Honestly the software navigation that integrates with the power level and takes into account topography is the best thing about Teslas for me. It feels like a much more difficult process to get similar info and confidence in other EVs.
Cory Parker great point. I drove 3 different Leafs before getting my Tesla, and I could never be sure what range I'd have. The Tesla is almost exactly accurate.
One of the best reviews i've seen so far. Most of these reviews just feature somebody driving the car talking about how nice autopilot is and how much they like Tesla. You went into brilliant detail regarding the more subtle features of the car: headlights, trim, storage space, etc. Very very well done!
Big thing to know: The $35,000 model *is not* a "Standard Range" but as you can see in this video, a "Standard Range Plus" without auto pilot. The range and battery capacity appear to be 100% identical to the SR+ models. So if you're looking for the best Tesla deal, this is it. Sorry about the typo at ~7:00. I meant 0-100% charge times. Darn sticky fingers! Also, on chademo: Tesla released a part number for the adapter for the Model 3, however it has not yet shipped.
and when you said minutes instead of miles... :) great review. Can you confirm it has brake hold and how to use it? I think I will save and buy the Y, but still confirm what I want an need. Your reviews always help!
One of the BIGGEST benefits of Teslas is the Over the Air updates (OTA). I've only had mine since Feb, and they've already added DashCam, Sentry Mode (recording while parked), dog mode (climate control), 5% performance boost (what traditional car maker would even consider doing that?), etc. All while parked in my garage, without having to pay anything or bring it into a dealership. The car just keeps getting better and better!
@@Slick1020 Tesla is not ranked "last in reliability out of 29 car brands". Consumer Reports did rank them similar to Cadillac and higher than Volvo based on the Model S, primarily because of some air suspension issues they encountered (which doesn't apply to Model 3). Model 3 specifically was ranked "average". This is because they don't have much data on Model 3, and Model 3 was pretty new last year and so statistically they only had a couple hundred datapoints. Keep in mind that there are now about a quarter million on the road and of course, like every manufacturer, they keep making improvements. I also see over 50 Model 3's daily on my drive to work; I have never seen a Model 3 (or any other Tesla) at the side of the road. So in terms of reliability for what counts (drivetrain and battery pack), Tesla is widely recognized as being among the best in the industry.
@@rrrogster you're very incorrect. Most energy in America and Europe is no longer coal. In fact, you'd be surprised how much of it is renewable energy. Modern EV battery packs will last way more than a decade and degradation is very minimal compared to much older battery technology, which is what you're thinking of. And any lithium ion pack can be repurposed. Nobody just "trashes" them. Do updated research before you just say things like that.
@@hx3169 Shut the hell up. They are last you moron. Third to last and last are the same in my book. They aren't in the top ten. If you aren't in the top ten out of 29 brands you are last. I see lots of broken M3s on Twitter and RUclips. But since you don't see them, they don't exist. You must live on Mars.
You mentioned feeling that the electrically actuated dash vents are silly. I had the same initial impression, but there are a few reasons why I really appreciate them: 1. I hardly ever adjust the vents once properly set, so not having the manual louver controls showing is a cleaner esthetic and there is less chance someone will accidentally move them. 2. When I do adjust the vents I like having a more precise reference so I can note what position works best and return to it - The on sceen sliders help with that. 3. If a previous passenger adjusted a vent it's a lot easier to adjust it back as a driver using the display than leaning and reaching over to the far passenger side vent. 4. The car can offer additional automated featues to enhance the climate control, such as directing more air to the side windows when intensive defrosting is needed. I now wish more cars offered this feature!
The problem is if you decide you want more air blowing on you while driving, you have to take your eye off the road, and open a menu on a touch screen to adjust them. In most other cars you wouldn't have to take your eyes off the road to do this. The wiper controls face a similar problem.
Stephen Jeffcoat u THINK u don’t do this in other cars. Put a camera on yourself and u will b amazed how many times u look at the control when adjusting it.
Some of the things that seem over the top and silly may just take a bit of getting used to, adjusting your mindset. I'm thinking that much of the reasoning is that you don't want the driver to keep having to always switch back and forth between the old-style, direct, mechanical approaches and the screen-oriented approach.
At 23:36 you don't have the cable run correctly for the phone charge cable. It's easier to use when you put the 90 degree part of the cable into the bottom glossy piece at the bottom of that phone pad. It's not obvious, but that glossy part slides off toward the left so you can route the charge cables into them. Then the phone just sets on the mat and you can push it onto the stationary charge cable connector.
I have owned my midrange for just over a month. Some of your wishes become very easy to get used to (such as adjusting air vents). I think you need more time with the car. It does seem the biggest limitation is slower charging. I use the center console storage for lots of items. I also use the extra storage in the rear trunk a great deal and I think you kind of glosses over how useful they are. The frunk can also hold 2 duffel bags such as a gym bag and other things. I love the blue and wish I had spent the money for that instead of being cheap and getting the black but I spent only a little more then you for a midrange with a couple hundred miles on it when purchased.
You got a great deal on the MR if you paid only a little bit more than the SR. I bought one back in Feb (new with no miles) but paid "list" price. Still, can't complain as the car drives great - taken it on several trips so far and have no complaints and never had any range anxiety. I've used Superchargers a couple times (gotta make sure of the 9 months "free") and actually we hardly have time to finish a meal and get the kids packed up before it is fully charged up. Oh, and mine is black too, and yeah it's been hard to keep it show-room clean. But when it is, it looks great. I use microfiber cloths and Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All in the garage to keep it dust free, so it's not that big a deal.
@@Lovin_NY93 it's a dust magnet. but there's all sorts of nice aftermarket vinyl wraps available for it, which frankly look better anyway. They're maybe $30 so I just considered them part of the cost of the car.
irokatcod4 difficult...I clean it and it immediately looks dirty. I need to step up my cleaning game. Worse, I scratched the paint during my cleaning early in my ownership and am going to have to buff out the scratches at some point.
H x3 thanks...you got a good deal too because you got the free supercharging which I didn’t get. I typically charge at home but have taken two trips using super chargers 3 times for a little less then $21. I am going to check out your recommendation for cleaning!! Thank you!!
22:40 personally I love that you can direct the stream exactly towards your face without having to mess with moving parts. I think it’d be silly to have a beautiful minimalist interior and then have a traditional AC system with buttons and moving oarts
I agree. I didn't understand why he thought it was "silly". How many times do you need to readjust vents? It's a set it once and forget it feature. Out of the many reviews I've seen for the Model 3, all I heard was praise and appreciation for this feature.
As upset as I was purchasing the SR+ over the SR due to lies from Tesla, I must agree it's one of the best cars out there. As we'll see in the performance review, it slays all others in its category. Throw in reliability and operating costs, and Elon was right - you'd be an idiot to buy anything but a Tesla at this time. Everyone I take out for my 'presentation' wants one, and many are already making it happen. It's easy to ruin people with the Model 3. They walk back to their ICE-age cars, heads hung low, and grimace when they hear that oil-burner turning over.
@Stef That comes across as very ironic. In the face of objective facts making the modern EV (not just Tesla) superior to an ICE-age vehicle, you'd prefer to drive something that heavily pollutes, requires a huge amount of maintenance, and costs a relative fortune to operate. Perhaps you worship the old gods and I the new.
@Stef I live in BC, Canada. Almost all of our power comes from solar (in the form of hydro), so for me I am indeed driving emission free. Most other parts of the world, including the USA, are greening their grids more and more with time, meaning that even in areas where EVs indirectly pollute now, that will get better. Even powered completely from a coal station an EV is cleaner than an equivalent ICE-age car. The Tesla motor is also rated for 1.6 million km. The battery should last between 500-800,000km, and the body 1.6 million km. Think of the energy it takes to build a new car. The Model 3 could outlast 8 ICE cars, and.. ICE cars wear out their engine components in such a way as to become more polluting and less powerful with time. With the Tesla, you slap in a new battery in 20 years, and the car performs far better than when new (battery will also give 3x the range at 1/4 the price by then). Have you taken a Model 3 for a spin? Especially the AWD performance edition? If not, I suggest you do, and keep it for a day if you can. It will reset your appreciation of fun driving :) Mine is the lowly SR+ (a temporary car while I decide on either the Model Y performance, or the Rivian R1S). Despite that, it's the most fun to drive out of any car I've ever owned. The only changes I'd like to see are suspension related. Air-shocks would be great. Even a slightly higher, softer and less efficient ride would be a good option. It would be my absolute pleasure to take you for a ride if you're ever out this way. It's so much fun ruining people with this thing! :)
@Stef You do realize that many people who bought Tesla's came from ICE performance cars themselves? I have a 20 year history of owning, modifying and tracking turbo, AWD performance cars. I love them deeply and poured lots of money into my hobby. The Model 3 ended that. Do you not believe there may be logical reasons, even from a performance perspective, on why people become soo enamored with these cars? If you haven't driven one hard you are missing out.
Whaa? I'll just offer confusion as my reaction to your statement of it being Alex's best video...this video is not bad and indeed is typical Alex high quality, but I'm not sure what qualifies it as 'best'. I can think of many a video that warrant that title.
