Model 3 (2024 and newer): Driving & Lights

On cars that have it, we touch the fan icon on the touchscreen to open the climate controls, then touch the steering wheel icon. Once on, it keeps the wheel at a comfortable temperature. Tesla notes availability depends on trim, configuration and build date. Tesla also asks us to keep excess hand sanitizer, lotion and sunscreen off the wheel, and warns never to adjust the steering wheel position while driving.

Left scroll button: press to play or pause, tilt to change track, roll to change volume; it also sets wiper speed and handles calls. Right scroll button: a single or double click starts Self-Driving features. Briefly pressing both opens the backup drive mode selector, and holding both restarts the touchscreen. We choose the left button's long-press function in Controls > Display > Scroll Button Function.

On cars that offer it, we touch Controls > Dynamics > Steering Weight and pick one of three settings. Light reduces steering effort for town driving and parking. Standard is Tesla's recommended setting for most conditions. Heavy increases steering effort and feels more responsive at higher speeds. Tesla notes availability depends on trim, configuration and build date.

We press the turn signal arrow button on the steering wheel to signal and press it again to cancel; it also cancels when the wheel returns to center after a turn. To keep signaling through several lane changes, we press and briefly hold it. With Controls > Lights > Automatic Turn Signals set to Auto Cancel, the signal ends after a detected merge, lane change or fork.

Adaptive Headlights are on by default at the start of each drive. With high beams on, they dim individual pixels to cut glare for oncoming traffic and adjust the beam for curves. They switch off in heavy traffic, and high beams may stay off at low speeds or in bright light. A blue icon with an A means high beams are on and Adaptive is ready. Tesla warns we stay responsible for lighting that suits the conditions.

We turn on Controls > Lights > Headlights After Exit. After we park in low light, the exterior lights stay on for one minute or until we lock the car, whichever comes first. Locking with the Tesla app turns them off right away, while Walk-Away Door Lock leaves them on for the full minute. With the setting off, the headlights turn off as soon as we shift into Park and open a door.

In Auto, Model 3 detects rain and sets the wiping speed itself; Tesla labels it Beta and suggests manual control if we are unsure. We open the wiper menu with the wiper button on the steering wheel or Controls > Wipers, then roll the left scroll button to choose. One press gives a single wipe, and holding it sprays washer fluid. Tesla says to close the hood first and clear ice from the glass.

Tesla's 2024+ Model 3 manual calls this Stuck Assist. It lets the wheels spin at a limited speed so we can rock the car free from mud, snow or ice, or start on loose gravel. We turn it on in Controls > Dynamics > Stuck Assist. It is less effective at higher speeds and not available while Self-Driving features are in use. Tesla recommends turning it off once free; it also switches off at the next start.

Slippery Surface is a driving mode in Controls > Dynamics. It spreads traction evenly across all tires for more grip and stability on rain, snow or ice. The other mode, Auto, detects the surface and adapts traction control by itself. Traction control is on by default, and a flashing yellow indicator shows when it is working. Tesla warns it cannot prevent collisions caused by dangerous driving or sharp turns at high speed.

Normally we shift into Park and walk away with the phone key or key fob, and Model 3 powers off by itself. It also powers off after 30 minutes in Park, even with someone in the driver's seat. To power off manually while sitting in the car, we touch Controls > Safety > Power Off. Pressing the brake pedal or opening the driver's door powers it back on.

If the touchscreen is unresponsive or acting oddly, Tesla suggests rebooting the touchscreen first. For a full power cycle: 1) Shift into Park. 2) Touch Controls > Safety > Power Off. 3) Wait at least two minutes without touching anything: no doors, no brake pedal and no screen. 4) Press the brake pedal or open a door to wake the car.

It means Model 3 did not detect a key when we pressed the brake. The phone key may not be found, for example because the phone battery is low, or more than two minutes have passed since we used the key card. To fix it, we place the key card on the center console or in either phone dock, which restarts the two-minute window, and then press the brake to drive.

We press the brake and use the drive mode strip on the edge of the touchscreen: swipe up for Drive, swipe down for Reverse, and touch Park for Park. Switching between Drive and Reverse works only below 5 mph (8 km/h). If the strip is unavailable, the P, R, N and D buttons on the overhead console are the backup; briefly pressing both steering wheel scroll buttons activates them.

Auto Shift (Beta) picks Drive or Reverse based on the surroundings, for example in multi-point turns or when reversing out of a space. It is off by default; we choose On or from Park in Controls > Dynamics > Auto Shift (Beta). The seat belt must be buckled, the brake pressed and all doors and trunks closed. Tesla warns never to rely on it without confirming the selection before moving.

