Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive (2022-2026)

DO NOT GET ENHANCED AUTO if you are in Australia – Car is great. Experience terrible. DO NOT GET ENHANCED AUTOPILOT. Paid $5000 for enhanced auto pilot thinking I would get functionality like auto park, or summon which the website indicates you do get. But in Australia, it seems you don't. Very little difference from the standard options but they are happy to charge you the full cost. Definitely… Read more

not worth the money for an upgrade. You would think they would at least give people who paid the extra for enhanced auto pilot, premium connectivity while they wait for the features (which are not guaranteed any time soon) so they can at least get some of the internet features, but no. This too is an extra. In short, if anyone asks if it's worth getting enhanced auto - the answer is no.

(Updated) Very impressive, with some annoyances – This is a living review and will continue to be updated as my experience with the car changes (Latest update 07/12/2025). I’ve owned my Tesla Model 3 MY24 (Highland Model, Quicksilver Colour) Rear Wheel Drive for over 12 months and driven over 10,000km. Overall, I’m really impressed with the car, though it does have a few annoyances. [ THE MOST… Read more

IMPRESSIVE STUFF ]

- Sporty dynamics: The steering and braking are sporty and responsive, making the car a lot of fun to drive. It handles quite similarly to my previous car, which was a 2-door Audi coupe that cost almost twice as much new. It's a powerful car too; even as the 'entry' trim, the RWD variant accelerates effortlessly, reaching 0-100 km/h in 6 seconds, which is again very similar to my previous car (at 5.8 seconds). Also, the suspension and acoustic glass create a sense of isolation in the cabin, which is a very noticeable improvement over the pre-Highland Tesla Model 3.

- Foolproof Tech: Tesla layers in the tech in a seamless way that genuinely improves my day-to-day experience. No need for a key - my phone unlocks the car automatically when I’m close and locks it when I walk away. To start it, I get in, buckle up, swipe the screen, and I’m off. On hot days, it keeps itself cool, and I can use my phone to turn on the AC remotely. The car has six cameras to facilitate spatial awareness for driving automation, and all these cameras double as dash cams while also enabling a feature called “Sentry Mode.” Sentry Mode runs while the car is parked and records anyone who comes close, and it also sends alerts to my phone if someone touches the car. Also, new capabilities are added constantly via over the air software updates. In just the first three months of ownership, Tesla rolled out some useful features, like the ability to download dashcam footage directly through the mobile app.

- Full Self Driving (Supervised): FSD-Supervised rolled out to HW4 (Hardware 4 capable) Teslas in October 2025. While this feature isn’t perfect yet - and requires full attention to the road in case you need to take control at a moment’s notice - it remains one of the most impressive things I’ve seen this car (or any car, really) do. Although I don’t currently see myself using it long term (due to it not being fully perfected and the ongoing cost), it’s an extremely impressive capability that no other consumer car currently offers. It’s a real glimpse into the future and easily the most impressive aspect of the Model 3 Highland.

[ THE ANNOYANCES]

- Touchscreen annoyances: For a car that channels all its controls through the touchscreen, the software has notable blind spots. For example, turning on the front windscreen defrost should ideally require a single press of the touchscreen, especially since you may need it quickly while driving. Although you can add a 'Front Defrost' button to the bottom of the screen, you're limited to five customisable spots, forcing you to prioritise between apps and specific car functions. This feels restrictive and frustrating, especially when there’s a lot more screen real estate that goes unused along the bottom. I love the car’s minimalist interior, but personally, I think a few customisable physical buttons along the bottom of the display would be a welcome addition.

