I’ve been a passenger in plenty of Teslas over the years, and I have friends who own one — but I’d never been behind the wheel to really get a feel of what it’s like to drive one.
I figured there was only one way to resolve this problem: Rent a Tesla. As I picked a holiday weekend in the UK last month to do so, none seemed available from rental firms, so I found a shiny gray 2022 Model 3 on Turo (despite a frankly outrageous “service” fee).
Connecting my iPhone to the audio system was simple, and there are convenient twin cordless charging pads built into the central console. The soundtrack for our trip included Dua Lipa’s “Radical Optimism” and the latest Pet Shop Boys album, “Nonetheless.” Both sounded great through the car’s array of speakers.
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What I found incongruous, though, was the fake-looking wood paneling on the dashboard. It feels out of place, and I have no idea why it’s there. (Tesla wisely got rid of it in the recent Model 3 refresh.)
The lane-assist and hazard-warning technology can often be too clever for its own good, getting overexcited about supposed dangers that are nothing of the sort.
The trunk is cavernous and could easily accommodate the luggage of four or even five people.