Tesla Model 3 (14 Important Beginners Questions Answered)

Tesla Model 3 is the most popular EV in the world. 

In this article, we answered 14 beginner questions related to Model 3.

Does Tesla Model 3 Have an External Speaker?

Every Model 3 that is currently being produced has a built-in external speaker. Tesla calls it the “Pedestrian Warning System.”

The EVs are silent at low speed. Thus it may be a safety issue around pedestrians. Thus Tesla adds a speaker on every car they produce.

When the Model 3 goes at a low speed below 19 mph (32 km/h), the external speaker will make a sound to warn pedestrians. This speaker also creates a whirring sound while reversing. The sound will get louder with increasing speed.

Tesla also added some interesting features for the external speaker. 

While your Model 3 is in PARK, you can play music and other sounds through the speaker. You can also remotely speak through the speaker via Tesla mobile app. 

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With a J1772 Adapter?

Even though Tesla no longer provides a mobile charger, they still ship an SAE J1772 adapter with every Model 3. 

The J1772 adapter that Tesla provides can charge your Model 3 at up to 19.2 kWh speed. 

Tesla also sells it on their online shop, costing $50 a piece. However, if you need a chorded mobile charger, it will cost $200 extra.

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With Car Jack?

Every vehicle from other OEMs except Teslas has a spare tire, scissor jack, and charger (EV). 

However, the Model 3 doesn’t come with anything extra. Tesla doesn’t provide a spare tire, car jack, or mobile charger. You have to purchase these things by yourself.

The Model 3 is very low to the ground. Therefore, you have to purchase a very low-profile car jack. 

The Model three weighs around 4100 lbs (1860 Kg). Thus, buy a 2.5-ton or 3-ton low-profile floor jack.

Only lift Model 3 with an approved lift point, as shown in the image above. The four green areas are the lift point; the red areas aren’t.

The Model 3 battery is at the bottom of the car; therefore, don’t lift your vehicle by placing the floor jack under the battery.  

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With NEMA 14-50 Adapter?

Currently, the Model 3 doesn’t come with NEMA 14-50 adapter. However, you can purchase one from the online Tesla shop at $45. The 14-50 adapter can charge a Model 3 at 30 miles (48 km) per hour.

Tesla used to provide a free mobile connector, but they no longer provide one. Thus, the connectors have been out of stock in the Tesla online shop in recent months.

If you plan to order a Model 3, please also order a wall connector ($400). 

Otherwise, you will have difficulty recharging your Model 3 because the Tesla supercharger isn’t everywhere, and third-party charging station connectors aren’t compatible with Teslas.

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With a USB Drive?

Every Model 3 that Tesla ships come with a 128GB USB A drive. The USB drive is in the glove box compartment. 

In Model 3, there are a total of 5 USB ports. Four USB C and One USB A. 

The tesla sentry mode can only save recorded video if you connect a USB drive in the glove compartment. The other 4 USB C only charge ports and don’t transmit data.

Does Tesla Model 3 Get Free Supercharging?

The Model 3 that you can buy today doesn’t have free supercharging. Tesla discontinued this offer a few years ago. Now, you have to pay to charge at a Supercharger.

Depending on location, the charging rate varies. In some places, Tesla will bill you by kWh energy used; in some areas, they bill by minutes you occupy a supercharger.

Even though you have to pay for supercharging, driving a Model 3 is way cheaper than a gasoline vehicle. 

For example, the Tesla Model 3 long-range has a battery capacity of 82 kWh and goes 330 miles on a single charge. 

Thus, at $0.30 per kWh, you will spend 82 kWh x $0.30/kWh = $24.6 to travel 330 miles, OR $0.0745 per mile. At this rate, to drive 50,000 miles on the Model 3, you will spend a total of 50,000 x $0.0745 = $3,727.

Now, let’s compare it with a Toyota Camry.

The Toyota Camry, on average, gets 26 mpg (mile per gallon) combined on city and highway.