That is one sweet looking car! I wish my Fiat would have included a sweet EVSE like Tesla does! I ended up buying the Amazing E 3.7 kWh EVSE but the car is capable of charging at 6.6 kWh. I can’t wait to pick up a used base Model 3 in a couple years!
Yes and you might be very shocked to how little the car is worth. The battery dies slowly with time and who wants any all electric car with less than half its battery life. A new battery will cost more than the car is worth!
We have a TM3 standard range + The stereo sounds great 👍🏻 If you Bluetooth you’re phone it works great The sun 🌞 doesn’t bother me one bit even after a month of summer ownership How many times do you actually need to adjust the steering wheel. You can buy an adapter to turn into wireless charging for your phone,I just use the USB plug for my iPhone 10.Never had a problem with the sun visors. It locks within a few feet of walking away and gives you a horn honk. We Absolutely love the car just after a month of ownership.
This has to be the most detailed Tesla Model 3 review I've seen! And the base model at that! I love how you went in-depth with the infotainment system of the car, as most reviewers almost never touch on those little things. It's nice to know every single little detail about the Model 3, as it is the most innovative product Tesla has ever produced IMO. Definitely saving up for the maxed out luxury version of the car, just to futureproof it for the soon-to-come autopilot feature, Elon has recently revealed. Consider me subscribed for more future Model 3 vids, and well done!
@@borisdemelo correct. it is above the wipers. because Tesla wanted to hide the wipers all the way under the hood they are designed a little strangely.
@@DrThunder2004 Dimler did on C class like 20 years ago with single wiper handl for improved aerodynamics, not that strange if you know how much Tesla is build on best German auto engineering and know-how...
If you want old school then buy a leaf, If you want high tech buy a Tesla. The things you complain about IE air Vents clearly go over your head. Its new tech and works fantastic. Also makes the Model 3 very sleek and different from all other cars.
And it make it possible to configure them different per driver profile. And in cold climate the preheating will automatically adjust the wents optimally to defrost the side windows. So it is not a gimmick
Just love all the fan boy crap. NO matter what all electric cars get recharged with electricity mainly produced by fossil fuels. They are coal burners. You just can't see it.
@@rrrogster DUMB, DUMB. Even if an EV is charged from the dirtiest coal plant on the planet it is still 30% more efficient than gas. Because it takes 7kwhr of same said dirtiest coal plant electricity to manufacture raw oil into gasoline. If you put that 7kwhr of electricity directly into an EV you already go approx 30miles of range. But here's the kicker...once cars are electric the energy can be generated from multiple sources of choosing based on cost, or regional factors. Wind, Solar, Nuclear, hydroelectric, wave, geothermal, ect. and yes, even oil, gas and coal. And energy generated right here at home which transports at the speed of light and which electricity cables are already almost everywhere . On the other hand, gas can "only" come from oil and a lot of oil comes from countries that we don't like or question what they might be doing with the oil wealth you feed them. Also, to secure such oil some countries spend 15 "trillion" dollars on the country credit card forever more collecting interest and in addition to 5000+ soldiers lives. Electricity made right here at home sounds like a pretty good deal after all doesn't it. FYI. An EV gets the equivalent of 2500miles to a tank of gas.
The Tesla's air vents via tablet is silly? Instead of the regular plastic ones? I could be 100% wrong but the vibe/message i'm feeling from Tesla is one of technology and technological advancements, if you were looking for regular vents and what not maybe this car isn't meant for you. That was meant as a general statement to all not trying to be toxic/negative...
There's a difference between "technological advancements" and just making things over-complicated with no benefit. This falls into the latter category.
@@nodak81 i would disagree. Ive seen many reviews raving about the vents and thats not just tesla fan boy reviews. They offer extremely granular control and make the dash much less cluttered
The software controlled air vents allowed them to make the dash smaller and as a result it protrudes less into the cabin making the front space feel more roomy
Good review, but how the hell can you call the Airflow-System silly? I think it's the most innovative system ever built. You can adjust exactly where the air should flow to, you dont have to manually adjust multiple vents which in my opinion also doesn't look good in most cars.
it's good that they software limit the battery. so you don;t have to worry about charging the battery to 100%, because it is probably 70 80% of the full capacity.
I owned a LR M3 for over 6 months now, it is a joy to drive and that's why I got it. It felt like the future when I test drove it against a BMW and a Lexus and was way cheaper than a Porsche. Close to 10K miles and no issues. Yes, there are certain shortcomings (wireless charging is a must add) but all forgotten when driving. I can see how it may not feel that way with limitations of a standard model where the selling points are efficiency and simplicity. I recommend test driving a M3 to all my friends before deciding on a car. Also, in a traffic jam, M3 is awesome. It is quick to move with the stop and go traffic with an autopilot on unlike an ICE car that generally takes a couple seconds to get moving. In Chicago, I just set it and relax during a 40 min. 10 mile ride without jackasses cutting in front of me every 3 min.
Alex, the extreme minimalism in the interior is completely intentional. This car is not designed to be driven or controlled conventionally and you can’t fault them for thinking way ahead. Even if you drive it, after several months of owning, you’ll realize conventional buttons, knobs, forward display are completely pointless. I’ve realized a lot of people that own Tesla’s are right.. these cars get better the more you own it and all other cars are almost obsolete.
It's interesting, when I get into one of my ICE cars, I tend to miss the 3's user interface. I also have friends that leave their ICE cars on by accident!
The phone charging connector that you pulled on at 23:27 was not supposed to be yanked on. It is just supposed to be fixed in place to allow you to dock the phone. Perhaps your phone case made that difficult, but it fits perfectly for my thinner iphone6 case. You didn't explain why that wasn't useful, but as shown in the video the connector wasn't installed correctly and was flopping around.
Thumbs up about the cargo space analysis ! you are one (if the only one) the few that is showing that Tesla is underselling (or exact-selling) the cargo space as opposite of many other cars that greatly oversells their cargo space , like the I-pace where the 656l declared is utter BS.
Maybe that's why he didn't find it useful? Or was it because it's USB-C and his phone is something else? Also you can stream music from a thumb drive, so there's that.
24:04 I didn't get it at first but if you slide the bottom cover off the bottom of the phone tray you'll see that the cable actually installs a little cleaner and makes it more useful.
The phone holders in the center console are the first functional phone holders in any car to date! they allow you to charge your phone and be able to actually look at it interact with the screen at the same time. Unlike other cars that usually have some awkward slot to put your phone in that doesn't allow you to look at the screen or use your phone while it's charging. And that's if your phone fits in it at all.
Slip the phone into the dock, close the lid, start driving. No distractions. When you get to your destination, grab your charged phone The only problem is the charge port on the phone gets scratched up. But a wireless charger is available from several vendors that fits in the same place.
Same motor, different hp or torque is due to smaller battery pack. Obtw, horsepower is an archaic term best left to ice cars... The output metric is kw.
Alex... this is now a three-part video... Talk about keeping us in suspense! :-) I honestly don't like the look of the Model 3, especially from the front, but that interior makes up for all the exterior's woes. If Tesla can 'get serious' about supplying a $35k EV to the masses, it will knock off all the Hyundai / Kia / Nissan contenders purely because of the range, longevity and software features. And the cachet. TBH I've not been interested in Tesla at all until your last 'delivery' video, and now I'm seriously thinking a Standard Plus, in blue, with the 19" silver alloys could be my next car... ...unless Jaguar release a RWD, cut-price I-Pace, then all bets are off! Cheers.
lol, there is no competition with the 3. The nero, leaf, bolt, clarity and all other non-tesla EVs charge way too slow and have no chargers to even use in the US. If you find any, they will be 50kw. Have fun sitting for 2 hours to charge. Tesla makes the only long range EV because it charges fast and has chargers you can actually use. Even if those electrify america chargers ever materialize, 2 high speed chargers per stop is not enough for any real demand and none of the cars I mentioned come close to utilizing the 175kw speed they claim to support for 400v EVs. You go from 2 hours to 1.75 hours since you go from 50kw to 80kw. The e-tron(+$70K) is the only other long range EV on the market and it barely does 200mi. It claims good charge speed at 150kw, but that won't be enough range to get between the EA chargers in any winter climate when you lose 30% of the battery range. You also share those sparse EA chargers with slow EVs charging at 60-80kw, so they will be blocked and you will wait longer. It is unbelievable how not a single competitor EV can even match the 2012 model S. The competition is an embarrassment. Tesla has a minimum of 3 years before any real competitor matches what they have today and then they will lag behind tesla because tesla will have 3 more years of improvements. The only car that "competes" with a model 3 is a 2nd gen chevy volt. That car is a great EV if your commute is short enough and can drive long trips due to the gas engine acting as a range extender, but still actually good even if only half your commute is on electricity. The volt drives like an EV even when the gas engine is on. It actually gets slightly faster with the gas engine is on. It has no transmission, so it is as smooth as any EV and still pretty fast. A used 2nd gen volt with low miles is like $15-20k. If you want a cheap EV that isn't limited in range and not useless due to a lack of chargers or slow charging, it is your only option. A volt can fully charge overnight using a normal 120v outlet. A used 2nd gen volt competes by being 1/2 to 1/3rd the price. It is an economy class EV and tesla has no economy EVs. It competes by being alone in that price range. Hybrids normally are gas cars with electric motor assist, they drive and feel like gas cars. Even when they have an EV mode button, it just drives even slower(to the point of being dangerous) and barely can go any amount of meaningful range. Hybrids are a joke after you drive an EV. They do not compete at all.