In Controls > Mirrors we can turn on Mirror Auto Fold (folds when we lock, unfolds when we unlock), Mirror Auto Dim (dims the mirrors at night) and Mirror Auto Tilt (side mirrors tilt down in Reverse). Mirrors cannot fold above 31 mph (50 km/h). Tesla suggests turning off Auto Fold when ice may form, as ice can stop them folding. Some features depend on trim, region and build date.

Park Assist uses the cameras on the front, rear and sides to build an on-screen view of nearby objects at low speed. It shows in Reverse, and in Drive when an object is near the front. Red marks closer objects and yellow farther ones. Chimes are set in Controls > Safety > Park Assist Chimes. Tesla warns it is guidance only and may miss objects below about 8 in (20 cm) or thin posts.

Vehicle Hold keeps the brakes applied after we lift our foot off the brake pedal while stopped in a driving gear. A gray circled H icon shows on the touchscreen while it is braking. We release it by pressing the accelerator, or by pressing and releasing the brake; shifting into Neutral also cancels it. After about ten minutes, or if the driver leaves, Model 3 shifts into Park.

We choose the acceleration mode in Controls > Dynamics > Acceleration. Tesla notes that higher acceleration uses more torque and power, which can reduce range and efficiency. In cold weather, a lower mode lets the heat pump draw more heat from the battery for the cabin. After switching back to a higher mode, the battery needs time to warm up before the higher acceleration is available.

Only Model 3 Performance has Track Mode. In Park, we touch Controls > Dynamics > Track Mode, and TRACK shows above the speed. It changes stability and traction control, regenerative braking and cooling, and turns off Self-Driving and driver assistance features. Under Customize we set Handling Balance, Stability Assist, Powertrain Endurance and regen, and save up to 20 profiles. Tesla warns to use it only on closed circuits, never on public roads.

Ride & Handling is available on Model 3 Performance only. In Controls > Dynamics > Ride & Handling we choose Standard, for a smooth, well-controlled ride on most roads, or Sport, for a firmer ride with more road feel. Turning on Use Standard Ride & Handling gives a more comfortable ride while Self-Driving is active. In Track Mode these settings are disabled and adaptive damping is tuned for the circuit.

Easy Entry moves the driver's seat and steering wheel to make getting in and out easier. It works when the car is in Park and the driver's seat belt is unbuckled, and returns to the driver profile when we press the brake. We turn it on by checking Use Easy Entry when adding a profile in Controls > Profiles > Add New Driver. Tesla warns not to move the seat fully back with a child seat behind it.

In Park, we touch Controls > Safety > Valet Mode and create a 4-digit PIN the first time; the Tesla app can start or cancel it without a PIN. Valet Mode limits speed to 70 mph (113 km/h), reduces power, locks the frunk and glovebox, hides Home and Work and needs the key card to drive. To exit, we touch the Valet Mode icon at the top of Controls and enter the PIN.

Regenerative braking slows Model 3 whenever we lift off the accelerator and sends energy back to the battery. It is limited when the battery is cold or full; turning on Apply Brakes When Regenerative Braking is Limited in Controls > Dynamics lets the regular brakes help. Aggressive winter tires can briefly reduce it. Tesla warns regen can cause loss of traction on snow or ice, and never to rely on the car to stop itself.

That is the Pedestrian Warning System, which helps people hear an otherwise quiet electric car. It starts whenever we shift out of Park, sounds below about 25 mph (40 km/h) and in Reverse, and gets louder as speed rises. Tesla warns that pedestrians who cannot hear it may not notice the car, so we never rely on it alone and schedule service if it stops working.

We open Controls, then press and hold the Neutral icon until it engages, or press N on the overhead console. Below about 5 mph (8 km/h), we press the brake to shift out of Neutral. Opening the driver's door normally shifts into Park, so to keep the car in Neutral, for example for winching, we shift into Park, press the brake and touch Controls > Service > Towing > Enter Tow Mode.

Brake disc wiping works in cold or wet weather. Model 3 repeatedly applies a barely noticeable brake force to clear water from the brake rotors. A related feature, Hydraulic Fade Compensation, may add strong braking if it detects reduced braking; we keep pressing the pedal steadily and do not pump it. Tesla notes that neither feature replaces proper braking with the pedal.

The odometer is in Controls > Software, and the Tesla app shows it at the bottom of the main screen. Trip information is on the cards in the car status area, or in App Launcher > Energy > Trips. It shows distance, duration and total and average energy use since the last charge, for the current drive and for added trips. We tap a trip for details, or hold and drag to reorder.