Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the car you're fond of is owned by someone you don't particularly like? It's an odd scenario, somehow making you reluctant to desire the car because of the association.

It's a bit like my feelings towards Tesla – not that I'm particularly fond of it, but the fanatics can be off-putting.

But you and I, we're different from them, aren't we? So, let's discuss the Tesla Model 3 Highland without having to endure their constant defence of every decision Tesla makes.

Exterior – Not the most head-turning, but sleek nonetheless

Starting with the design. The facelift exercise has introduced a slimmer, sharper pair of headlights, reminiscent of those found on the new but yet-to-be-produced Roadster. This gives the front fascia a whole new vibe, a sleeker one that I’m a fan of.

It’s a clean design with the redesigned bumper that lacks any intakes or lighting elements. Other than the front, the other noticeable change is the new C-shaped taillights. Nothing too extreme, all in the name of a nip and tuck to keep it fresh. But I will admit that its rival, the BYD Seal, does have more presence on the road.

This unit you see here is what you’ll get if you pay no extras for specific paint colour, larger wheels, white interior, or for the Long Rang AWD variant. Meaning this is what you’ll get for RM 189,000 sans insurance.

I personally think the 18-inch wheel looks a bit flat and the 19-inch option does look more attractive, but I’d take the flat look for the extra cushion it provides over sharp edges. And the ride is indeed quite accomplished, but more on that shortly. 

Interior – Sometimes less is just less

Changes to the inside are subtle. Both front and rear seats now offer standard ventilation (what a blessing) and heating (not necessary), complemented by a strip of ambient lighting on the dash and doors. Nothing too fancy, but effective at night.

Rear-seat passengers can engage with the infotainment system via an 8.0-inch touchscreen positioned between the front seats. Something the kids will love.

As before, if you’re new to Tesla, diving into a Model 3 requires a bit of relearning. Figuring out all the basic controls such as seat and steering wheel adjustments, side mirrors, or opening the glovebox could take a while.

The air vents are nestled behind an otherwise unassuming dashboard, which can be a challenge to direct the air flow to exactly where you want it.

There’s more - relocating the indicators to the steering wheel, likely driven by cost considerations rather than genuine innovation, is something I did not manage to become accustomed to in my time with the Model 3.

While generally functional, the oversight becomes particularly evident in manoeuvring around roundabouts and tight corners, and you attempt to signal. Plus, operating the “gear” selector via the touchscreen just feels odd. Give me back stalks, please.

Tesla claims upgrades to the interior's materials and finish, and while perceived quality does see an improvement, it still falls short of true premium standards.

Its core features are still anchored by the central 15.4-inch infotainment screen, overseeing practically all functions, major or minor. Its size may border on the extravagant, but there’s no denying its high-quality graphics and responsive interface, with quick boot times and lag-less responds.

There are so many features nestled within, you could easily spend an hour exploring. Then you get to the part where the car plays farting noises and think maybe you should stop.

A complaint I have is the lack of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, something Tesla fanatics will undoubtedly rise up to defend. Granted, the car offers a range of built-in music apps and solid onboard navigation, but it still lacks the ability to read or respond to messages while on the move.

Storage remains ample, with a 'frunk' and rear boot, and massive cubby spaces in the centre console. Second-row seats comfortably host two adults and still feels airy thanks to the glass roof, although the heat can be felt on a particularly hot day.

Driving Experience – Sharp handler, ergonomics aside

Once you’ve figured out the steering wheel and mirror adjustments, and found yourself a comfortable driving position, you’ll notice the excellent forward visibility.

The window line is relatively low and gives the driver added confidence manoeuvre in tight spaces. Its overall dimensions (roughly the size of a Civic or 3 Series) is just about perfect for our roads.

Swipe forward to select drive and you’ll realise the car doesn’t move at all. That’s because one-pedal driving is enabled by default in this facelift, with no option to adjust regenerative braking levels as in the Model Y SUV.

While some may need time to adapt, personally, having experience with various EVs, I found it intuitive. Tesla's choice not to blend regen braking with the brake pedal enhances its natural feel and modulation ease, with brakes seldom required in normal driving.