This was a great video. The only thing he/you didn’t nail was the utility of the phone holder. It looked like your cord was just floating around untethered. The car comes with a lightning and USB cable with a special 90° angle. The tip locks into place so once fitted correctly, your phone slips right down onto the tip and charges your phone very quickly because of the dc to dc power. Wireless charging mats are fine if you drive cautiously. Driving an EV is a blast, even the base model has a good amount of get up and go. It’s easy to slosh your phone around and misalign the chi wireless charging. Some charging pads may be better than others, but some pads use up one of the USB slots. That USB slot is essential for your dash cam and Sentry mode which as I understand is included on the base model, so is dog mode. People freak out about the doors or button functions or light placement. You could have doubled the length of this video with even more great insights. This was more than enough for most people though. I’m glad you made such a nice video. Thank you.
Thank you Alex for buying a Base Configuration Model 3. Having watched your published Model 3 videos, these are unquestionably the best reviews bar-none. Please consider establishing a long-term test feature solely for this vehicle. There is significant interest in this product and you are an extremely trustworthy online resource.
Finally a model 3 review that treats it like a car and not some fun Rollercoaster with Easter eggs. Every other review is about the acceleration and autopilot capabilities and Easter eggs and other gimmicks but completely misses out on normal aspects of being a car.
I'm 6'4" and I sit in it just fine without even needing to slide the seat all the way back with tons of head room. Can fit in the back too, but that's a little tighter on the leg room. Head room is ok though.
The Prius has alloy rims AND hubcaps. I just found this out at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago while waiting for my car. Note, I'm not the Prius owner. I have also seen aftermarket hub caps for keeping alloy rims clean looking.
Is it easier to adjust vents manually? You have to scroll two wheels on every vent to get them the way you want them and there are usually four vents in the front. Moving around in the car adjusting 8 wheels on the vents to get them the way you want them, easy? Right... And how often do you really adjust the steering wheel? Does it matter if that takes a second or two?
4:36 Based on all of the info out there, I'm pretty sure the rear drive motor in all of the different trims is the exact same motor with different software limitations. In Q4 2018 there were several people reporting ordering the LR AWD and getting the Performance (not Performance Plus or Performance Upgrade Package) as well as people ordering the regular Performance, getting the LR AWD, complaining about the mistake, and then getting the same car back as a Performance model within an hour or two apparently after a software change. There's been a lot of discussions on the forums that the rear drive motor has the same part number is it being unlikely they're doing any kind of binning for Performance.
Motors are different on performance and awd. Rear motor in this is the same as the long range rear drive and mid range and sr+ but it is battery/inverter output limited from sr+ to mid range and long range but the sr has a slight software limit (think of it as being fuel pump and injector limited).
Overall I really like the clean esthetic of the interior with very minimal hard controls. For example, once I set the side mirrors and steering wheel position I hardly ever want to move them. And when I do, I don't find it a burden to get the contextual controls into that mode, especially since one shouldn't be driving when making such adjustments anyway. Memory recall and easy exit are also available for people that want it. However, I do have things I wish the vehicle included when it comes to hard controls, better soft controls, and instrumentation: 1. More hard wiper controls on the stalk. I hate that I have to use the touchscreen to change the wiper speed or take them in/out of automatic mode. This is horrible when driving, especially in inclement weather! I also really don't like having to press the stalk button for a single wipe and wash. I'd much rather it be a stalk up/down back/forward motion. I really think the steering column needs an additional stalk dedicated to wiper functions. This is a high importance saftey issue in my mind. 2. Easier fog lamp control. It doesn't have to be a physical control, although something on the lighting (highbeam, turn signal) stalk might be nice. If they just moved the fog lamp soft icon to the main screen for driving I might actually use the fogs when appropriate. Right now I never do because it's not safe to turn them on while driving and I don't like leaving them on all the time. 3. The car really could benefit from a head-up display showing things like speedometer, turn signal, next turn navigation instructions, audio system selections, etc. The interior would stay clean and one wouldn't need to look over at the touchscreen for even the most basic instrumentation. I get that Tesla might have been thinking the car would ultimately be autonomously driven, but it is very much a drivers car in so many compelling ways. This is sadly severely diminished when having to look at a center mount screen for everything.
They're really intuitive to use, and easy to keep clean, too. Unlike traditional car vents where you have to use a Q-tip to keep them clean (if you're into that kind of detailing).
Thank you Alex. The review is excellent and when you do get the price on updating to autopilot and self driving I hope I am still in the market. Definitely, this is the everyday Tesla I would spec out. Think, if you are using this to deliver the kids, groceries, and the odd 200 mile weekend trip there would be little need for autopilot and self driving until the time comes to enter your car for robo-taxi work. If Tesla could squeeze this down to $25,000 ….(possibilities unlimited)
i feel like a manual vent would be really hard to adjust with that form factor and just having the normal shitty airvent would suck. even though it takes a few steps i love the vents in the model 3
DumbDuck44 I live in San Diego an I tinted every other window and left the roof untouched an it’s perfect for me, I’ve had my Model 3 for nearly a year now
That cable you're holding isn't the charger it's the EVSE (basically a cable that controls the power flow and monitors things for safety). The actual charger is in the car.
Well, the bottom line is that you really need a full time screen operator in addition to the driver to operate this vehicle safely as even the simplest functions require you to take your attention and eyes of the road and fiddle with the touch screen. This takes a distracted driving to a next level !!!
Its easy and not distracting once you get used to it. If you need to dig into an option further just switch on auto pilot for a few seconds. Are you an owner? If not its a function of the car that you have no experience with and really have no business commenting on and there is a slight learning curve to it.
@@mirokefurt4740 Sorry whats your point? You obviously have never driven or own the car so how do you know what its like to live with? My point is that its no more distracting than any ICE vehicle once you get used to it. But please tell me more about a system that you have never used in person.
Get 3M Crystalline 20 tint on the passenger windows and 70 on the windshield, I live in San Diego and never for a moment have I felt I needed to tint the roof. I got a 30% tint on the rear panel because I didn’t want the rear roof to be too dark
Nobody knows capacity for sure but it's definitely not 50 kWh. It's a SR+ model with software locks, so it's more than 50. There are rumors that the SR+ also has a MR-size battery with software limit itself. It's definitely not 75, and you cannot unlock it to that size. But the question is it a SR+ battery or really a MR battery.
@@theAppleWizz It's still impressive for what it is. It's definitely lowish spec but really seems like it has everything most people would actually need with just enough gimmicks. I like it, hopefully they can get that price down even lower in time.
@@lemagreengreen oh I agree that the whole point. but what is shown in the video I don't think it's the 35K it's the 37K because most of the features are from the Stander+
@@lemagreengreen Announced at the Q1 meeting the Chinese version will be made with half the cap ex of the Fremont ones. Munro said it will give high 30% gross profits on the Model 3SR. ruclips.net/video/2DucRxWz_58/видео.html
Great review Alex! Plenty of the Model 3 in Miami.. Think Tesla played it too safe with the exterior styling.. Not that distinctive or attractive. Surprising there's no Appleplay or androidplay Charge time is impressive and the potential is more than the rest.
I don't know about you, but I'd never go back to traditional vents and I have never missed them even once. To put traditional vents in the Model 3 is just like sticking Backward, Forward, and Stop/Pause buttons on an iPad. LMAO.
It's actually super convenient - I find myself "reaching" for column shifter in my other cars with floor mounted shifters now. You should try test driving one - you might change your mind about Tesla. =)
Extremely thorough video as always, Alex you are definitely the best car reviewer on RUclips if you actually want to learn something about the cars that you're interested in. And congratulations on the new car. Some of the minor annoyances that you mentioned, the windshield wiper control steering wheel control the vent controls. Would absolutely drive me insane. I'm in my car a thousand miles a week, I'd probably pull my hair out. I also don't really like the door handle design on the inside or outside for that matter. What I would really love to have is an electric vehicle that has Tesla's battery and driveline and stick it in a Prius.
@@bigdougscommentary5719 The wiper controls while raining. Yes.. you do , the air vents yes.. thruout the day.. mirrors.. no. Still. Things you are going to use while you are moving in the car should have easy to use by touch controls.. not something you have to look at.
Does the car have traffic aware cruise control or autopilot? If TACC then how much is it to upgrade to autopilot or FSD in the screen option. Thank you. Great video on the standard model 3.
Will cost in excess of 8000$ autopilot is 3000 and fsd is 5000 right now but they announced it will be increasing it to 6000 on may 10th. Also i believe software unlock costs and additional 1000 for fsd if you dont just get it when you purchase the car. If you get an sr+ with fsd from the factory today you will spend 44 500. If you get the sr and upgrade afterwards adding autopilot and fsd you will pay 45 000 for just those features but you wont have the extra 20 miles of range or any of the other sr+ exclusives. Those will likely add an additional 2500 making it 47 500.