Currently, the gasoline price is around $5 per gallon. Thus, to drive 50,000 miles, we need 50,000 / 26 = 1,923 gallons of gasoline. At $5 per gallon, the total cost to drive a Toyota Camry 50,000 miles is 1,923 x $5 = $9,615.

Therefore, on the first 50,000 miles driving, you will save $9,615 – $3,727 = $5,888. 

Does Tesla Model 3 Have Butterfly Doors?

Model 3 doesn’t have butterfly doors. It’s also known as falcon-wing doors, and only the Model X comes with this type of door.  

However, a company named “VerticalDoors” sells an aftermarket kit which can add butterfly doors on a Model 3. 

If you want to add the door, please do your due diligence and consult the Tesla service center about the potential warranty impact.

Does Tesla Model 3 Have a Heads-Up Display?

Tesla doesn’t ship heads-up displays with their Model 3. If you want one, purchase it from third-party retail shops and install it yourself.

The Model 3 has only one screen. Which also works as an instrument cluster. As the display in the middle of the dashboard, you have to look aside while driving to see your car’s speed. It’s not convenient for many drivers.

Unlike other car manufacturers, Tesla doesn’t have an easy-to-access OBDII port. 

However, There’s one OBDII port with limited functionality hidden behind the center console panel. The following image shows the location. 

If you want to connect a heads-up display (HUD), tap the OBD connector here.

Does the Tesla Model 3 Screen Rotate?

The Model 3 screen doesn’t rotate. It’s firmly fixed in place. Only the Model S screen is motorized and can rotate.

However, many third-party rotating hardware available, priced between $150 to $250, will add this feature to your Model 3.

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With Autopilot?

Every Model 3 that Tesla sells has all the hardware necessary to make the car full self-driving (cameras & FSD computers). However, you must purchase or subscribe to the software to enable all the features in the full self-driving package. 

There are three autopilot packages in the Model 3.

  • Basic (Free)
  • Enhanced Autopilot (EAP)
  • Full Self Driving (FSD)

The basic autopilot functionality comes free with every Model 3. It enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake within its lane. 

The Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) has the following added features:

  • All the features from Basic Autopilot
  • Navigate on Autopilot — Traffic aware cruise control, Autosteer, overtaking slower cars, Driving on the highway including on-ramp to off-ramp
  • Auto Lane Change
  • Autopark
  • Summon
  • Smart Summon

The Full Self-Driving (FSD) features have the following features:

  • All the functionality from Enhanced Autopilot
  • Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control (Beta)
  • Autosteer on city streets (Beta)

Except for the basic autopilot feature, you have to spend a substantial amount of money to get the EAP or full self-driving software in your Model 3.

Does Tesla Model 3 Navigation Show Traffic?

The Model 3 has built-in navigation that has basic routing. However, if you want satellite maps or live traffic visualization, you have to subscribe to the premium connectivity package that costs $10 per month or $99 if paid yearly.

The package also adds LTE data on the Model 3.

Therefore, the Model 3 will not show traffic conditions unless you subscribe to the premium connectivity package.

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With a Key Fob?

The Model 3 doesn’t come with a key fob. It comes with only two key cards. If you want a key fob, you must purchase one from the Tesla online shop, which costs $175.

However, you can use your phone to lock and unlock your car. You can also control your vehicle through the Tesla mobile app.

Does Tesla Model 3 Come With Front License Plate Holder?

The Model 3 comes with a front license plate holder. However, the Tesla service center doesn’t install the holder. You have to put the license plate holder with sticky tape on the front bumper.

There are also after-market solutions. The adhesive will not last forever. Thus, please buy a mount that doesn’t require adhesive or drilling the front bumper.

Does Tesla Model 3 Have an Engine?

The Model 3 is a fully electric vehicle. Thus, it doesn’t have an engine.

Typically, hybrid vehicles have batteries and engines. But as Model 3 isn’t a hybrid but a pure EV, it doesn’t have an engine and doesn’t take gas.