I’ll admit it upfront: I was never a huge fan of Teslas. I always thought they were just very clinical vehicles that even I wouldn’t enjoy, even for daily driving.
By now, I’m sure there’s a lot of social media hype surrounding Teslas and their technology, but there’s also been some griping from enthusiasts that it’s just a simple tool for getting from point A to point B.
That changed the moment I sat down with the all-new Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive.
Exterior
The refreshed design is a genuine step up — more cohesive, more purposeful, and unmistakably futuristic in a way that feels earned rather than affected. This, finally, is a car that looks like it comes from a tech-forward company.
The front end in particular impresses. Compared to the previous generation, the update is significant — sharper, more resolved, and with a confidence the older car lacked. The headlights now look like a part of the overall design, which is a huge plus.
Moving over to the side, the standard fitment, however, is the 18-inch Photon wheels, which are a mild aesthetic letdown. The aero covers do their job — contributing to that class-leading 750 km WLTP range — but they don’t exactly stir the soul.
“For those with an extra ₱99,000 to spend, the 19-inch Nova wheels transform the car’s stance considerably, albeit at the cost of 59 km of rated range.“
For those with an extra ₱99,000 to spend, the 19-inch Nova wheels transform the car’s stance considerably, albeit at the cost of 59 km of rated range, dropping from 750 km to 691 km. Still impressive by any measure, but worth factoring in. That said, the side profile and silhouette look sleek, and the rear LED taillights round up the overall design.
Interior and Technology
Step inside and the minimalism hits immediately. The cabin is dominated by a 15.4-inch touchscreen that serves as the command center for everything — climate control, gear selection, media, navigation. There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto; Tesla runs its own proprietary interface built on a Google Maps-based navigation system. You can even play games or watch YouTube or Netflix while you are stationary, doubling the Tesla Model 3 as a sort of entertainment center away from home.
Surprisingly, the omission stings less than expected. The system is intuitive enough that within a couple of days, the learning curve flattens considerably. If you’re going to build a car without CarPlay, this is exactly how to do it.
Multiple easter eggs are also found on the infotainment system, with Tron mode, making everything red and playing Tron music; fireplace mode, which warms everything up; and you can even set your vehicle as if it’s driving on Mars, with your maps changing to Mars. Not needed, but fun gimmicks nonetheless.
The seats are supportive and upholstered in leather that cleans easily, which is a thoughtful touch for long-term ownership. Rear passenger space is genuinely impressive; even with a low driving position up front, the rear seats rival those of larger sedans like the Toyota Camry for legroom and comfort. Rear occupants also have access to Netflix and games on the screen, making the cabin feel more like a lounge than a car.
One minor gripe: the test unit had some creaking and rattling from the steering wheel garnish — hopefully an isolated issue rather than a systemic one.
This particular unit came equipped with Enhanced Autopilot, which meaningfully enhances the ownership experience. Beyond the expected lane-tracing assist and adaptive cruise control, it unlocks two standout features: Summon and Auto Park.
Lane Tracing Assist
Adaptive Cruise Control
Summon Mode
Auto Park
Sentry Mode
Remote App Control
Summon is, admittedly, a bit of a gimmick — but a surprisingly useful one. The car can drive itself to you autonomously, which sounds frivolous until you’re standing in a hot car park with groceries or getting soaked in the rain. You do have to hold a button in the Tesla app throughout, but the accuracy is genuinely impressive. Auto Park is even better — the best implementation of the feature I’ve encountered in any vehicle, including parallel parking, which it handles with a precision that puts most human drivers to shame. (Especially from a parallel parking perspective)
“Sentry Mode turns the car into a surveillance system — monitoring activity while parked and sending real-time notifications straight to your phone.“
The companion app extends the car’s usefulness further still. Climate pre-conditioning, remote air con, and live camera access are all available from your phone. Sentry Mode turns the car into a surveillance system while parked, and if it detects any activity near the vehicle, it sends a notification directly to your phone, complete with footage. It’s a feature that’s both practical and genuinely reassuring if you’re parked somewhere sketchy. The app itself is intuitive and well-designed, consistent with Tesla’s broader software ethos.
Driving Impressions
This is where the Model 3 surprised me most. I expected a clinical, point-A-to-point-B experience. What I got was a car that communicates — with decent steering feel from the double wishbone front suspension, a chassis that’s stiff yet remarkably well-damped, and power delivery that’s responsive, immediate, and deeply satisfying.
With over 300 horsepower on tap, the Model 3 Long Range is far from the most powerful EV on the market. But Tesla’s calibration of that power, which is linear, instant, and perfectly weighted, sets it apart. It’s genuinely fun to drive in a way that feels effortless rather than violent.
“The chassis is stiff, the ride is well-damped, and the power delivery is immediate. It is a genuinely great daily driver.“
One legitimate frustration: one-pedal driving cannot be fully disabled. For seasoned EV drivers, this is second nature, but for newcomers it adds yet another learning curve to an already unfamiliar experience. A firmware update that allows more granular control of regenerative braking would be welcome.
What Tesla also does better than the competition is in the realm of ownership experience. Tesla has its own Supercharging network, which makes the ownership experience worthwhile with exclusivity and convenience when owners need to charge, and it plans to expand that network outside the Metro soon.
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive is a more complete car than it has any right to be. Its design has matured, its interior is smarter than it looks, its driving dynamics genuinely impress, and its range figures remain class-leading, and ownership perks are also a tasty addition. It asks you to adapt — to the screen, to one-pedal driving, to life without CarPlay — but it rewards that effort with an experience that makes sense on its own terms, to the point that you, as a driver, would be genuinely happy to adjust and live with it.
Tesla Model 3 Key Specs at a Glance:
Wheels (standard): 18″ Photon
Wheels (optional): 19″ Nova (+₱99,000)
WLTP Range (18″): 750 km
WLTP Range (19″): 691 km
Infotainment: 15.4 inches
Suspension (front) :Double wishbone
Verdict: The car that made a non-believer reconsider
0 Comments
Leave a Reply