Tesla Model 3 DOES NOT support the Tesla CHAdeMO adapter. At least for now, the model 3 is not compatible with ANY DC fast charging network in North America other than Tesla Superchargers.
Apparently it's the software refusing to accept the charge. My guess is that they want you to use superchargers instead of other DC fast chargers, so they get the money.
Andrew there are so few DC fast chargers (at least in the US) apart from Superchargers that I don't think we're missing much. There are some around me locally, but none are easily accessible to interstates, which is the only prudent use case for DC fast charging.
I really liked the Model S when it debuted and think it’s still an amazing vehicle. It wouldn’t be my first choice, or only car, but I do think it’s a fantastic piece of technology. This? Not so much. I generally like minimalism in car design, but this is a bit too much. A few simple buttons or knobs would still be minimalist, but infinitely more convenient and user friendly. While the Model 3 is more upscale than a mainstream vehicle (Honda, Toyota, VW), it doesn’t seem to be quite luxury. I
Can you possibly get the extra power and better speakers by just paying a fee to reset the software? I could see buyers maybe skimping initially and then buying the extras later.
That is exactly right. Someone who buys a "Standard Range" Model 3 is actually buying a car with "Standard Range Plus" hardware with software limiting. So yes, the idea is that you can pay the difference later and receive the missing features via an over-the-air update.
@@_PatrickO : I'm a huge fan of Tesla, but I disagree. Tesla is years ahead of the competition in many ways -- battery management, motor efficiency, drag coefficient, etc. -- but Tesla still has many areas they can and should improve. Credit where it's due, obviously, but I think it's harmful to Tesla to say they "can't be doing anything wrong."
@@Pikminiman What area should they improve? They sell cars and they sell the only long range EV that is also cheaper than competitor short range EVs. They are already focusing on improving service, people have reported much better experiences recently. At the end of the day, they cannot do much about media that lies about them. They have to rely on word of mouth and personal experiences to negate the hogwash. Over time the negative stuff gets less and less credible because everything the negative reports says is impossible keeps coming true.
What if I launch a car brand and software limit the headlights, A/C, radio, cruise control, engine horse power, and the ECU so you can't fill up the tank completely. I'll nickel and dime you to unlock each of these feature. I'll go one extra step than Tesla and code the software so anything you pay to unlock will automatically expire after a set amount of time, and you'll need to pay again to use the full features. Heck, I'll even makeup a price point and make you pay a deposit and wait 2+ years before getting delivery.
That's my business model I'm building the next Tesla killer in my garage. It'll charge to 100% in 10 minutes and will go a 1000 miles on single charge.
This is silly. All that matters is what you get and how much it costs. No wait, that's not true: software limited is actually better. E.g. a software limited battery is immune from range loss.
The problem with the Clarity is that it didn't fully commit. If your going to do wheel skirts, go full nerd concept-car. I want those things to go ALL the way down! The clarity rear fenders want to be all things to all people, but they don't really satisfy anyone.
@19:24 "You can activate and deactivate the wipers via a button on a stalk." I wish that were actually true, but it's not. All the button on the stalk can do (A) is give you a single wipe with a "soft" press, or (B) activate the wiper fluid spray with a hard press. There's no way to turn the wipers on or off via the stalk.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide As you mentioned, in addition to commanding a single wipe of the wipers, pressing the stalk button will also bring up the wiper "card" in the bottom-left corner of the screen. But in my experience (and aligning with the wiper control descriptions in the manual) it won't change any wiper setting. But I can see how the wiper card popping up on the screen could be misinterpreted as changing the wiper settings. Here's what the manual says on page 53: "To perform a single wipe with the windshield wipers, press and immediately release the button on the end of the left-hand steering column lever. To adjust the continuous wiper settings, touch the windshield wiper icon located in the "Cards" area on the touchscreen (see Touchscreen Overview on page 4). The wiper card displays the current state of the wipers." Nothing about the button turning the wipers on/off.
@@scowler92 You will have a hard time doing that... You need to hack the hardware itself. Listen to the tech presentation on tesla FSD live stream and you will get it
@@dtay8913 This thing is ugly as shit. It is not more luxurious than an Acura or a BMW. If you want to see what a "luxury EV" will truly look like just look up the Jaguar i-Pace, Volvo Polestar-2 and Porsche Taycan.
@@joecool9739 How is this not more luxurious than an Acura ILX? You shouldn't even be comparing this to a 3 series because the cheapest 3 series you can buy is $40,000 and that is the base model that doesn't even have heated seats or navigation or any "luxury" features.
Would it be impossible or unsafe to put the electric motor and the battery pack in the front of the car? It seems to me there would be enough space. Is it a matter of weight distribution or safety?
The entire bottom of the car is battery. It would never fit up front. Also, yes, weight distribution. The motors are up front (on AWD models) and in the back, between the wheels on each "axle".
Honestly the software navigation that integrates with the power level and takes into account topography is the best thing about Teslas for me. It feels like a much more difficult process to get similar info and confidence in other EVs.
Cory Parker great point. I drove 3 different Leafs before getting my Tesla, and I could never be sure what range I'd have. The Tesla is almost exactly accurate.
One of the best reviews i've seen so far. Most of these reviews just feature somebody driving the car talking about how nice autopilot is and how much they like Tesla. You went into brilliant detail regarding the more subtle features of the car: headlights, trim, storage space, etc. Very very well done!
Big thing to know: The $35,000 model *is not* a "Standard Range" but as you can see in this video, a "Standard Range Plus" without auto pilot. The range and battery capacity appear to be 100% identical to the SR+ models. So if you're looking for the best Tesla deal, this is it.
Sorry about the typo at ~7:00. I meant 0-100% charge times. Darn sticky fingers!
Also, on chademo: Tesla released a part number for the adapter for the Model 3, however it has not yet shipped.
No problum Alec.;-)
We really do appreciate your hustle getting out great content. Keep up the great work!
and when you said minutes instead of miles... :) great review. Can you confirm it has brake hold and how to use it? I think I will save and buy the Y, but still confirm what I want an need. Your reviews always help!
best reviewer on youtube 👍👍👍👍🚗🚙🚘
Just press harder on the brake pedal for brake hold, ala Mercedes
Uhh, I've never yanked down my headliner, but that seemed kind of easy.
One of the BIGGEST benefits of Teslas is the Over the Air updates (OTA). I've only had mine since Feb, and they've already added DashCam, Sentry Mode (recording while parked), dog mode (climate control), 5% performance boost (what traditional car maker would even consider doing that?), etc. All while parked in my garage, without having to pay anything or bring it into a dealership. The car just keeps getting better and better!
OTAs? Shut up. OTAs hasn't stopped Tesla from being ranked last in reliability out of 29 car brands.
@@Slick1020 Tesla is not ranked "last in reliability out of 29 car brands". Consumer Reports did rank them similar to Cadillac and higher than Volvo based on the Model S, primarily because of some air suspension issues they encountered (which doesn't apply to Model 3). Model 3 specifically was ranked "average". This is because they don't have much data on Model 3, and Model 3 was pretty new last year and so statistically they only had a couple hundred datapoints. Keep in mind that there are now about a quarter million on the road and of course, like every manufacturer, they keep making improvements. I also see over 50 Model 3's daily on my drive to work; I have never seen a Model 3 (or any other Tesla) at the side of the road. So in terms of reliability for what counts (drivetrain and battery pack), Tesla is widely recognized as being among the best in the industry.
Moron troll
@@rrrogster you're very incorrect. Most energy in America and Europe is no longer coal. In fact, you'd be surprised how much of it is renewable energy. Modern EV battery packs will last way more than a decade and degradation is very minimal compared to much older battery technology, which is what you're thinking of. And any lithium ion pack can be repurposed. Nobody just "trashes" them. Do updated research before you just say things like that.
@@hx3169 Shut the hell up. They are last you moron. Third to last and last are the same in my book. They aren't in the top ten. If you aren't in the top ten out of 29 brands you are last. I see lots of broken M3s on Twitter and RUclips. But since you don't see them, they don't exist. You must live on Mars.
You mentioned feeling that the electrically actuated dash vents are silly. I had the same initial impression, but there are a few reasons why I really appreciate them:
1. I hardly ever adjust the vents once properly set, so not having the manual louver controls showing is a cleaner esthetic and there is less chance someone will accidentally move them.
2. When I do adjust the vents I like having a more precise reference so I can note what position works best and return to it - The on sceen sliders help with that.
3. If a previous passenger adjusted a vent it's a lot easier to adjust it back as a driver using the display than leaning and reaching over to the far passenger side vent.
4. The car can offer additional automated featues to enhance the climate control, such as directing more air to the side windows when intensive defrosting is needed.
I now wish more cars offered this feature!
Even better, the fan vent positions are saved to each profile setting.
The problem is if you decide you want more air blowing on you while driving, you have to take your eye off the road, and open a menu on a touch screen to adjust them. In most other cars you wouldn't have to take your eyes off the road to do this. The wiper controls face a similar problem.
Stephen Jeffcoat u THINK u don’t do this in other cars. Put a camera on yourself and u will b amazed how many times u look at the control when adjusting it.