- Poor Voice Control: It's surprisingly immature for such an otherwise intelligent car and will sometimes struggle to interpret simple commands. On one occasion, I asked it to "Turn on front defrost" and it interpreted that as me wanting to play a song on Apple Music. Another time, I requested it to "Navigate to Parent’s House”. For context, I had previously saved a favourite destination in the car under the name "Parent’s House", however, it unexpectedly directed me to a location called "Parents House" on Google Places instead. Essentially, it prioritised a random address it found on Google - with the same name - over my own user-defined favourites. Also, when I say "Call Mum," the language interpretation/localisation only seems to recognise the spelling "Mom," and it cannot find a contact spelled "Mom" in my phone contacts, because I obviously have it spelled "Mum." This happens regardless of which language settings I choose - a little annoying for something that seems so trivial.

- No Apple Carplay (or Android Auto): Hear me out, because I didn’t think it would be a big deal before getting the car, but the problem is a few of Tesla’s native apps just don’t cut it. For example, the Apple Music app is missing some basic features, like support for Smart Playlists - so I can’t shuffle a playlist of 'recently added songs' like I’ve been able to do for the last 15+ years. The only other option is using Bluetooth audio, which is even more clunky and poorly implemented in comparison. In the end, I’m stuck paying Tesla $13.99 a month just to use their half baked Apple Music app, and it’s frustrating. If I had the option of using Apple Carplay, I wouldn't be in this position.

- Driver's Seat Creaking (Update: FIXED): From day one, the driver’s seat has occasionally creaked, especially when I press into the backrest during acceleration or turns. Over the first couple of months, it felt like it was getting worse. The quiet cabin probably makes it more noticeable, but it’s still frustrating in a car that otherwise feels solid. I brought it up with Tesla, and they had me schedule a service appointment. The fix helped a bit - it’s less noticeable now - but the creaking still happens sometimes and seems like it might be getting worse again. UPDATE (07/12/2025): A few months after leaving this review, I took the car back to Tesla to attempt to fix it again. I'm glad to report that almost a year later, the creaking noise has not come back, so whatever fix they applied on the second visit has been successful. Very happy.

My go to EV recommendation – It's the most affordable Tesla you can buy. For me, it's an easy recommendation based on its tech, features and access to the widest selection of chargers in Australia. I took this based Model 3 on a trip to Canberra to help verify the title of my review. Simply put, early Model 3s were delivered with numerous quality issues, as many customers… Read more

have recorded and posted about online.

I noticed nothing out of the ordinary on our test car. Even with plenty of poking and prodding, I really couldn’t fault this particular car. I haven’t heard an overwhelming amount of issues from newer customer cars either. Even if you do, Tesla is known for being quick to address any quality issues.

This Tesla has been subject to a lot of price fluctuations recently. The new Model 3 is priced from $63,900 before on-road costs and incentives (at the time of writing in 2022). Depending on which state you’re in, you’ll receive a varied amount of incentives.

This is a fully equipped car, complete with familiar features like a 360° camera system, radar cruise control, heated seats and more.

Against other competitors, the Model 3 is perfectly priced. This model exists intentionally as the entry point to the Tesla brand. It’s not a “cop out” trim either, as its range and list of features are strong enough to be considered by most Australian EV buyers.

Tesla’s warranty is 4 years or 80,000km (whichever comes first). Additionally, battery warranty is 8 years or 160,000km (whichever comes first) along with a guarantee of 70% battery capacity over that period. Tesla doesn’t have a regular service period, claiming that their cars don’t require servicing and only need to be seen by a technician to replace consumable items like brake pads or air filters.

A low noise level is part of the reason why you’d consider an EV, which quickly becomes a major reason why you’d prefer driving one over a traditional ICE car.

It’s silent inside the cabin of the Model 3. There are no fake sounds being generated, and it’s clear that Tesla engineers worked hard to isolate every external sound that could interrupt this sanctuary. That doesn’t mean you won’t hear some tyre noise as a result of this car weighing in at over two tonnes.

The brakes in here are nothing special, and work just as you’d expect them too. They do feel a little spongy, seeing as you’re stopping a car that weighs more than an ICE equivalently sized vehicle.

