New 2025 Tesla Model 3 Refresh Review

Can Tesla keep up with the new electric game with the updated Model 3 Refresh?

Exterior – Front

So, starting with the styling at the front and straight away the new Model 3 Refresh looks much sleeker and modern. To start with we get a new set of front wings which incorporates a set of very slim headlights that look like they are inspired by the Model S and Roadster. It has a thin LED Daytime Running Light strip in it and has Matrix technology, so they are much better than before. changing to these headlights improve the aerodynamics. What also helps with the aerodynamics is the much simpler front bumper. All we get is a central air vent and that’s it. Plain and simple but functional. The performance version does get a slightly different bumper that looks like the older one but that is more for cooling that design. 

Exterior – Side

Moving round to the side and there aren’t that many changes apart from some amazing new colour and great wheel options. We can see the new headlight design from the side though and overall, it just looks like a much more premium car.

Exterior – Rear

Moving round to the back however and things start to change. So, the main change is the taillights. They are this one-piece design that are attached to the boot lid so when you open the boot the taillights go up with it. They do look very modern and sleek, and I do really like the design of them. the Tesla logo has also been replaced with the Tesla lettering too. Finally, the bumper is also different and again is more aerodynamic. Right, lets have a look at what battery and motor options you can have with the new Tesla Model 3 Refresh.

Car and engine specs and price

So, there is 5 versions of the Tesla Model 3. Lets start with the first one. This is the rear-wheel-drive version, and this has a 245 bhp motor that is mounted on the rear axle. We also get a 58-kWh battery pack giving this car a 318-mile range. 0-62 is delt within 5.8 seconds which isn’t that bad. The next version is called Long Range RWD, and this has an upgraded rear mounted motor bumping the power up to 320 bhp. the battery pack has also been upgraded to have a 75-kWh battery pack giving a 436-mile range. Even though the battery pack is bigger though you do get a quicker 4.9 second 0-62 time which is quite good. The next version is called Long Range AWD and as you guessed it this has a dual motor setup giving the Tesla Model 3 351 bhp and a 4.2 second 0-62 time. The battery pack is the same size at 75 kWh which means the range does reduce slightly down to 390 miles, but this is still decent. The final version is the Performance version, and this get a dual motor setup giving it 4-wheel drive and 460 bhp. 0-62 is delt within 2.9 seconds which is very quick. It does have the same 75 kWh battery pack though reducing the range yet again to 328 miles but like before this is still very useable. We also get some suspension upgrades on this model too. right the price of the Tesla Model 3 Refresh starts at £39,990 which isn’t that bad and is quite decent compared to other rivals that you can get. Right, lets have a look at the interior as there are a few big changes to talk about.

Interior – Design

So, moving inside and this is where things really change. Some things are good and some things not so much. Lets start with the dashboard. This has an all-new design structure to it incorporating some new materials as well as colour ambient lighting. The design is still similar but has just been modernised. The infotainment system is the same as before and gets updated every month on every Tesla so there aren’t really any new features to talk about here. The centre console is different and houses better storage bins and we also get some new sportier seats which now have a ventilating function. Also, on the Performance version we get some sport style bucket seats making it feel like a true M3 fighter. Right, now its time to talk about what might be a deal breaker. The new steering wheel design. Now I do like the steering wheel design. It is very modern and sleek looking, but I don’t like the fact that Tesla has gotten rid of the indicator stalks and drive selector stalk. This is a big shame as you have to retrain your brain on how to drive. So, to select drive you have to swipe up on the screen or down for reverse. The indicator stalks are touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and this is the same for your autopilot and windscreen wipers. They are very fiddly, and it is great to see that the new Model Y has a stalk so could this mean the Tesla Model 3 will get a stalk back. We can only hope. Anyway, the rest of the materials are decent and good for this type of car. Lets have a look and see what it is like in the back.

Practicality

So, climbing into the back and we do get some changes which include more ambient lighting and some slightly comfier seats. We also get a different style central air vent and an 8-inch tablet in the back just like the Model S and X. this means the people in the back can control their own climate control, play games or watch something. You also get some USB C ports and some slightly better materials too. right, lets have a look and see what the boot space is like.

Boot Size

So, opening the boot to the Tesla model 3 and as you can tell it has a saloon style opening giving access to 425 litres of boot space. if you fold the seats down however this does increase to 1,140 litres. Also, like other Tesla’s you also get a front boot which has 88 litres which is big enough for your weekly shopping or cables which is handy. On the dual motor version though this will decrease because of the motor being at the front too.

Summary

So, in summary then what do I think of the new Tesla Model 3 Refresh. Well, really it still beats its competitors, but it isn’t as far as you think it would be. Yes, its rivals are very good now, but the Tesla has a feel that the technology is a couple of years ahead of the competition and this is helped by it being updated every year with new software to get better range and performance as well as better equipment levels too. other makers are doing this but not like Tesla does, but I don’t think it will be long before they do.

Exterior 5/5

Interior 4/5

Practicality 4/5

Total 13/15

Model	Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
Engine	75 kWh Battery Pack, Dual Motor Motor, 351bhp, 0-62 = 4.2 Seconds, 329 Mile Range, 4 Wheel Drive
Transmission	Single Speed Electric Motor
Price	£49,990
On Sale	Now