Some of the things that seem over the top and silly may just take a bit of getting used to, adjusting your mindset. I'm thinking that much of the reasoning is that you don't want the driver to keep having to always switch back and forth between the old-style, direct, mechanical approaches and the screen-oriented approach.
At 23:36 you don't have the cable run correctly for the phone charge cable. It's easier to use when you put the 90 degree part of the cable into the bottom glossy piece at the bottom of that phone pad. It's not obvious, but that glossy part slides off toward the left so you can route the charge cables into them. Then the phone just sets on the mat and you can push it onto the stationary charge cable connector.
I have owned my midrange for just over a month. Some of your wishes become very easy to get used to (such as adjusting air vents). I think you need more time with the car. It does seem the biggest limitation is slower charging. I use the center console storage for lots of items. I also use the extra storage in the rear trunk a great deal and I think you kind of glosses over how useful they are. The frunk can also hold 2 duffel bags such as a gym bag and other things. I love the blue and wish I had spent the money for that instead of being cheap and getting the black but I spent only a little more then you for a midrange with a couple hundred miles on it when purchased.
How hard is it to keep the black clean?
You got a great deal on the MR if you paid only a little bit more than the SR. I bought one back in Feb (new with no miles) but paid "list" price. Still, can't complain as the car drives great - taken it on several trips so far and have no complaints and never had any range anxiety. I've used Superchargers a couple times (gotta make sure of the 9 months "free") and actually we hardly have time to finish a meal and get the kids packed up before it is fully charged up.
Oh, and mine is black too, and yeah it's been hard to keep it show-room clean. But when it is, it looks great. I use microfiber cloths and Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All in the garage to keep it dust free, so it's not that big a deal.
@@Lovin_NY93 it's a dust magnet. but there's all sorts of nice aftermarket vinyl wraps available for it, which frankly look better anyway. They're maybe $30 so I just considered them part of the cost of the car.
irokatcod4 difficult...I clean it and it immediately looks dirty. I need to step up my cleaning game. Worse, I scratched the paint during my cleaning early in my ownership and am going to have to buff out the scratches at some point.
H x3 thanks...you got a good deal too because you got the free supercharging which I didn’t get. I typically charge at home but have taken two trips using super chargers 3 times for a little less then $21. I am going to check out your recommendation for cleaning!! Thank you!!
22:40 personally I love that you can direct the stream exactly towards your face without having to mess with moving parts. I think it’d be silly to have a beautiful minimalist interior and then have a traditional AC system with buttons and moving oarts
I agree. I didn't understand why he thought it was "silly". How many times do you need to readjust vents? It's a set it once and forget it feature. Out of the many reviews I've seen for the Model 3, all I heard was praise and appreciation for this feature.
Model 3, best car I have ever owned. Kings on the road in handling and performance.
As upset as I was purchasing the SR+ over the SR due to lies from Tesla, I must agree it's one of the best cars out there. As we'll see in the performance review, it slays all others in its category. Throw in reliability and operating costs, and Elon was right - you'd be an idiot to buy anything but a Tesla at this time. Everyone I take out for my 'presentation' wants one, and many are already making it happen. It's easy to ruin people with the Model 3. They walk back to their ICE-age cars, heads hung low, and grimace when they hear that oil-burner turning over.
@@Brew-doo yeah, it still makes sense, as long as you have somewhere to plug in. I'm in Canada; no worries here :)
@Stef That comes across as very ironic. In the face of objective facts making the modern EV (not just Tesla) superior to an ICE-age vehicle, you'd prefer to drive something that heavily pollutes, requires a huge amount of maintenance, and costs a relative fortune to operate. Perhaps you worship the old gods and I the new.
@Stef I live in BC, Canada. Almost all of our power comes from solar (in the form of hydro), so for me I am indeed driving emission free. Most other parts of the world, including the USA, are greening their grids more and more with time, meaning that even in areas where EVs indirectly pollute now, that will get better. Even powered completely from a coal station an EV is cleaner than an equivalent ICE-age car.
The Tesla motor is also rated for 1.6 million km. The battery should last between 500-800,000km, and the body 1.6 million km. Think of the energy it takes to build a new car. The Model 3 could outlast 8 ICE cars, and.. ICE cars wear out their engine components in such a way as to become more polluting and less powerful with time. With the Tesla, you slap in a new battery in 20 years, and the car performs far better than when new (battery will also give 3x the range at 1/4 the price by then).
Have you taken a Model 3 for a spin? Especially the AWD performance edition? If not, I suggest you do, and keep it for a day if you can. It will reset your appreciation of fun driving :)
Mine is the lowly SR+ (a temporary car while I decide on either the Model Y performance, or the Rivian R1S). Despite that, it's the most fun to drive out of any car I've ever owned.
The only changes I'd like to see are suspension related. Air-shocks would be great. Even a slightly higher, softer and less efficient ride would be a good option.
It would be my absolute pleasure to take you for a ride if you're ever out this way. It's so much fun ruining people with this thing! :)
@Stef You do realize that many people who bought Tesla's came from ICE performance cars themselves? I have a 20 year history of owning, modifying and tracking turbo, AWD performance cars. I love them deeply and poured lots of money into my hobby.
The Model 3 ended that. Do you not believe there may be logical reasons, even from a performance perspective, on why people become soo enamored with these cars? If you haven't driven one hard you are missing out.
This is your best video so far, Alex. Thanks for doing all this work for the community. Get well soon!
Whaa? I'll just offer confusion as my reaction to your statement of it being Alex's best video...this video is not bad and indeed is typical Alex high quality, but I'm not sure what qualifies it as 'best'. I can think of many a video that warrant that title.
I think he meant best Model 3 review video, not best AoA video.
That is one sweet looking car! I wish my Fiat would have included a sweet EVSE like Tesla does! I ended up buying the Amazing E 3.7 kWh EVSE but the car is capable of charging at 6.6 kWh. I can’t wait to pick up a used base Model 3 in a couple years!
KW, not KWH
Jebediah Kerman thank you. I always confuse the two.
Yes and you might be very shocked to how little the car is worth. The battery dies slowly with time and who wants any all electric car with less than half its battery life. A new battery will cost more than the car is worth!
ster you know this based on your own experience with your electric car...right??? Lol
We have a TM3 standard range + The stereo sounds great 👍🏻 If you Bluetooth you’re phone it works great The sun 🌞 doesn’t bother me one bit even after a month of summer ownership How many times do you actually need to adjust the steering wheel. You can buy an adapter to turn into wireless charging for your phone,I just use the USB plug for my iPhone 10.Never had a problem with the sun visors. It locks within a few feet of walking away and gives you a horn honk. We Absolutely love the car just after a month of ownership.
It would piss me off to know i have heated seats and awesome speakers, they just aren't activated because i'm cheap.
Very honest an objective review. You obviously have not drunk the "Tesla Cool-aid."
This has to be the most detailed Tesla Model 3 review I've seen! And the base model at that! I love how you went in-depth with the infotainment system of the car, as most reviewers almost never touch on those little things. It's nice to know every single little detail about the Model 3, as it is the most innovative product Tesla has ever produced IMO. Definitely saving up for the maxed out luxury version of the car, just to futureproof it for the soon-to-come autopilot feature, Elon has recently revealed. Consider me subscribed for more future Model 3 vids, and well done!
Love the Tesla front share. We are in Florida and my wife is very sensitive to heat. She has no complaints.
You left your phone in the frunk at 11:45. Hope it is still in one piece!
No worries @23:30
Yep. He's closing the frunk as I'm shouting "NOOOooo..."
I think he kept it on the windscreen, not under the hood.
@@borisdemelo correct. it is above the wipers. because Tesla wanted to hide the wipers all the way under the hood they are designed a little strangely.
@@DrThunder2004 Dimler did on C class like 20 years ago with single wiper handl for improved aerodynamics, not that strange if you know how much Tesla is build on best German auto engineering and know-how...
If you want old school then buy a leaf, If you want high tech buy a Tesla. The things you complain about IE air Vents clearly go over your head. Its new tech and works fantastic. Also makes the Model 3 very sleek and different from all other cars.
And it make it possible to configure them different per driver profile. And in cold climate the preheating will automatically adjust the wents optimally to defrost the side windows. So it is not a gimmick
Just love all the fan boy crap. NO matter what all electric cars get recharged with electricity mainly produced by fossil fuels. They are coal burners. You just can't see it.
@@rrrogster DUMB, DUMB. Even if an EV is charged from the dirtiest coal plant on the planet it is still 30% more efficient than gas. Because it takes 7kwhr of same said dirtiest coal plant electricity to manufacture raw oil into gasoline. If you put that 7kwhr of electricity directly into an EV you already go approx 30miles of range. But here's the kicker...once cars are electric the energy can be generated from multiple sources of choosing based on cost, or regional factors. Wind, Solar, Nuclear, hydroelectric, wave, geothermal, ect. and yes, even oil, gas and coal. And energy generated right here at home which transports at the speed of light and which electricity cables are already almost everywhere . On the other hand, gas can "only" come from oil and a lot of oil comes from countries that we don't like or question what they might be doing with the oil wealth you feed them. Also, to secure such oil some countries spend 15 "trillion" dollars on the country credit card forever more collecting interest and in addition to 5000+ soldiers lives. Electricity made right here at home sounds like a pretty good deal after all doesn't it. FYI. An EV gets the equivalent of 2500miles to a tank of gas.