I used to think that Tesla had a massive lead in the one-pedal driving experience, however despite still being excellent, many other cars are getting closer to the marque - like the Volvo XC40 Recharge for example.

Sure, it’s the slowest Model 3 you can buy, but it hits 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds. That’s as quick as more expensive EVs and more than enough ‘oomph’ for the daily drive. It’s a healthy amount of power, regardless of how many passengers or how much cargo you’re carrying.

The soft suspension setup of the Model 3 offers relative comfort for a car that weighs over 2 tonnes. There’s plenty of travel in the ride, while avoiding feeling too wafty through general corners. However, I found that if you start to corner this Model 3 a little more aggressively, you end up leaning a little too much around these bends.

The base Model 3 claims 491km of WLTP range.I tested the full extent of this range over a road trip between Sydney and Canberra. On the way to Canberra, I used 83% of that range, and used 77% on the way back.

Charging is industry leading, thanks to Tesla’s extensive investment into its proprietary charging network. It means you have access to fast chargers across the East coast of Australia (from Brisbane through to Adelaide) which are reliable, easy to use and integrated into the navigation of the Model 3.

Tesla’s navigation will send you to each charger and precondition the battery to ensure you spend the least amount of time at each station to get you to your destination on time and with charge.

Extensive use of soft vegan leather both on the seats and steering wheel avoids a sense of conflict with this car’s environmental sentiment.

Unlike many cars in this space, the Model 3’s interior feels ‘ground up’ in its development. There’s a lot of space to be found for all passengers, and you don’t feel as if the battery pack under the floor impedes on interior space, unlike cars such as the Hyundai Kona Electric.

There’s no conventional driver’s display or instruments; instead there’s a large centre screen that contains all of your car’s information. A bonus is that this car receives regular updates ‘over the air’ from Tesla to ensure your car is up to date and bug free.

There’s 649L of storage thanks to the Model 3 possessing both a traditional sedan-like boot and a front boot (known affectionately as a frunk or froot).

Surprisingly, a lot of new EVs aren’t incorporating this handy front boot, so this is a standout feature on the Model 3. Only cars like the Volvo XC40 Recharge offers a similar type of storage solution that’ll fit more than just a charging cable.

Comfort is incredible in the Model 3. Over 1000km of driving, my back felt supported and comfortable in these plush seats. Additionally, adult rear passengers shouldn’t feel anything but comfort thanks to the enormous amount of rear leg room they receive. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 offers a superior ergonomic seating solution.

If the charging network isn’t that important to you, I’d consider the Model 3 against its strong rivals. This is because some buyers might not appreciate Tesla as a brand, or its unique driving experience, where other brands offer a more traditional driving experience without the Silicon Valley flair.

But if you'd ask me what electric car I'd buy with my money today, it's still going to be the Model 3 for being a pleasant all-round EV experience.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

I can’t believe how convenient it is – Daily driver- I drive about 400kms a week for less than $1.20/100 kms. I charge from spare solar power at home, rather than exporting to the grid. The electricity company also offers me a charge plan from 12-6am every night to charge at 8c/kWh, which I can use if there isn’t much sun around. With virtually no maintenance or running costs it… Read more

has been a great move financially.

And leaving home every day with a full ‘tank’ battery is so convenient.

I won’t ever go back to the (ICE) combustion engine vehicles.

Best car I have ever owned – Amazing car, fantastic for environment, joy to drive , Amazing technology Show details

Tesla Model 3: A Dream to Drive, A NIGHTMARE to Own – I’m not a mechanical expert and I’m not a legal expert, so keep that in mind as you read my personal account. After reading and dreaming about Tesla cars since around 2008 and waiting years to pull the trigger, I was ecstatic to get my Tesla Model 3, undeterred by the very high upfront cost and the estimated $20,000 in finance costs I'd… Read more

accumulate over the car's lifetime. I even accepted the fact that the price of a new Model 3 might drop and it has since I bought it. I splurged about $10,000 extra on the Full Self-Driving package, convinced that this was all part of a long-term financial strategy. Little did I know that a minor accident would turn my dream into a nightmare. I regret buying a high-end vehicle given my post-accident experience.

