Tesla Model 3 Gets a Welcome Refresh That U.S. Buyers Should See Soon

Tesla surprised Europeans tonight with the reveal of the refreshed Model 3 electric sedan.Sleeker exterior styling, a luxed-up cabin, and more standard features are all coming to the popular electric car.While European buyers are said to be receiving the first deliveries in October, Tesla buyers in the U.S. are likely to see the revamped Model 3 appear on the company’s ordering website next.

Consider this the summer the Tesla Model 3 turned pretty. The 2024 Model 3 has made its debut in Europe, and it’s sporting a sleeker front end, a quieter cabin with fancier materials, and desirable new features. Gone is the fish-like front end. In its place is a pair of squintier headlamps and a smoothed-out front bumper that’s free of foglamps.

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The rear end receives updated taillamps with bright LED elements, and the Model 3’s wheel designs are all-new as well. While the changes aren’t drastic—this is a mid-cycle refresh, not an entirely new design—the improvement in the styling is noticeable.

On the Inside

Interior changes are more thorough and include a redesigned dashboard with integrated ambient lighting, a full-length vent tucked into the center, and a revised steering wheel that has dropped the blinker and transmission stalks. A minimalist mindset was again taken in the redesign of the cabin, but the interior material quality is said to be better than before. Tesla has also added more sound-deadening materials throughout the cabin and has introduced more acoustic glass, both of which should keep out more road noise.

Check out the 2024 Tesla Model 3’s updated interior design.’

Two smartphone charging pads have been squeezed into the center console design and the 14-speaker stereo that came on last year’s model has been swapped for a 17-speaker one. The faux-leather upholstery has been upgraded throughout the cabin too, and now features perforations in the material; heated and ventilated front seats are now offered as standard.

The central infotainment/gauge display screen remains the focal point of the cabin, but a smaller, 8.0-inch touchscreen has been added to the back of the center console for rear-seat passengers. That screen allows those in the back to make changes to the climate control and entertainment system and also can double as a screen for watching movies.

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Where’s the Performance Model?

Both a single-motor rear-wheel drive model and a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant are listed on Tesla’s European consumer website while the Performance model that’s currently offered stateside is suspiciously missing. Despite the changes to the Model 3’s styling and interior features, the Model 3’s driving range is expected to be the same as last year’s model. That would mean 272 miles for the single-motor rear-wheel-drive version and 333 miles for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version.

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Since Tesla has not announced the vehicle for the U.S. market yet, we may have to wait to find out exactly when production will start and how much the refreshed Model 3 will cost. Tesla is known for being unpredictable with changes to its lineup, but we’re guessing we’ll see a U.S.-spec version debut before the end of 2023, with deliveries starting sometime in early 2024. What’s more, this could signal a coming redesign for the Model 3’s SUV sibling, the Model Y.

Managing Editor, Buyer’s Guide

Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.