Tesla Model 3 'Highland' exceeds EPA estimate in real-life range test, clocks 370 miles at 70 mph on the highway

Tesla's new dual-motor Model 3 was the subject of a recent range test by Out Of Spec Reviews on YouTube, and the results are far better than expected. The Model 3 even managed to outclass its EPA estimate - a rare sight considering Tesla EVs have been known to underperform in real-life range tests.

Driven on the highway at 70 mph, the Tesla Model 3 'Highland' managed to cover a distance of a whopping 372 miles - 30 miles more than its official EPA estimate of 342 miles. To add to its victory, it should be noted that EPA's estimates include a mix of city and highway driving, while Out of Spec drove the Model 3 exclusively on the highway, making the result all the more impressive.

EVs, unlike ICEs, are more efficient in city driving as compared to highways. In stop-and-go traffic, EVs can hqarvest a good amount of energy courtesy of regenerative braking, while also saving energy thanks to slower speeds. The presenters also included a 2021 dual-motor Model 3 in the test, and that vehicle only went 298 miles before coming to a halt. However, do keep in mind that the aforementioned 2021 Model 3 had already clocked over 30,000 miles, and thus likely suffers from at least some battery degradation, unlike the 2024 Model 3.

As pointed out by Out of Spec, even after accounting for battery degradation, the 2021 Model 3 would've lasted no further than 310 miles on a single charge. Interestingly, Tesla did not improve the battery size for the Long Range AWD variant for this generation of the Model 3, which utilises the same 82 kWh capacity as the 2021 model, indicating that the massive improvement in the range has been achieved solely by software tweaks and better aerodynamics.