Post-accident, my Tesla went in for repairs at a Tesla-authorised body shop, coordinated by my insurance company Suncorp and the Tesla Model 3 was returned with a litany of issues:

• Alignment problems • Battery issues • Visible sun damage • Weird sounds when driving and cornering • Noticeable difference in measurements around the front two wheel wells with a simple measuring tape • Microscopic pitting all over the windscreen • Tyre damage and more

My insurer, Suncorp, coordinated the repairs and calibration through the Tesla-authorised repairer and another specialised businesses. Though these companies are billed as separate entities, it was not initially disclosed to me that they share the same directors. I only learned this after further inquiries. Despite multiple requests, I'm still waiting for additional supporting calibration documentation. Given the complexity of modern vehicle systems like ADAS, transparency in the repair process seems crucial.

Also, after digging into Tesla's Collision Repair Program Operating Standards —provided by my insurer, Suncorp—I discovered that no structural pulling is allowed. One has to wonder why this specific method is singled out. It raises questions about the rationale behind these guidelines. My inquiry into this matter was sparked by a mechanic —who Suncorp claimed was trained in Teslas —told me during a wheel alignment that the car should have been 'pulled.' This raised questions in my mind: Was my car pulled? If not why wasn't my car pulled? Is it permanently misaligned? In my opinion, this might be the reason why my car feels off to drive, seems to have different measurements on each side and two wheel alignments have shown discrepancies only weeks apart.

Another discrepancy is the battery charging: The online owners manual says charge it to 100% every night but Tesla lets body shops discharge it all the way down to 26%. This was cited by Suncorp as one of the excuses for why it was ok for my car to sit in the sun for over a month without being charged.

I started receiving Cabin Overheat warnings via the Tesla app shortly after the repairs. The authorised body shop suggested the system might be faulty. I questioned whether the Cabin Overheat Protection had been deactivated during the service. My vehicle was exposed to direct sun and was not charged for a month, I believe leading to noticeable range depletion. These events have raised serious concerns about the long-term safety of the vehicle's battery.

It's exhausting and I feel like it’s never-ending. All I wanted was a nice car to drive.

I’ve asked that Tesla warranty or Suncorp lifetime guarantee be applied to my case but have yet to hear back.

In light of my own experience with Tesla repairs, I'd suggest that fellow owners or potential buyers might find it beneficial to scrutinise any repair work closely. Reviewing all documentation and asking for any supporting records could provide important insights. You might also think about having the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic for peace of mind. If you're handy with a tape measure, checking dimensions like wheel distances can also add another layer of verification. Being proactive about understanding what's going on with your vehicle is always prudent.

I’ve written email after email to the insurer Suncorp copying Tesla and have now gotten AFCA involved as the next step. The problems have escalated to the point that I’m now having to take further steps which will be an expensive and time consuming hassle. Suncorp has suggested I can have an independent assessment done. It will cost about $7,000 and I haven’t yet been promised a refund. This entire debacle has affected me personally, too. To put it in numbers, I've spent 100s of hours dealing with these complications that could have been spent on other things. That's time I can never recover. Nothing is resolved either.

I initially invested in what I thought was innovative and sustainable technology, but what I've ended up with is a seemingly never-ending cascade of problems. For me, owning this Tesla Model 3 has proven to be a dream turned into a complete nightmare. I once saw Tesla as the future. Is this really the future of automobiles?