The Tesla's air vents via tablet is silly? Instead of the regular plastic ones? I could be 100% wrong but the vibe/message i'm feeling from Tesla is one of technology and technological advancements, if you were looking for regular vents and what not maybe this car isn't meant for you. That was meant as a general statement to all not trying to be toxic/negative...
There's a difference between "technological advancements" and just making things over-complicated with no benefit. This falls into the latter category.
@@nodak81 i would disagree. Ive seen many reviews raving about the vents and thats not just tesla fan boy reviews. They offer extremely granular control and make the dash much less cluttered
@@larryspiller15 Ok fan boy.
@@rrrogster okay hater
At the base price this is a great EV, I think it's spot on.
Would definitely take the hub caps off pretty cool alloys underneath!
but you loose quite a bit of range without these caps
@@tim_goll I see but easy enough to just slap back on for long road trips, for the average daily driving I wouldn't think it would matter.
For Canadians and Northen USA they become you winter wheel set. Then buy some really slick look summer wheels
This is an exceptionally thorough vid. Nice.
Lots of incorrect facts. AWD rear motor is limited to less that 252. Also the chademo adapter doesn’t work with the Model 3...etc
The software controlled air vents allowed them to make the dash smaller and as a result it protrudes less into the cabin making the front space feel more roomy
XP-8 TIM the main reason was
Good review, but how the hell can you call the Airflow-System silly? I think it's the most innovative system ever built. You can adjust exactly where the air should flow to, you dont have to manually adjust multiple vents which in my opinion also doesn't look good in most cars.
The ventilation system is in keeping with the rest of the car it certainly beats levers and cables!
it's good that they software limit the battery. so you don;t have to worry about charging the battery to 100%, because it is probably 70 80% of the full capacity.
Wangnan Zhong more like 93%
@@lespaulranger Yes
@@lespaulranger so 50 of 54?
@@ralanham76 Yeah! People think maybe 50 from 55kwh too. Tesla doesn't release battery capacities any longer.
I owned a LR M3 for over 6 months now, it is a joy to drive and that's why I got it. It felt like the future when I test drove it against a BMW and a Lexus and was way cheaper than a Porsche. Close to 10K miles and no issues. Yes, there are certain shortcomings (wireless charging is a must add) but all forgotten when driving. I can see how it may not feel that way with limitations of a standard model where the selling points are efficiency and simplicity. I recommend test driving a M3 to all my friends before deciding on a car. Also, in a traffic jam, M3 is awesome. It is quick to move with the stop and go traffic with an autopilot on unlike an ICE car that generally takes a couple seconds to get moving. In Chicago, I just set it and relax during a 40 min. 10 mile ride without jackasses cutting in front of me every 3 min.
Alex, the extreme minimalism in the interior is completely intentional. This car is not designed to be driven or controlled conventionally and you can’t fault them for thinking way ahead. Even if you drive it, after several months of owning, you’ll realize conventional buttons, knobs, forward display are completely pointless. I’ve realized a lot of people that own Tesla’s are right.. these cars get better the more you own it and all other cars are almost obsolete.
It's interesting, when I get into one of my ICE cars, I tend to miss the 3's user interface. I also have friends that leave their ICE cars on by accident!
You want extreme minimalism? Check out a Model A Ford. What a deal
I wonder when someone will figure out the software and activate the speakers without paying for the upgrade.
The phone charging connector that you pulled on at 23:27 was not supposed to be yanked on. It is just supposed to be fixed in place to allow you to dock the phone. Perhaps your phone case made that difficult, but it fits perfectly for my thinner iphone6 case. You didn't explain why that wasn't useful, but as shown in the video the connector wasn't installed correctly and was flopping around.
Excellent work as always, thanks Alex looking forward to part 2!!
That intro makes want to drive around at night in this car listening to Gary Numan - Replicas
#respect :-)
@9600GTMAN Why not both albums? :-)
Thumbs up about the cargo space analysis ! you are one (if the only one) the few that is showing that Tesla is underselling (or exact-selling) the cargo space as opposite of many other cars that greatly oversells their cargo space , like the I-pace where the 656l declared is utter BS.
Fix the USB cable! It should feed through the slot under the rubber and just barely stick out.
Maybe that's why he didn't find it useful? Or was it because it's USB-C and his phone is something else? Also you can stream music from a thumb drive, so there's that.
Yeah, I did not know how to get the USB cable in right at first like he did.. Much better now when you got it in so it's not flopping around loose.
24:04 I didn't get it at first but if you slide the bottom cover off the bottom of the phone tray you'll see that the cable actually installs a little cleaner and makes it more useful.
The phone holders in the center console are the first functional phone holders in any car to date! they allow you to charge your phone and be able to actually look at it interact with the screen at the same time. Unlike other cars that usually have some awkward slot to put your phone in that doesn't allow you to look at the screen or use your phone while it's charging. And that's if your phone fits in it at all.
Slip the phone into the dock, close the lid, start driving. No distractions. When you get to your destination, grab your charged phone
The only problem is the charge port on the phone gets scratched up. But a wireless charger is available from several vendors that fits in the same place.
@G Hq I guess I should have specified you should have the lid closed when driving. I was referring to when the car isn't moving lol
Get well Alex. Thank you for your review.
Well done again Alex... get well soon
Same motor, different hp or torque is due to smaller battery pack.
Obtw, horsepower is an archaic term best left to ice cars... The output metric is kw.
Pressed like before watching, Alex. More EVs!!
You mean toasters with wheels?
@@maxnix346 yes, it will smoke much of what is on the road.
You could say it is, cause it toast every other car at the stoplight properly equipped :P. Heck even not properly equipped it beats the bulk.
Alex... this is now a three-part video... Talk about keeping us in suspense! :-)
I honestly don't like the look of the Model 3, especially from the front, but that interior makes up for all the exterior's woes.
If Tesla can 'get serious' about supplying a $35k EV to the masses, it will knock off all the Hyundai / Kia / Nissan contenders purely because of the range, longevity and software features. And the cachet.
TBH I've not been interested in Tesla at all until your last 'delivery' video, and now I'm seriously thinking a Standard Plus, in blue, with the 19" silver alloys could be my next car...
...unless Jaguar release a RWD, cut-price I-Pace, then all bets are off!
Cheers.
lol, there is no competition with the 3. The nero, leaf, bolt, clarity and all other non-tesla EVs charge way too slow and have no chargers to even use in the US. If you find any, they will be 50kw. Have fun sitting for 2 hours to charge. Tesla makes the only long range EV because it charges fast and has chargers you can actually use. Even if those electrify america chargers ever materialize, 2 high speed chargers per stop is not enough for any real demand and none of the cars I mentioned come close to utilizing the 175kw speed they claim to support for 400v EVs. You go from 2 hours to 1.75 hours since you go from 50kw to 80kw. The e-tron(+$70K) is the only other long range EV on the market and it barely does 200mi. It claims good charge speed at 150kw, but that won't be enough range to get between the EA chargers in any winter climate when you lose 30% of the battery range. You also share those sparse EA chargers with slow EVs charging at 60-80kw, so they will be blocked and you will wait longer.
It is unbelievable how not a single competitor EV can even match the 2012 model S. The competition is an embarrassment. Tesla has a minimum of 3 years before any real competitor matches what they have today and then they will lag behind tesla because tesla will have 3 more years of improvements.
The only car that "competes" with a model 3 is a 2nd gen chevy volt. That car is a great EV if your commute is short enough and can drive long trips due to the gas engine acting as a range extender, but still actually good even if only half your commute is on electricity. The volt drives like an EV even when the gas engine is on. It actually gets slightly faster with the gas engine is on. It has no transmission, so it is as smooth as any EV and still pretty fast. A used 2nd gen volt with low miles is like $15-20k. If you want a cheap EV that isn't limited in range and not useless due to a lack of chargers or slow charging, it is your only option. A volt can fully charge overnight using a normal 120v outlet. A used 2nd gen volt competes by being 1/2 to 1/3rd the price. It is an economy class EV and tesla has no economy EVs. It competes by being alone in that price range.
Hybrids normally are gas cars with electric motor assist, they drive and feel like gas cars. Even when they have an EV mode button, it just drives even slower(to the point of being dangerous) and barely can go any amount of meaningful range. Hybrids are a joke after you drive an EV. They do not compete at all.
This was a great video. The only thing he/you didn’t nail was the utility of the phone holder. It looked like your cord was just floating around untethered. The car comes with a lightning and USB cable with a special 90° angle. The tip locks into place so once fitted correctly, your phone slips right down onto the tip and charges your phone very quickly because of the dc to dc power. Wireless charging mats are fine if you drive cautiously. Driving an EV is a blast, even the base model has a good amount of get up and go. It’s easy to slosh your phone around and misalign the chi wireless charging. Some charging pads may be better than others, but some pads use up one of the USB slots. That USB slot is essential for your dash cam and Sentry mode which as I understand is included on the base model, so is dog mode. People freak out about the doors or button functions or light placement. You could have doubled the length of this video with even more great insights. This was more than enough for most people though. I’m glad you made such a nice video. Thank you.
