On March 3rd, I took a test drive and was so impressed that I placed the order that very night. About two months later, the Tesla Model 3 (Highland) Long Range finally arrived at our home!
This time, I’d like to give a detailed report covering the delivery experience, exterior, interior, and impressions of driving on winding roads—something I couldn’t fully grasp during the test drive.

A Delivery Experience Unlike Any Other

Tesla’s delivery process is completely different from the usual experience with brands like Porsche.

While Porsche deliveries happen at dealerships, Tesla’s style is to pick up your car at a delivery center or service center. In the Kansai region, the service center in Toyonaka serves as the delivery location.

When I arrived at the center, I pressed the call bell at the reception desk. This is already a big difference from a typical dealership delivery.
After a short wait, the representative came out and handed me the card key and documents.

They were very friendly and passionately talked about Tesla cars. “Isn’t this color amazing?” “I highly recommend these 18-inch wheels this time!” They spoke proudly as if it were their own car, which left a strong impression. Many Tesla representatives are genuine Tesla enthusiasts who also own Teslas themselves. Their explanations are never mechanical or scripted—they come from the heart and passion.

Tesla Model 3 ready in front of the store

Following the instructions, I opened the Tesla smartphone app and completed the delivery process.
In no time, my smartphone became the Tesla key, and the delivery was complete.

After that, the representative left the room, so I checked my Tesla parked outside, took my time setting up inside the car, and once ready, drove it home.

After setting everything up, you can just get in and drive away

This seems to reflect Tesla’s company philosophy. Everything is truly rational and efficient. It’s the perfect delivery method for those eager to get their car and drive away quickly.
I thought, why not let all manufacturers offer this style of delivery as an option?

Instant Love for the Deep Ultra Red

This time, I chose a deep red called Ultra Red. I saw it once during the test drive and instantly fell in love with the color. In person, it’s even more beautiful than in photos, and the deep red perfectly accentuates the Model 3’s stylish design.
It’s a red with depth and brilliance reminiscent of Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal Metallic, showing different expressions depending on the angle and lighting.

The interior is very clean and minimalist. Once you get used to this, ordinary car interiors feel clunky. Standard features include seat heaters, seat ventilation, steering wheel heater, and 17 speakers.

I chose white for the interior. I was worried about stains, but after researching, I found that Tesla’s seat material is quite resistant to dirt. Also, if it does get dirty, it can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth thanks to special treatment.

In fact, several days after delivery, no stains are visible at all. The white interior brightens and livens up the cabin, which I really like.

Simple Yet Functional Interior

The Model 3’s interior is extremely simple. The dashboard is dominated by a large touchscreen, with almost no physical buttons.

At first, I was a bit confused, but quickly got used to it. The turn signals were easy to adapt to, and the touchscreen controls are intuitive and straightforward, giving quick access to all necessary information.

There’s no turn signal lever. Like Ferrari, it uses button controls.

The steering wheel features scroll wheels and buttons on both sides for controlling audio, Autopilot, and other functions. This might feel unfamiliar at first but becomes very user-friendly once you get the hang of it.

The seats are on the softer side but have enough firmness and are shaped to fit the human body well. They differ from European and Japanese seats but are comfortable even on long drives. The rear seats offer enough space for two adults to sit comfortably.

Standard rear seat monitor. You can watch YouTube, Netflix, adjust the front passenger seat, control the air conditioning, and operate music.

Camp Mode lets you use the air conditioning and interior power while staying comfortable. Perfect for remote work.

Notably, the double-pane glass provides excellent sound insulation. When the windows are closed, the cabin becomes remarkably quiet.
Thanks to Tesla’s Camp Mode, you can create your own workspace anywhere, anytime.

Overall, the Model 3’s interior is simple yet functional, offering a very comfortable environment.

Shocking Smoothness from the Start! Impressions in City Driving

I immediately took the Model 3 for a drive. The start was smoother than I imagined—no exaggeration—it felt like riding on a flying carpet. The smoothness of the tires rolling is truly exceptional.

Being an electric vehicle, there’s no engine vibration or noise, making it quiet and comfortable. When you press the accelerator, it accelerates powerfully and seamlessly. The sensation of acceleration feels like a car from the future, a unique experience you can’t get from an engine car.

The surrounding recognition accuracy is amazing. The next update will expand the recognized area even further.

On delivery day, with 99% charge, the range was 544 km. Tesla’s range display is said to be quite realistic.

My daughter was also surprised the first time she rode in it, saying, “Wow, so smooth!” Even a fifth grader can tell how smooth it is.

In city driving, that smoothness and quietness really stand out. Starting from a stoplight is smooth and stress-free. It feels like gliding through the city.

One-Pedal Driving Is Truly Convenient!

The Model 3 uses one-pedal driving. This means you can control acceleration and deceleration with just the accelerator pedal.

One-pedal driving is also used by Nissan, and many people criticize or dislike it, but I think it’s mostly a mindset issue. Those who dislike it never get used to it, but people without preconceptions adapt quickly. Once you get used to one-pedal driving, it’s so convenient you probably won’t want to go back to a normal car.

When you lift off the accelerator, regenerative braking kicks in and slows the car smoothly. You only need to use the brake pedal in emergencies or when you want to fine-tune deceleration. It smoothly brings the car to a stop on any steep hill without needing to press the brake to prevent rolling backward.

Thanks to this one-pedal driving, city driving has become much easier.
Tesla’s one-pedal driving lets you operate 99% of the time without touching the brake pedal, so I highly recommend trying it.

…To Part 2

テスラがわが家にやってきた！（後編）｜ 走りは想像以上！ これはポルシェを超えたか！？