Tesla officially launches new Model 3 'Highland' refresh with sharp, modern looks to take on maturing EV competition

Tesla launched the original Model 3 way back in 2017, and, while its design was originally received fairly well, despite being a bit boring, it hasn't aged nearly as well, with more recent EVs outclassing it with more charming aesthetics. For the last few months, rumours of the Model 3 Highland refresh have been swirling the internet, with test-mule sightings becoming all the more common leading up to the announcement.

Now, Tesla has pulled the wraps off of the update to its cheapest vehicle to reveal a rather sharp-looking, if subtle refresh in the looks department. For now, the updated Model 3 only seems to be available in China and Europe, as the US page has not yet been updated with the new model.

As far as details for the refresh go, the biggest changes come from the interior, with a new 8.0-inch infotainment screen added to the rear of the centre console for back-seat passengers. The dash now also integrates ambient lighting, similar to what we saw in the Cybertruck images we reported on a week ago.

The interior is also supposed to be made of improved materials, while Tesla claims it has also improved the sound deadening to decrease cabin noise in the Model 3. The steering wheel in the Model 3 was also the subject of some slight design tweaks. There are a number of smaller design tweaks to the interior, like the removal of the steering-column-mounted stalks in favour of controls on the steering wheel itself.

The exterior also received some attention, with sharp headlights that make the refreshed front bumper and hood look a lot more modern than previously. Instead of the old bumper and front fascia with the hump that fades away into the side of the car, there's a sharp cut across the front that simplifies the look and makes it look a bit more sporty at the same time.

The hood itself looks to be much the same as the previous model, but there are now cleaner lines running up next to the edges of the hood to separate the hood and the headlights. The tail section and tail lights of the Model 3 have also been redesigned for the mid-cycle refresh, with a more refined duck tail and more aggressive styling on the back of the trunk.

All-in-all, while the visual upgrades to the exterior of the Model 3 might almost be subtle enough to miss, they work well to make the electric sedan look fresh and modern without losing its identity. It's still easily recognisable as a Tesla Model 3.

Under the hood, not much has changed. Range and performance numbers for the dual-motor AWD and single-motor RWD Model 3 remain the same, but the Model 3 Performance is suspiciously missing from Tesla's EU pages. Deliveries for European customers are expected to start in early October.

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