Ever better than expected – Have had my model 3 RWD SR since December 2022. Ordered without a test drive as it was the best range + charging speeds for the lowest price and had good warranty (4y car, 8y battery). I love it even more than expected. All the software and safety features are incredible. The designers have thought of so many little things to improve the driving… Read more

experience. I refuse to drive our ICE now, it feels like a dinosaur. I charge mostly for free on free community chargers and occasionally plug in at home. I do supercharge or use NRMA etc on interstate trips. I've done 25000km in 9.5 months and it hasn't missed a beat. Used 7 days a week as primary vehicle for 2ppl + 1 large dog. Melb to Bris up the coast and back via inland was easy. Melb to ACT and Syd and back multiple times. Trips to baw baw in the snow and wilsons promontory, no issues with charging anywhere. The supercharger network just works and plugging into a power point has easily been arranged at accommodation and family members homes. Haven't experience any range anxiety and if the car thinks you're getting too far from chargers it puts messages on the screen telling you so and to navigate to a charger or plug the car in etc. So you'd have to ignore a lot of warnings to run out. Have experienced tyre anxiety due to rural driving with no spare. We do a lot of off road. So far only one puncture from a nail and it was a slow leak so had that repaired at the local tyre shop easily. Also have a can of fix-a-flat just in case. But yeah, tyres are more of a worry than range.

TLDR get a Tesla you won't regret it.

Biggest cons No spare tyre Insurance seems a bit expensive

Love this car. Quiet and comfortable – Upgrading from a Toyota Corolla and have to say I am very impressed. Love the minimalistic design. Noise levels are minimal. The technology in this car is superb. Green light alert for those inattentive drivers and automated assist to prevent accidents. Not to mention security cameras to look out for any problems even when parked. If you want a referral code, my link is below. https://ts.la/jia533847 Show details

All round its been great – I've been driving this car for close to a year now and have certainly become used to driving an EV... the main thing you will notice changing to a Tesla (or any EV) is the regen braking - it's possible to drive with one pedal for the majority of the time, which is great in traffic and will reduce wear on brake pads/discs long term, you will also… Read more

notice the lack of noise and how smooth acceleration is as there are no gear changes.

The Tesla is definatly a little different than most cars in the cabin, but surprisingly it took me all of about 2 trips to be used to - having the one screen and no dials has been fine for me, especially as I tend to use Autopilot a lot (which is really just advanced adaptive cruise control), and most functions in the car can also be activated by voice (although this is one reason I've dropped a star as well - more on that later)

The build quality I have found to be excellent, with no panel gap issues or paint issues I have seen reported (although I do think some 'checklists' are a bit over the top) and I have had zero issues in 12,000k's travelled

The ride is smooth and steering weight feels just right for me (coming out of an Audi A4) and the instant power gives me a lot of confidence on the road.

Being a reasonably heavy car (as the batteries weigh a lot) harsher bumps/bad roads can be a bit more noticeable than other cars, but not as harsh as an M4 or RS5 (for example).

There is a lot of discussion around the value for money in EV's and Tesla specifically however I think they are pretty good value for money against a 3 Series/C-Class/A4 etc especially when you get adaptive cruise/land departure etc standard.

Now for what I see as the downsides, and probably the bit everyone really wants to see in a review...

Firstly, for a car of this size, the back seat is far too narrow, you can't fit 2 car seats and still use the middle seat at all (for an adult anyway) - we tried this once picking some one up 2 hours away and almost thought we were going to have to leave them on the side of the road.

Secondly, the front trunk is great for storage but I wish it was motorised like the rear, to close it, you have to push down on the bonnet which leaves marks (especially noticeable after washing) - it also means you can't remotly close it if need be

Thirdly, voice control - It clearly needs to be recalibrated for Australia.. it frequently dials the wrong contact or in some cases just doesn't understand me at all.

And lastly, releasing the charger - if you are using a non-Tesla charger, it is a pain to unlock it - the app seems hit and miss so I often have to end up using the touchscreen - meaning I have to nearly get into the car - it would be handy if the charger would just unlock when the car is unlocked.

Otherwise, all in all it's been a great car so far and has saved me a fortune in fuel (especially as I can charge at work for no cost)