Tesla Model 3: A value for money EV?

The much-awaited 2023 Tesla Model 3 “Highland” facelift was launched in Malaysia just over three months ago; Oct 2023 to be precise. The redesigned Model 3 is available in two variants locally: an entry-level rear-wheel drive model and a long-range AWD model. Prices start from RM189,000.

Also Read: 2023 BYD Seal: What to expect from the upcoming Chinese EV

So, will this Tesla be the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) in Malaysia?

The Tesla Model 3 comes in two variants with prices starting from RM189,000.

• Rear-wheel drive – RM189,000
• Long Range AWD – RM218,000

Tesla Model 3 pricing for Malaysia includes a 4-year/80,000 km basic vehicle warranty and an 8-year/160,000 km battery and drive unit warranty.

However, no matter which variant you choose, the Tesla Model 3 comes equipped with several standard exterior features right out of the box, including a Pearl White Multicoat exterior color and a set of 18-inch Photon wheels.

Everything else requires a top-up. This includes RM5,000 for Solid Black or Deep Blue Metallic color options, RM7,500 for Stealth Gray color options, and RM11,000 for Ultra Red color options (see here) . You can also buy bigger, sportier-looking 19-inch Nova wheels for an additional RM7,500.

With this facelift, Tesla gave the Model 3 a slimmer-looking set of headlights and taillights. Although it's still recognizable as a Tesla Model 3, the manufacturer says about 50 percent of the Model 3 has changed in this facelift.

The kit also includes a 15.4-inch central touchscreen that acts as both an instrument display and infotainment head unit, Qi wireless charging for your phone, and ventilated seats. At the rear, there's a new 8-inch rear touchscreen that allows rear passengers to adjust rear climate settings and stream videos on platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch, among other things.

In addition to the usual interior features, Tesla implemented some controversial design elements in the Model 3 facelift. This includes the removal of the traditional turn signals and wiper stalks, which have been redesigned as buttons on the steering wheel. The regular gear selector has also been removed and replaced with a touch-based gear selector operated via a central touchscreen. If the central touchscreen does not work, the driver can also operate the gear using the touch buttons on the front light dome. As standard, the Tesla Model 3 Facelift is equipped with completely black upholstery. However, you can add RM5,000 for the optional black and white interior. In terms of safety, the Tesla Model 3 facelift is equipped with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot collision warning (BSCW), and lane departure avoidance (LDA).

Like in the case of the exterior and interior, customers can optionally purchase additional advanced safety features as well. These include enhanced autopilot functionality for RM16,000 and full self-driving functionality for RM32,000.

The most affordable model in the Tesla Model 3 series is the rear-wheel drive model with an all-electric range of 513 km. Powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor, it completes the century sprint in 6.1 seconds.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD, as its name suggests, has a long electric range of 629 km. It also has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, allowing him to complete the Century Sprint in 4.4 seconds.

Below is a side-by-side overview of these two variations -

	Tesla Model 3 RWD	Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
Range	513 km	629 km
Drivetrain	RWD	AWD
0 to 100 kmph	6.1 s	4.4 s
Max. supercharging speed	170 kW	250 kW

Competition for the Model 3 will only intensify as more electric vehicles, including the upcoming BYD Seal, come onto the market and look to steal a piece of the pie. But for now, do you think the Tesla Model 3 facelift is the best value-for-money electric car in Malaysia?

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