New 2023 Tesla Model 3 facelift: prices, specs and full details
We’ve got everything you need to know about Tesla’s new Model 3 facelift…
The new facelifted Tesla Model 3 is finally on sale in the UK having been first revealed at the 2023 Munich Motor Show. Alongside the new exterior design also comes additional range, keeping the all-electric mid-size executive saloon competitive against a growing cast of rivals.
We were blown away by the Model 3 when it arrived in 2019 by its mix of agility on the road, practicality and EV range, so much so that we named it our 2019 Car of the Year. Fast forward to 2023 and the Model 3 has several impressive rivals in the form of the BMW i4, Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, so a mid-life refresh for the Tesla was expected.
Does the facelifted Tesla Model 3 look different?
The exterior redesign is more subtle than the one given to the Model S back in 2016. The facelift, codenamed ‘Project Highland’ was kept under close wraps during development, although we were able to catch an early glimpse via spy shots revealing a slightly altered front end.
Now we can see it in full with its thinner headlights and reshaped front bumper. Tesla says the update “brings more refinement, comfort and premiumness - inside and out - while staying true to its sleek, uncluttered design aesthetic.”
To the rear there are new C-shaped rear light clusters and a large faux rear diffuser on the redesigned bumper. Tesla says the exterior tweaks, along with new aero-optimised wheel designs on 18-inch and 19-inch wheels has improved the aerodynamic efficiency of the Model 3.
Has the Tesla Model 3’s range improved?
That extra slipperiness means a low drag coefficient of 0.219 which helps to bump up the Model 3’s range. Even with no claimed changes to the battery pack, the Rear-Wheel Drive model now manages a claimed 344 miles from a single charge (up from 305 miles in the older cars), with the Long-Range version offering 421 miles (up from 374 miles). 0-62mph for the 242bhp Rear-Wheel Drive stands at 5.8 seconds and 4.2 seconds for the 346bhp Long-Range. Range and performance figures for the facelifted ‘Performance’ model are yet to be revealed.
What has changed inside the Model 3?
Interior comfort on the Model 3 facelift should be boosted by the new acoustic glass, quieter tyres, improved suspension bushings and various seals and sound-deadening materials Tesla has added.
The manufacturer says the facelift Model 3 comes with a ‘next-generation’ interior. While it looks broadly similar to the current Model 3’s cabin, there are a few key changes. The steering wheel takes on a new design which incorporates indicator buttons rather than stalks and the dash has new flowing wraparound ambient lighting. Instead of using a steering column-mounted gear selector, the updated Model 3 comes with gear selection via the car’s central screen.
The commanding 15.4-inch touchscreen is the same size as before but features more usable screen space and continues to offer over-the-air updates. Two wireless phone chargers are located beneath the main touchscreen and to the rear there are new eight-inch displays that can switch between climate control, ventilation and entertainment.
How much does the Tesla Model 3 cost in the UK?
The new facelifted Model 3 is on sale now in the UK. The entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive model costs £39,990 and the Long Range is priced at £49,990. The Performance model will eventually top out the range at around £60,000.
Click here for our list of the electric cars with the longest range...