Thank you Alex for buying a Base Configuration Model 3. Having watched your published Model 3 videos, these are unquestionably the best reviews bar-none.
Please consider establishing a long-term test feature solely for this vehicle. There is significant interest in this product and you are an extremely trustworthy online resource.
Finally a model 3 review that treats it like a car and not some fun Rollercoaster with Easter eggs. Every other review is about the acceleration and autopilot capabilities and Easter eggs and other gimmicks but completely misses out on normal aspects of being a car.
How y’all are you? 6’2” guys fit well up front?
I'm 6'4" and I sit in it just fine without even needing to slide the seat all the way back with tons of head room. Can fit in the back too, but that's a little tighter on the leg room. Head room is ok though.
The Prius has alloy rims AND hubcaps. I just found this out at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago while waiting for my car. Note, I'm not the Prius owner. I have also seen aftermarket hub caps for keeping alloy rims clean looking.
Is it easier to adjust vents manually? You have to scroll two wheels on every vent to get them the way you want them and there are usually four vents in the front. Moving around in the car adjusting 8 wheels on the vents to get them the way you want them, easy? Right...
And how often do you really adjust the steering wheel? Does it matter if that takes a second or two?
4:36 Based on all of the info out there, I'm pretty sure the rear drive motor in all of the different trims is the exact same motor with different software limitations. In Q4 2018 there were several people reporting ordering the LR AWD and getting the Performance (not Performance Plus or Performance Upgrade Package) as well as people ordering the regular Performance, getting the LR AWD, complaining about the mistake, and then getting the same car back as a Performance model within an hour or two apparently after a software change. There's been a lot of discussions on the forums that the rear drive motor has the same part number is it being unlikely they're doing any kind of binning for Performance.
Motors are different on performance and awd. Rear motor in this is the same as the long range rear drive and mid range and sr+ but it is battery/inverter output limited from sr+ to mid range and long range but the sr has a slight software limit (think of it as being fuel pump and injector limited).
Well done! I agree with you Alex, I prefer manual controls in some places.
Overall I really like the clean esthetic of the interior with very minimal hard controls. For example, once I set the side mirrors and steering wheel position I hardly ever want to move them. And when I do, I don't find it a burden to get the contextual controls into that mode, especially since one shouldn't be driving when making such adjustments anyway. Memory recall and easy exit are also available for people that want it. However, I do have things I wish the vehicle included when it comes to hard controls, better soft controls, and instrumentation:
1. More hard wiper controls on the stalk. I hate that I have to use the touchscreen to change the wiper speed or take them in/out of automatic mode. This is horrible when driving, especially in inclement weather! I also really don't like having to press the stalk button for a single wipe and wash. I'd much rather it be a stalk up/down back/forward motion. I really think the steering column needs an additional stalk dedicated to wiper functions. This is a high importance saftey issue in my mind.
2. Easier fog lamp control. It doesn't have to be a physical control, although something on the lighting (highbeam, turn signal) stalk might be nice. If they just moved the fog lamp soft icon to the main screen for driving I might actually use the fogs when appropriate. Right now I never do because it's not safe to turn them on while driving and I don't like leaving them on all the time.
3. The car really could benefit from a head-up display showing things like speedometer, turn signal, next turn navigation instructions, audio system selections, etc. The interior would stay clean and one wouldn't need to look over at the touchscreen for even the most basic instrumentation. I get that Tesla might have been thinking the car would ultimately be autonomously driven, but it is very much a drivers car in so many compelling ways. This is sadly severely diminished when having to look at a center mount screen for everything.
Excellent review 🙌🙌 Can you make a video with the costs of maintenance and repairs of a Tesla model 3 out of the guarantee?
Only car with alloy rims and hub caps? Did you forget the Prius?
Fiat 500e has plastic "caps" too, but they are screwed in from the back of the wheels..
...we're all trying to forget about the Prius.
It's not in its comparison.
They probably are the only wheels that look quite good, but are covered by snap on plastic caps.
The Clarity, too. Hideous alloys, though.
Nobody does a nerdy, detailed review like Alex! 👍🏼👍🏼
I don't know about y'all, but I think those air vents are genius
They're really intuitive to use, and easy to keep clean, too. Unlike traditional car vents where you have to use a Q-tip to keep them clean (if you're into that kind of detailing).
Should close the frunk with two hands to prevent damage to the hood. It's in the owner's manual, Alex.
I’m pretty sure all rear motors are the same, but is software limited for the non performance awd.
Also the smaller battery pack reduces maximum power output.
Correct, it's 240 mi, same as SR+, though Tesla may software limit to 90% in the future
Thank you Alex. The review is excellent and when you do get the price on updating to autopilot and self driving I hope I am still in the market. Definitely, this is the everyday Tesla I would spec out. Think, if you are using this to deliver the kids, groceries, and the odd 200 mile weekend trip there would be little need for autopilot and self driving until the time comes to enter your car for robo-taxi work. If Tesla could squeeze this down to $25,000 ….(possibilities unlimited)
*You can buy a base model Civic for $25,000. That seems to be within your budget. Endless possibilities.*
i feel like a manual vent would be really hard to adjust with that form factor and just having the normal shitty airvent would suck. even though it takes a few steps i love the vents in the model 3
Did they unlock Autopilot for you now with the latest update? They said all models come with Autopilot standard now.
No. the "all models" claim excludes the base Model 3. For 35K it still won't have it.
My friend tinted his roof and regretted it because the reflection was too intense from the interior and he could barely see out of it anymore
So get pigmented instead of metallic tint, and it won't reflect light.
DumbDuck44 I live in San Diego an I tinted every other window and left the roof untouched an it’s perfect for me, I’ve had my Model 3 for nearly a year now
I had mine done with a heat rejection film and that works pretty well. No additional darkening.
That cable you're holding isn't the charger it's the EVSE (basically a cable that controls the power flow and monitors things for safety). The actual charger is in the car.
Who says "actually" more? Alex on Autos or Redline Reviews?
Me! I hope it’s me! (Actually)
Heated seats being enabled on the standard is newe to me. Happy it's there!
Well, the bottom line is that you really need a full time screen operator in addition to the driver to operate this vehicle safely as even the simplest functions require you to take your attention and eyes of the road and fiddle with the touch screen. This takes a distracted driving to a next level !!!
Its easy and not distracting once you get used to it. If you need to dig into an option further just switch on auto pilot for a few seconds.
Are you an owner? If not its a function of the car that you have no experience with and really have no business commenting on and there is a slight learning curve to it.
@@JT-xq2hv So is texting and driving
@@mirokefurt4740 Sorry whats your point? You obviously have never driven or own the car so how do you know what its like to live with?
My point is that its no more distracting than any ICE vehicle once you get used to it.
But please tell me more about a system that you have never used in person.
Just another f’ing moron.
But how comfortable is the trunk?
Did he even mention navigate on auto pilot? And smart summon
Get 3M Crystalline 20 tint on the passenger windows and 70 on the windshield, I live in San Diego and never for a moment have I felt I needed to tint the roof. I got a 30% tint on the rear panel because I didn’t want the rear roof to be too dark
People need to realize a stuff has changed with Tesla since Alex made these videos. He needs to do an update video.
So it is actually a 50kWh battery or is it 75 but software limited? but also upgradable by simply purchasing the long range via software update?
Nobody knows capacity for sure but it's definitely not 50 kWh. It's a SR+ model with software locks, so it's more than 50. There are rumors that the SR+ also has a MR-size battery with software limit itself.
It's definitely not 75, and you cannot unlock it to that size. But the question is it a SR+ battery or really a MR battery.
That price is impressive, didn't realise it was quite that low.
this is the most cheap option
@@theAppleWizz It's still impressive for what it is. It's definitely lowish spec but really seems like it has everything most people would actually need with just enough gimmicks. I like it, hopefully they can get that price down even lower in time.
@@lemagreengreen oh I agree that the whole point. but what is shown in the video I don't think it's the 35K it's the 37K because most of the features are from the Stander+
@@lemagreengreen Announced at the Q1 meeting the Chinese version will be made with half the cap ex of the Fremont ones.
Munro said it will give high 30% gross profits on the Model 3SR.
ruclips.net/video/2DucRxWz_58/видео.html
Great review Alex! Plenty of the Model 3 in Miami.. Think Tesla played it too safe with the exterior styling.. Not that distinctive or attractive.
Surprising there's no Appleplay or androidplay
Charge time is impressive and the potential is more than the rest.
I don't know about you, but I'd never go back to traditional vents and I have never missed them even once. To put traditional vents in the Model 3 is just like sticking Backward, Forward, and Stop/Pause buttons on an iPad. LMAO.
I'm surprised you can just yank those aero wheel covers off. I would have expected them to at least be attached with a single nut to prevent theft.
Yup... You can just pull them off. But most peeps don't actually want them. I really like them. I don't know what their problem is.
i thought autopilot was standard on model 3 but full self driving is optional?
Sadly no.
finally a full overview well done Alex!!!!!
Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste and Thank You for All your efforts 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ 🌷 ☮️ ❤️
not a fan of tesla but that column shiftier is something i like
It's actually super convenient - I find myself "reaching" for column shifter in my other cars with floor mounted shifters now.
