2021 Tesla Model 3 vs 2023

What's the difference?

Like technology trailblazers which came before it (and which it so clearly seeks to emulate) like Apple with the smartphone as we know it today, or Dyson with its stick vacuum, Tesla is the poster company for vehicle electrification.

It's undeniable the effect the brand has had on the global car market, forcing storied automaker's hands in proving full scale production (even though it might be rocky at times) of an electric-only car is not only possible, but it can be profitable and popular, too.

Which brings us to the Model 3. Following on from the successful but expensive Model S sedan and Model X SUV, the Model 3 promised to be an accessible, affordable EV for the masses, a proper people's car for the electric era.

So, has Tesla managed to achieve this? Or, is slick EV motoring at a reasonable price still a pipe dream for every-day motorists? We tested the Model 3 for a week to find out.

The Tesla Model 3 is already an historically significant vehicle.

It’s not the first EV, it’s not even close to being the first mass-produced EV. But, it is the most popular EV in the world during a once in a generation shift toward electric drivetrain technology.

To give you an idea of this car’s popularity in Australia, in the first half of 2022 the Model 3 is only about 450 sales behind the Toyota Camry.

The Model 3 has made electric cars more accessible, and even cool, and since we last reviewed it, it has even managed to weather the storm of price rises relatively well.

The question is, with rivals bearing down on it locally and overseas, does the Model 3 deserve to be known as Australia’s best-value electric car?

We’ve grabbed its most popular variant, the entry-level Rear Wheel Drive, to find out if it has what it takes.