The most recent Tesla Model 3 is far quieter than previous models and has a much longer highway range : newsdaily500.blogspot.com

 

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While the 2024 Model 3 lineup upgrades may appear to be a regular facelift, the "Highland" Model 3 is noticeably quieter on the road. We just tested a Long Range RWD variant, which averaged 67 decibels at 70 mph. That's three more than the previous Model 3 we examined, the 2019 Dual Motor Long Range.

Much quieter than before.

We used to use the Model 3 as an example of how not all electric vehicles are quiet, but that is no longer the case. Remember that the decibel scale is logarithmic, thus a 10 dBA rise or decrease results in a 100-fold difference in sound pressure. In practical terms, the difference between 70 and 67 dBA is a Ram 1500 TRX versus a Mercedes-Benz E-class, and it makes a big difference in how enjoyable it is to clock miles behind the wheel.

The most recent Tesla Model 3 is far quieter than previous models and has a much longer highway range

Tesla attributes the significant increase in quietness to acoustic-laminated (double-pane) glass all around; previously, only the windshield and front side windows were laminated. Furthermore, the manufacturer claims that a modest contouring of the hood helps to direct passing air up and over the roof rather than into the windshield, which reduces wind noise.

The company also credits the latest Tesla-spec Michelin tires, a Primacy All Season over the old Primacy MXM4, for some of the noise reduction and rolling resistance improvement. While the 0.84 g we measured on the skidpad isn't particularly impressive, it's comparable to the performance of previous Model 3s. Tesla did not simply add a lot of heavy sound-deadening material, as the curb weight of our current test car was 80 pounds less than a 2018 Long Range RWD on our scales.

A Model 3 Exceeds 300 Miles of Range

The noise reduction makes this latest Model 3 considerably more enjoyable to drive, which is fitting given that it can travel much further at highway speeds than previously. While the EPA range climbed from 330 miles for the previous Long Range RWD (a 2020 model) to 363 miles for 2024 (up from 310 miles for the original 2018 Long Range RWD model), we achieved an impressive 310 miles in our 75-mph highway-range test. Our long-term Model 3 covered only 230 miles in the same test, while having an EPA range of 310 miles. While the current models' usable battery capacity has increased to 79.7 kWh, this is only about a 2% increase.

Previous Teslas we've evaluated had highway ranges of about 75% of their EPA label value, which was among the lowest of any automaker. However, the most recent results—we also tested a 2024 Model 3 Performance—increased the highway range to around 85 percent of the EPA.

When we asked Tesla about the range gains, particularly the relative difference between EPA and 75-mph range, the company cited changes in the EPA testing methodology that went into effect in 2024, requiring automakers to test in the best and worst modes and average the results, as well as ongoing improvements to the motor's internal drag. The minor gain in the Model 3's coefficient of drag is also more beneficial at highway speeds than in the slower EPA testing, as aerodynamic drag increases with speed squared.

While the most recent Model 3 appears to be almost identical to its predecessor, it is now a vastly superior vehicle to live with.