You should try test driving one - you might change your mind about Tesla. =)
Extremely thorough video as always, Alex you are definitely the best car reviewer on RUclips if you actually want to learn something about the cars that you're interested in.
And congratulations on the new car.
Some of the minor annoyances that you mentioned, the windshield wiper control steering wheel control the vent controls. Would absolutely drive me insane. I'm in my car a thousand miles a week, I'd probably pull my hair out. I also don't really like the door handle design on the inside or outside for that matter.
What I would really love to have is an electric vehicle that has Tesla's battery and driveline and stick it in a Prius.
kens97sto171 do u constantly adjust these items. Sounds like Nat a very advanced car b
@@bigdougscommentary5719
The wiper controls while raining. Yes.. you do , the air vents yes.. thruout the day.. mirrors.. no.
Still. Things you are going to use while you are moving in the car should have easy to use by touch controls.. not something you have to look at.
Does the car have traffic aware cruise control or autopilot? If TACC then how much is it to upgrade to autopilot or FSD in the screen option. Thank you. Great video on the standard model 3.
Will cost in excess of 8000$ autopilot is 3000 and fsd is 5000 right now but they announced it will be increasing it to 6000 on may 10th. Also i believe software unlock costs and additional 1000 for fsd if you dont just get it when you purchase the car. If you get an sr+ with fsd from the factory today you will spend 44 500. If you get the sr and upgrade afterwards adding autopilot and fsd you will pay 45 000 for just those features but you wont have the extra 20 miles of range or any of the other sr+ exclusives. Those will likely add an additional 2500 making it 47 500.
Tesla Model 3 DOES NOT support the Tesla CHAdeMO adapter. At least for now, the model 3 is not compatible with ANY DC fast charging network in North America other than Tesla Superchargers.
Why the hell would they do that lol..
Livinghighandwise software team is too busy working on the fart mode update than enabling the communication from chademo to model 3
Isn't their an adapter?
Apparently it's the software refusing to accept the charge. My guess is that they want you to use superchargers instead of other DC fast chargers, so they get the money.
Andrew there are so few DC fast chargers (at least in the US) apart from Superchargers that I don't think we're missing much. There are some around me locally, but none are easily accessible to interstates, which is the only prudent use case for DC fast charging.
I really liked the Model S when it debuted and think it’s still an amazing vehicle. It wouldn’t be my first choice, or only car, but I do think it’s a fantastic piece of technology. This? Not so much. I generally like minimalism in car design, but this is a bit too much. A few simple buttons or knobs would still be minimalist, but infinitely more convenient and user friendly. While the Model 3 is more upscale than a mainstream vehicle (Honda, Toyota, VW), it doesn’t seem to be quite luxury. I
I like the model 3’s style and engineering. But it’s build quality and fit and finish is not too great and that applies to the 60K+ performance model
Poor man's Tesla!! I would never be caught driving model 3, only Model S or X for me!
What a great deal! You
Have power seats too? I paid 62k for my 3 with EAP and long range battery.
Poor man's Tesla!! I would never be caught driving model 3, only Model S or X for me!
Yeah, lots of people that paid full price are pissed off about this premium interior on the standard model. That was not supposed to happen.
So what did I pay 2k extra for??? Software for 20 miles and speakers??? This isn’t fair. But this is not a first world problem.
Ambitious Idiot well what about how I spent $5000 more for speakers, 45 miles, and heated seats
Geoffrey Wan I’m so sorry for your loss. That would have been a cruise...
Can you possibly get the extra power and better speakers by just paying a fee to reset the software? I could see buyers maybe skimping initially and then buying the extras later.
That is exactly right. Someone who buys a "Standard Range" Model 3 is actually buying a car with "Standard Range Plus" hardware with software limiting. So yes, the idea is that you can pay the difference later and receive the missing features via an over-the-air update.
You might not want to talk about Tesla's business practices but the comments will😁
You can't be doing anything wrong when the next best competition is a used chevy volt.
@@_PatrickO : I'm a huge fan of Tesla, but I disagree. Tesla is years ahead of the competition in many ways -- battery management, motor efficiency, drag coefficient, etc. -- but Tesla still has many areas they can and should improve. Credit where it's due, obviously, but I think it's harmful to Tesla to say they "can't be doing anything wrong."
@@Pikminiman What area should they improve? They sell cars and they sell the only long range EV that is also cheaper than competitor short range EVs. They are already focusing on improving service, people have reported much better experiences recently. At the end of the day, they cannot do much about media that lies about them. They have to rely on word of mouth and personal experiences to negate the hogwash. Over time the negative stuff gets less and less credible because everything the negative reports says is impossible keeps coming true.
Toyota does plastic caps as well. We have it on our Prius V
@Tarzan szia!
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Csodás időt Nektek!
@Tarzan éltem St Augustin ban ilyen idő tájt. De azért tud fagy is lenni... 😎 ❄️
Feel better!
What if I launch a car brand and software limit the headlights, A/C, radio, cruise control, engine horse power, and the ECU so you can't fill up the tank completely. I'll nickel and dime you to unlock each of these feature. I'll go one extra step than Tesla and code the software so anything you pay to unlock will automatically expire after a set amount of time, and you'll need to pay again to use the full features. Heck, I'll even makeup a price point and make you pay a deposit and wait 2+ years before getting delivery.
That's my business model I'm building the next Tesla killer in my garage. It'll charge to 100% in 10 minutes and will go a 1000 miles on single charge.
This is silly. All that matters is what you get and how much it costs. No wait, that's not true: software limited is actually better. E.g. a software limited battery is immune from range loss.
The Clarity PHEV has alloy wheels and an aero cap.
It also wears a skirt. Gross.
@@jeremyventurino9481 Let's just say its bold and different :). Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder.
Clarity is the ugliest car on the market, disgusting. No argument there.
I smell a compliance car.
The problem with the Clarity is that it didn't fully commit. If your going to do wheel skirts, go full nerd concept-car. I want those things to go ALL the way down! The clarity rear fenders want to be all things to all people, but they don't really satisfy anyone.
I hope Tesla can increase the range of the standard range so that it is more competitive with the bolt and Kona.
@19:24 "You can activate and deactivate the wipers via a button on a stalk."
I wish that were actually true, but it's not. All the button on the stalk can do (A) is give you a single wipe with a "soft" press, or (B) activate the wiper fluid spray with a hard press.
There's no way to turn the wipers on or off via the stalk.
Odd, when I press the button the wiper screen comes on and switches to auto
@@AAutoBuyersGuide As you mentioned, in addition to commanding a single wipe of the wipers, pressing the stalk button will also bring up the wiper "card" in the bottom-left corner of the screen. But in my experience (and aligning with the wiper control descriptions in the manual) it won't change any wiper setting. But I can see how the wiper card popping up on the screen could be misinterpreted as changing the wiper settings.
Here's what the manual says on page 53: "To perform a single wipe with the windshield wipers, press and immediately release the button on the end of the left-hand steering column lever.
To adjust the continuous wiper settings, touch the windshield wiper icon located in the "Cards" area on the touchscreen (see Touchscreen Overview on page 4). The wiper card displays the current state of the wipers."
Nothing about the button turning the wipers on/off.
Sentry mode is not yet enabled on SR, though Elon tweeted to say it would be standard for all cars so will hopefully be software update in near future
Full self driving feature, I cannot wait for that oh boiii
Yeah, until people exploit it.
@@scowler92 You will have a hard time doing that... You need to hack the hardware itself. Listen to the tech presentation on tesla FSD live stream and you will get it
I meant it like, people have accidents even without the feature now. It's gonna be crazy with it
People need to stop equating Tesla with luxury.
Tesla makes EVs not luxury cars.
What do you believe is a "luxury" vehicle then? This is nicer than a 3 series or Acura.
That's correct they are HIGH tech wrapped in a piece of junk body and interior.
True but they are expensive and many equate 💵 with luxury
@@dtay8913
This thing is ugly as shit.
It is not more luxurious than an Acura or a BMW.
If you want to see what a "luxury EV" will truly look like just look up the Jaguar i-Pace, Volvo Polestar-2 and Porsche Taycan.
@@joecool9739 How is this not more luxurious than an Acura ILX? You shouldn't even be comparing this to a 3 series because the cheapest 3 series you can buy is $40,000 and that is the base model that doesn't even have heated seats or navigation or any "luxury" features.
Would it be impossible or unsafe to put the electric motor and the battery pack in the front of the car? It seems to me there would be enough space. Is it a matter of weight distribution or safety?
Motor? Yes
Battery? no way (not enough space and it would negatively affect weight distribution and safety
The entire bottom of the car is battery. It would never fit up front. Also, yes, weight distribution. The motors are up front (on AWD models) and in the back, between the wheels on each "axle".
Great review as always! I look forward to part two.
How is it in rain and snow? I live in Indiana, so rain and snow is constant, which is why the RWD worries me.
Software limited speakers? Hopefully someone figures out a way around that. Sheesh
that really is hilarious and stupid
How is the sound system compared to the standard range plus?
Does the standard rang plus have the satellite view for the map. No front camera view?