[Test Drive] Tesla Model 3, Driving Becomes Easier Once You Overcome the Unfamiliarity

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Recently, a new star has emerged in the domestic imported car market. Tesla's affordable sedan Model 3 has been gaining popularity, selling over 5,500 units cumulatively since its launch in the domestic market in September 2019. Last month, with a large volume released, it became the first electric vehicle to top the best-selling imported car list in Korea.

Tesla, once thought to be loved only by a small group of enthusiasts, has risen as the top-selling model in the domestic imported car market, being re-evaluated as a mainstream model. To find out the secret behind the rapidly growing popularity of the Tesla Model 3, I took it for a test drive myself.

I first encountered the Model 3 at the Tesla Cheongdam Store. It was a sedan with a rounded impression and sleek curves that gave a sophisticated feel. When I held the digital key near the driver's side B-pillar (the pillar above the handle), the door opened and the vehicle system woke up.

Tesla Model 3 Interior

Sitting in the driver's seat, I was twice surprised by the futuristic and minimalist clean design. Only the steering wheel and a 15-inch touchscreen display were present, with no other controls or instrument panels visible. Drivers accustomed to the flashy infotainment controls reminiscent of an airplane cockpit might feel something missing when first facing the interior of the Model 3. However, as I checked the functions contained in the 15-inch display one by one, I thought that future cars might evolve in such a simple direction.

In fact, some details throughout the vehicle seemed insufficient to satisfy the sensibilities of Korean drivers. Thin material sun visor covers and the left side mirror without a wide-angle mirror could cause some inconvenience to drivers used to domestic cars.

However, when I activated the Autopilot function, the reason for purchasing this car became clear. On regular roads, when the Autopilot is turned on, the vehicle actively drives by adjusting the distance to the cars in front and behind on its own. The Model 3 uses cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors to recognize the flow of surrounding vehicles, the types of nearby vehicles, and even whether lane lines are solid or dashed, displaying all this information on the display.

When driving on highways at a certain speed or above, the navigation-based full self-driving (Autopilot Navigation) function is activated. When a destination is set on the navigation, the vehicle guides itself to the destination and automatically steers for lane changes and positioning during the journey.

I tested this function by setting a destination on the navigation and entering the highway. When I lightly pulled the right turn signal stalk down twice, the navigation-based Autopilot function was activated. The vehicle adjusted its speed autonomously, following the car ahead, and when it sensed traffic congestion, it signaled its intention to move to the adjacent lane.

When the driver approved the lane change, the vehicle changed lanes on its own. Although the Genesis G80, a recent domestic premium car, also has an automatic lane change function, the Tesla Model 3 was superior in terms of agility when changing lanes.

However, it was difficult to use this function in sudden congestion or tight vehicle spacing situations. In traffic jams where quick merging is required through subtle judgment, relying solely on the Model 3’s gentle lane change function posed practical challenges. If, within a few years, a networked autonomous driving system communicating information among all vehicles on the road is implemented, it is expected that this function will be usable even in congested areas.

Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot navigation feature activated.

Model 3 charging its battery at a destination charging station.

The Tesla Model 3, as an electric sedan, offers smooth and quiet driving performance. The strong torque unique to electric vehicles was felt powerfully every time the accelerator was pressed, showcasing the strength of the battery. The lowest trim, Standard Range Plus, can travel 352 km on a single charge, Long Range 446 km, and Performance 415 km. Using Superchargers installed at 32 locations nationwide, including hotels, resorts, and shopping malls, it takes about an hour on average to charge up to 80%. More than 400 Wall Connectors are also operated nationwide at general charging stations (Destination Charging), allowing convenient charging while enjoying meals or shopping.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.