Test drive with the Tesla Model 3

In recent years electric cars are the absolute trend and you can hear and read a lot about how the market is developing. As a die-hard diesel driver and somewhat skeptical observer of electric mobility, it is not easy to confront this development. No diesel rumbling, no consistent acceleration, no rev counter that slowly rises and so on. So it was about time to get into such a new-fangled trendy car and take the steering wheel in my hand and press the accelerator pedal (do they even call it the accelerator pedal?).

You have to say that the Tesla Model 3 as well as the other models of the manufacturer look really great. As a big fan of science fiction movies, you immediately feel transported to a world after our time. The access to the vehicle works with a KeyCard, App on the mobile phone or the Tesla "key". The key does not remind of a key but of a model car. Somehow it awakens the child in the man and you almost want to start playing around with the key like a little child. Well - enough playing. Let's get into the car. 

At first sight I am surprised. The Tesla Model 3 is supposed to be the beginning of Tesla in electric mobility and is also made for not so well-off people. You sit on comfortable leather (available in black and white), have a huge monitor at the place where the center console is in all other cars. So actually luxury - pure. The friendly salesman from Tesla explains to a standard car driver how to operate the science fiction car. First of all, adjust the seat correctly - well, I still know that from my car. Next, set the steering wheel correctly. Everyone knows that you can adjust the steering wheel underneath. Not with Tesla - with a few clicks on the huge touch monitor (which reminds me a bit of an Apple iMac) I am able to adjust it with the 2 buttons on the steering wheel. By the way: The buttons on the steering wheel are also the only buttons in the whole car. Mirror adjustment works the same way - click here, click there and the mirror fits. This is followed by a short briefing on how to operate the radio, air conditioning, driving behavior and navigation. It takes some getting used to the fact that the temperature is no longer controlled by a knob but by the touch display. I was impressed by the adjustment of the ventilation nozzles. These are also controlled via the monitor. By zooming in and out like on a smartphone, the direction of flow can be adjusted - amazing!

Spotify connected, air conditioning on, step on the brake and the Mercedes-like shift lever next to the steering wheel on "Drive". Let the adventure begin!

I try to drive all the typical roads I have to use on a weekday from my home to my workplace. So we drive from the Tesla headquarters in Vienna a few lanes towards the highway. The freeway access road and the so-called acceleration lane are the perfect place to test the acceleration behavior of the vehicle. Oops - luckily no radar. The acceleration is brute - there is no other way to say it. The stomach turns almost once completely around. I have never felt like this before, not even when starting an airplane. Unfortunately, the Model 3 has no speed indicator in the field of vision, which probably often leads to the fact that you might be driving faster than the police allows. A small Head-Up Display would be a great AddOn. The speed is only displayed on the large monitor.

Driving is no problem even at freeway speeds. It is very quiet and pleasant to drive. The monitor shows the vehicles in front, those driving alongside and those in the back. The system is mainly used for the autopilot. Especially exciting is that the sophisticated system usually even recognizes red traffic lights. Speaking of red lights - usually you stop at red lights. You reduce the gas and slowly step on the brake. Almost the whole test drive I could do with only the accelerator pedal. Because of the recuperation function of the vehicle, it stops until it comes to a standstill - you will soon find out how this works and how to protect the brakes.

A quick look at the battery level - still enough charge. We can therefore continue to exploit the full potential of the car. For interest I once entered the destination "Rome" into the navigation system. From Vienna to Rome it is already a tidy way. A great feature is the display of when, where and for how long you have to stop at the charging station to reach your destination.

We stop at a sports field and take a few pictures as a reminder before we drive back. We notice that the trunk is not too big. There are 2 possibilities for storage (in the front and in the back) - four people on vacation could be scarce. I had not yet mentioned the ponoramic roof - it is gorgeous. Unfortunately you cannot open it.

Conclusion: I think the time has come where you can get involved in this experience. In any case a rethinking is necessary. Planning in advance, where to go the next day and how much electricity you will need is as important as avoiding spontaneous trips without preparation.

If you live in a residential complex, it is absolutely necessary to clarify whether you can install a charging station. In some housing estates this is not possible, which makes the charging process even more complicated.

I think in the near future there could be an electric car in my garage.