowed Tesla to offer ventilated front seats in addition to heated seats before.

A lovely addition is the RGB ambient lighting, which is now considered one of the coolest features in the new Model 3. The light strip flows from the dashboard and into the door carts, providing a pleasant atmosphere. The color can be tweaked in the infotainment menu, and because it's an RGB light, you can choose pretty much any color you like.

It's not only looks that are better now. Tesla has also improved things on the functional level. One tiny example is using two motors for the power trunk lid instead of just one. This resulted in a quieter automatic close and, undoubtedly, more reliable operation.

5. Better cabin comfort

People riding in the new Model 3 have been impressed by how comfortable it is. This is especially true when compared to the outgoing model. Tesla made improvements to the seats, which are now more comfortable, with the most noticeable change in the rear seats.

The ventilation, air conditioning, and heating (HVAC) system is now dual-zone. This offers more control by enabling the driver and the passenger to set different temperatures or even turn off the passenger side completely. The ventilated front seats also enhance thermal comfort in the summer.

One area in which Tesla made a lot of effort with the Model 3 Highland is noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Tesla used all the tricks in the book to improve sound comfort, suspension comfort, and road vibrations.

6. Improved sound isolation

Sound comfort is arguably the most important during long road trips. The Model 3 is already better in this regard, thanks to better aerodynamics. However, Tesla worked to keep noise at a minimum. Instead of using acoustic glass only on front windows, the refreshed Model 3 has what Tesla calls "360-degree acoustic glass." This means all the rear windows (including the back window) are now made of acoustic glass.

Sound doesn't enter the cabin only through windows (wind noise) but also through the floor (road noise). To muffle this sound, Tesla upgraded the sound isolation, achieving a much quieter ride. Finally, cabin noise is also improved by designing the hood in such a way that the wind flows more quietly over it.

These measures contribute to lowering wind noise by 30%, while the impact noise is improved by 25% and road noise by 20%. This makes the refreshed Model 3 one of the quietest models in Tesla's lineup and a delight to go on long journeys without feeling tired.

7. Enhanced ride quality

The final component of these comfort-improving measures is improving ride quality by upgrading the suspension. The Model 3 Highland might use the same vehicle architecture, but Tesla still made significant changes to the suspension to improve both handling and ride comfort. The stiffer car body also ensures it handles better through corners.

The most important contribution is brought by using softer springs and new frequency-response dampers. These are not adaptive dampers, but they offer improved ride by reacting to suspension inputs. Specifically, higher frequency inputs (during high speed driving) result in stiffer damping, while more ample movements (low frequency) use more suspension travel.

The suspension geometry on the front axle has also been improved, while new bushings provide better decoupling overall. Finally, the way everything is bolted to the car's chassis has changed, resulting in reduced noise and vibrations and improved ride comfort.

8. Improved connectivity

Probably one of the most essential upgrades to the Model 3 interior concerned the infotainment system. This came as a surprise when rumors about the updated model started surfacing on social media. Tesla EVs already have state-of-the-art infotainment systems, so what could Tesla improve? It turned out it was a lot, and not because the original Model 3 was lacking in this department.

For instance, Tesla improved Bluetooth communication, which was one of the most common complaints abound the outgoing model. With better Bluetooth, the car could recognize the phone from further away. Not only that, but the Model 3 Highland also comes with more microphones in the cabin, making phone calls sound clearer and more refined.

Connectivity was also part of this upgrade, resulting in a 50% improvement to the in-car cellular service. The new model uses a dual-band Wi-Fi connection, which has twice the range of the previous model. Last but not least, the USB-C port in the center console now provides up to 65 watts of power, enough to charge a laptop.

9. Beefed-up multimedia system

The Tesla Model 3 Highland features a more beefed-up audio system, with no less than 17 speakers. Even the base version Model 3 RWD comes with a 9-speaker audio system. The Premium Audio system comes with two amplifiers and two subwoofers, a detail the Model 3 inherited from the Cybertruck. The center screen is also brighter and has thinner bezels while also being more responsive.

The Model 3 also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen for rear passengers, something that only the Model S and Model X had. This leaves the Model Y as the only Tesla without rear-screen entertainment. Things are set to change soon, as Tesla is also preparing to update the crossover, taking the Model 3 as an example.

Even though the Model 3 Highland follows the bigger brothers with the rear screen, it also has something unique, at least for a while. Tesla unlocked a separate audio channel for the rear passengers. They can connect two headsets at the same time to listen to music and watch videos without disturbing the driver. Until Tesla offers the same in the Model S/X, the rear passengers in these cars can only share the audio stream with the front passengers.

10. Better safety

More comfort and convenience features are always welcome. Still, new cars should also improve occupant safety to make them worthwhile upgrades. Tesla EVs are already among the safest cars on the market, and the EV market leader made sure the Model 3 Highland ticks all the boxes in this department and then some.

The car's structure has been upgraded, with the doors featuring a new latch at the bottom to hold better in the case of a crash. This also contributes to the car's torsional rigidity, so it has multiple benefits. The change is easy to notice when you open the doors, but the Model 3 Highland probably has more under the skin.

Since the North American owner's manual has not yet been published, it's unclear whether the safety updates operated in Europe and Asia will also be offered to the US customers. I sincerely hope they will be, which is why I take the time to talk about them briefly. One of the most significant changes is a center airbag between the front seats, which helps prevent front passengers from bumping into one another in the case of a side impact.

The Model 3 also features blind spot indicator lights in the A-pillar speakers, lighting up to signal when a car is approaching from behind in the adjacent lane. Based on earlier reports, it also comes with an easily accessible emergency door release in the rear door pockets. Finally, the Model 3 sold in Europe features an active hood, which pops up to provide a cushion in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist. The older Model 3 also had an active hood in Europe but not in the US, so this one might not be offered stateside after all.