Surprisingly, the new Model 3 Highland isn’t as fun to drive as the Chevy Bolt. It’s quiet and cushy, corners much better than Bolt on stock tires, deep bucket seats, swaddled, limited visibility. Feels like a Honda.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7269.jpg)
I loved driving the old Performance trim, effortless power and maybe the seat was adjusted for better vis. The Bolt feels like a go-kart even though slightly slower because it’s lighter and smaller. Great vis from its upright seating and large greenhouse.
Black bars in taillight are just iPhone camera artifacts.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7271.jpg)
The Sony / Honda Afeela mockup does ambient lighting right: indirect bounce with strip hidden.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7279.jpg)
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7331.jpg)
Small steering wheel. Touch-button, stalkless turn signals and swipe screen to shift were non-issues, except maybe at roundabouts.
Test drives are no longer limited to chill mode, but are limited to 85 mph.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7281.jpg)
Rear passenger screen.
Sound system was ok, maybe used an inapposite song to test it (“What Was I Made For” by Billy Eilish).
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7273.jpg)
Ambient lighting color picker looks like Microsoft intern’s first attempt :)
Tesla UI’s gotten really cluttered, have to search among what feels like 30 controls on the main screen.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7285.jpg)
Volvo-ish textile, soft not wool.
Small blind spot warning red LED behind black webbing, feels half-assed.
Spurious collision warnings for my quick-reaction driving style, like Bolt.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7290.jpg)
Wireless chargers.
4-6 weeks to delivery. Legacy Model 3’s are $4-5K cheaper + qualify for $7.5K fed credit. But you get the credit if you lease.
![](https://mvij.org/content/images/2024/02/IMG_7288.jpg)