One Year with the Tesla Model 3 – Driving 18,700 km

Time flies—it’s already been about a year since I purchased my Tesla Model 3.

Over this year, I’ve driven 18,700 km. For someone who owns multiple cars, putting that many kilometers on a single vehicle in a year is a clear sign of how much I’m drawn to this car.

To sum it up, my experience with the Model 3 over the past year has brought me immense satisfaction. If I had to describe it in one phrase, it would be “a whole different era.” Tesla offers such an advanced experience that many cars sold in Japan feel outdated by comparison.

So, why is my satisfaction level so high?

Let me break down the reasons one by one.

Unmatched Driving Performance – It’s Not Just Acceleration, But Handling That’s Truly Impressive

Many people mistakenly think Tesla’s appeal is just about its lightning-fast acceleration, but that’s a big misconception.

Sure, the acceleration is fantastic, making highway overtaking effortless. But what I value most is its exceptional handling performance.

At first glance, the Model 3 looks like just a family car, but it actually boasts handling that’s more than capable of competing with sports cars. A slight turn of the steering wheel makes the car smoothly respond in that direction. While its sharpness doesn’t quite match a dedicated sports car’s limits, even my Long Range model feels sporty enough.

Driving on mountain roads is no problem at all—in fact, it feels quite fast. The driving feel is excellent, and it’s the overall driving performance, not just acceleration, that truly defines Tesla’s charm.

Excellence as a “Comfortable Moving Space”

The second major appeal of Tesla is the comfort inside the cabin.

Stepping into the Model 3’s interior feels like entering a neatly organized modern living room. The interior design is simple and uncluttered, offering a sophisticated space reminiscent of a high-end city hotel. This “clean” design doesn’t just make driving easier; it creates a truly comfortable environment to spend time in.

The cabin’s quietness sets it apart from domestic cars. Double-pane glass is used throughout, significantly enhancing sound insulation. Outside noise is barely audible—even the siren of an approaching ambulance often goes unnoticed until it’s very close.

This high level of soundproofing also means conversations and phone calls inside the car rarely leak outside. Unlike many Japanese cars where in-car calls can be heard outside, the Model 3 keeps your privacy intact. Sometimes I even bring a karaoke microphone made for Tesla inside, and even then, the sound is barely audible outside.

Leveraging these features, I often work inside the car.

Using the 60-watt USB-C port, I can charge my MacBook while working. Setting up a Tesla table, turning on the air conditioning, and playing background music through the 17 interior speakers instantly creates a quiet, private mobile office. I used to work at cafes during breaks, but now I often work inside my Tesla parked in coin-operated lots.

Unlike gasoline cars, there’s no need to keep the engine idling. Even running the air conditioning on a cold winter day only reduces battery by about 1-1.5% per hour. So, with a full charge, you can theoretically keep the air conditioning on for 40 to 50 hours. Tesla is amazing on the road, but it’s also exceptional in comfort while parked.

All-Weather Capability and Ever-Evolving Software

The third appeal is its all-weather performance.

It handles snow and heavy rain with stability, inspiring confidence. Remarkably, the Autopilot works reliably even in poor visibility conditions like heavy rain. It can safely navigate highways when human eyes would struggle.

This is a major difference from other cars. Many driver-assist systems disable themselves at the slightest rain, displaying “unavailable” messages, but Tesla strives to maintain functionality as much as possible. My Long Range model has all-wheel drive, making it truly a “comfortable, fast machine for all weather conditions.”

The fourth appeal is software updates. Over the past year, my Model 3 has received nine updates, dramatically improving its features. When I first bought it, the display showed only 2 to 4 surrounding vehicles, but now it recognizes every vehicle and pedestrian in view.

Testing Tesla’s free update on the way home today.

・Now recognizes surroundings beyond human eyesight
・Detects brake lights and turn signals of cars ahead
・Autopilot in traffic now smoothly starts and stops, considering brake lights… pic.twitter.com/lWkWdzE85B

— Hiro@Welcome Home, PORSCHE (@boxster_gts) June 6, 2024

Autopilot operation has become much smoother, and entertainment apps like YouTube Music, Audible, TuneIn, and Amazon Music have been added. The way Autopilot detects steering input has also improved—from previously requiring a certain torque on the wheel to now using an in-cabin camera to detect if your hand is near the steering wheel. Just resting your hand near the wheel is enough.

The new “Auto Parking” feature is highly effective. Unlike other brands’ systems that require extra confirmations or operations, Tesla’s only needs you to select a parking spot, then it quickly parks itself. It’s far better than a new driver and parks with accuracy and speed comparable to an average driver.

The “Navigate on Autopilot” feature for highway driving was also added. Even more impressive, the headlights that were standard when I bought the car have evolved into adaptive headlights (which avoid dazzling cars ahead) purely through software updates. No physical modifications—just updates. This level of functional improvement is uniquely Tesla.

Tesla’s new auto parking (Vision AutoPark) after the update.
It’s very smooth and fast. Much better than most drivers.
This alone makes EAP worth it. pic.twitter.com/AAjsXfXMCK

— Hiro@Welcome Home, PORSCHE (@boxster_gts) December 26, 2024

Battery Degradation? Plus Low Maintenance Costs and Convenient Service

Finally, I want to highlight the low maintenance costs. My 1-year inspection cost only 22,100 yen. Coming from Porsche ownership, I can only call this “incredibly affordable.”

After 18,000 km, the brake pads still measure 10mm in front and 9mm in the rear—barely worn. This shows how effective regenerative braking is. Also, the Pirelli all-season tires “Cinturato SF3” I installed midway still have 6mm tread left after about 9,000 km, disproving the common belief that EVs wear tires quickly due to their weight.

During the year, I never experienced any major troubles. When an error occurred with Autopark after an update, contacting the service center led to a remote diagnosis and a quick remote update fix. This kind of service is something other manufacturers should emulate.

Maintenance bookings are all handled through the app, from estimates to reservations and payments—all with just your smartphone. No unnecessary paperwork or waiting—everything runs smoothly. This convenience is another major Tesla advantage.

And of course, many of you will wonder about battery degradation.
According to TeslaFi logs, at around 18,700 km, my battery still retains 97.3% capacity. I charge it almost daily at home and use it heavily for commuting and errands. This clearly shows that the common claim “EV batteries degrade like smartphone batteries and are no good” is no longer true.

The Tesla Model 3 Sets the Standard for the Future

After one year and 18,700 km with the Tesla Model 3, I truly feel this is not just an electric car—it’s a glimpse into the future of automobiles.

Excellent handling, cabin comfort, all-weather capability, ever-evolving software, low maintenance costs, and convenient service—all combined to deliver an unprecedented level of satisfaction.

If you’re considering a family car, I highly recommend test-driving a Tesla. It’s an experience that goes beyond just choosing a car—it opens the door to a new era. You’ll find yourself wondering, “Why aren’t other cars like this?” Tesla truly overturns the conventional wisdom of today’s automotive industry.

The Tesla Model 3 is not only eco-friendly but also combines driving pleasure, comfort, evolving features, and peace of mind in ownership. This is the conclusion I’ve reached after one year of ownership.

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Just in case, here’s my Tesla referral code link.
It offers a discount on the vehicle price, so it’s a great deal. Please don’t forget to use it if you decide to buy a Tesla.