Long before any mainstream manufacturer took electric cars seriously, a (then) small American EV maker started to try and work out how to competitively package an electric vehicle that’d appeal to the masses.

Their first foray was with their Elise-based Roadster. They took the drivetrain engineering lessons learnt from that project to then build their Model S and X. With the luxury of having the economies of scale, Tesla was then able to build cars squarely aimed at the mass-market.

The resultant car, dubbed the Model 3, was initially launched in 2017. Four years later, in 2021, the American automaker then made their Singapore debut with the aforementioned car. Time really does fly, for it has been three years since Tesla first reached our shores, or about the time it takes for automakers to develop and release a mid-cycle refresh of their models.

And despite Tesla’s penchant for bucking convention, the Model 3 follows the industry-standard model release timeline. It also closely mirrors what other brands are doing with their Singapore-bound cars, as they have launched a Category A COE compliant variant Model 3.

On High Land

Whilst early Teslas had a technological advantage over EVs from other manufacturers, that gap has since closed. There’s still no denying that you can still enjoy perks that other brands cannot offer you – no other brand has a native EV charging network here. But similar levels of technical capability can be found up and down the Leng Kee car belt.

This has driven the Americans to work hard to refine what was quite possibly their biggest weak point – the build quality. Singapore-bound Teslas are built in the Chinese gigafactory, which are already a step-up from the US-built models mostly meant for LHD markets. 

And the ‘Highland’ revision takes it up a notch. The interior still remains cruelty-free, but gains a couple of nice features. Ambient lighting now makes an appearance, as well as a refreshed steering wheel. Despite appearing fairly unchanged, the dashboard is all-new.

Other updates include a simplification of the centre console, and door cards with greater levels of minimalism. Rear seat occupants now also have their own screen, which they can use to control their own climate. They can also watch videos and play games on said screen too.

Compared to the outgoing generation, the interior of the ‘Highland cars’ are noticeably better built, with more premium-feeling materials and higher overall build quality.

Slipperier Exterior

The most significant changes are to the Model 3’s exterior. Tesla streamlined the headlights of the updated vehicle, allowing them to lower the shoulder line of the front wings. This change isn’t purely cosmetic only – the revisions make the car more aerodynamic, helping to contribute to greater overall range.

The rear fascia has also been refreshed. Gone are the two piece tail lights of the old car, and you’d find a pair ‘C’ shaped brake lights instead. They look modern, minimalistic and yet strangely edgy. Which actually suits the shape and theme of the Model 3 a lot better than the original units.

New alloy wheels also make an appearance in this latest iteration too. The new design is simpler than the rims on the base model it replaces, which again plays a part in the bevy of incremental aerodynamic upgrades Tesla has made.

The Drive

The general composure of the Tesla platform remains unchanged. It still feels stable through the corners, and there’s still a whiff of sportiness communicated through the steering rack. Where the changes are the most apparent though, is in the way it soaks up bumps and imperfections on the road.

It feels less nervous and unsettled than before, bringing out a side of the chassis that has always been hidden by savage acceleration and big power figures. This is a Category A COE car, which means it has to abide by the power cap imposed by the LTA. 

The car makes 110 kW (hence its name), which translates to about 148 bhp, or right on the power limit. Torque remains unaltered at 350 Nm. With less power and more compliant suspension, the Model 3 110 manages to feel like a truly premium product. It silently wafts you along, with really only the worst of the road blemishes being transmitted into the cabin.

Trailblazer, Now Refined

It was once the industry target. But as legacy automakers continue to close the gulf, Tesla has had to retaliate by revitalising its cockpit and build quality to fend off the competition. And they did just that. 

The refreshed interior is even more minimalistic than before, and is actually a very pleasant place to be in. Enhancements to the overall experience include additional laminated glass in the front windows, which further reduce noise ingress on the go.

And the lower output makes it more manageable on a day-to-day basis. This also allows the car to return an impressive high 400+ kilometres worth of real-world range, despite it only having a 60 kWh battery pack. That isn’t far off the 513 kilometre estimate quoted by the brand. 

The legacy car makers may have caught up, but one thing is for sure – Tesla still has the edge when it comes to native charging support. And that alone is reason for some to choose one over its competition!

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