Next up, the steering. It’s rather quick – a sneeze on the highway could lead to a change of lanes. This heightens its directional sensitivity and gives a feeling of agility. It turns in keenly and feels well-balanced around the bends, albeit with electronic safety features intervening promptly upon detecting slip.

You can also feel a slight granular texture as you drive across different surfaces, giving a sense of communication whereas the BYD Seal isolates everything. Having said that, the steering doesn’t load up in corners so you’d have to rely on your butt sensors to tell what the car’s doing.

Performance is more than adequate despite being the entry variant Model 3 (it has 283 PS/420 Nm after all, weighing at under 1.8 tonnes). Much like other BEVs, it excels in its point-and-shoot nature – spot a gap in traffic and just go for it without hesitation.

As for the Autopilot, you initiate it by tapping the right-hand scroll control on the wheel – once for adaptive cruise, twice for Autopilot – then simply rest your hands on the wheel. To be frank, it's not the most impressive system I've encountered.

There’s some nervousness when detecting speed changes or unexpected obstacles, occasionally resulting in abrupt braking. But the lane centering performs quite well.

Ride Comfort

Overall refinement has taken a step forward over the pre-facelift Model 3, this is based from the experience when myself and Adrian was in China, driving the pre-facelift version. The older version felt stiff, whereas this one feels noticeably more pliant. It's still on the stiffer side, but well-damped.

Ride quality is generally smooth, with a hint of that European nuggety firmness, without thumping or crashing over urban imperfections.

The front seats feature decent sculpting, offering good side bolstering and a seatback that feels natural, free from any pressure points. The rear seats are similarly well-padded.

But as a sedan, it encounters the common issue for BEVs - high floor and low seats, leading to a slight crouched posture that compromises thigh support. Also, the rear passengers aren't able to slide their feet underneath the front seats, depending the seating position.

Having said that, I find it to be acceptable considering the sleeker exterior it affords. The alternative is the Model Y, and that’s certainly not a looker.

Overall noise levels remain low, courtesy of the double-glazed windows in blocking out exterior sounds, creating a cocoon-like atmosphere. With minimal noise present, it’s only natural for the ears to focus on the most prominent sound, which in this case is the tyres. While they are audible, their noise is subdued, serving as a distant background hum.

Energy Consumption

After clocking a 106 km trip in mixed conditions, the trip computer indicated an average energy consumption of 12.9 kWh/100 km. A quick calculation revealed the actual efficiency at 17 kWh/100 km based on energy delivered after two consecutive charges to 90 percent.

Spotlight has to be given to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Unlike other charging networks, there's no need for the cumbersome process of navigating multiple charging apps just to initiate the charging session. Simply drive up to the charging station, plug in, and you're good to go. It’s fantastic.

Conclusion

If you've read this far, chances are you're interested in the Tesla Model 3 without being a die-hard fan. You're probably also curious about how it compares to the BYD Seal, or whether to opt for the Model 3 or Model Y.

Let's begin with the former. My experience with the Seal is limited to a brief test drive, during which I found its driving experience somewhat disconnected. The brakes lack any sort of feedback and the steering feels more muted, resulting in a more filtered driving experience.

But the Seal does ride well, and its interior feels plush with soft-leather and suede materials throughout the dashboard. My main criticism of the Seal, and BYD models in general, is their software and awkward translations, and that is enough to put me off.

Between the Model 3 and Model Y, the choice boils down to aesthetics and interior space requirements. If you require more room, the Model Y is the obvious choice. However, if you prefer the sleeker appearance of the Model 3, that's the way to go. Although the Model 3 has received updates in this facelift, the decision between the two ultimately hinges on these factors.

So, my recommendation is to start with the Tesla Model 3 when embarking on your BEV journey, as it sets the benchmark for all BEVs. If you can overlook its ergonomic flaws and idiosyncrasies, the Model 3 is a compelling option. While its rivals may have their own drawbacks, personally, I find the quirks of the Tesla more tolerable.

Also read: Comparing Tesla's CTC battery vs BYD's CTB battery, what's the difference?