Tesla has finally announced the availability of Model 3 in Malaysia alongside the unveiling of the refreshed Model 3 variant which is also fondly known by many as the “Project Highland”. Due to its pricing, the new model is now the cheapest EV in Malaysia that can deliver over 600km range.
The specific variant that fits this very description is the Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD) version that has a WLTP-rated range of 629km. The Model 3 Highland managed to achieve better efficiency despite having the same battery and motor.
With the help of the new exterior design, the new Model 3 is Tesla’s most aerodynamic car yet with a drag coefficient of 0.219Cd. This is a 5% improvement over its predecessor which has 0.23Cd.
While the WLTP range is just a little bit more than its predecessor which was rated at 614km, its RM219,700 price tag has helped Model 3 Highland LR AWD dethrone the Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) as the cheapest EV in Malaysia with a range that goes beyond 600km.
In comparison, the Ioniq 6 Max RWD was launched in our market back in July with a price tag of RM289,888 and has a WLTP range of 614km. So, you are looking at a 15km less range alongside a price difference of RM70,188.
While we are still on the topic, we have actually tested the Ioniq 6 Max RWD long-range capability in real life by driving from Taiping to Johor Bahru on a single charge. At the end of our epic test, we managed to rake in 575km of mileage with 5% of battery and 30km range still left in the car.
In addition to that, the Hyundai EV still has one extra advantage which is its 800V architecture that allows it to achieve 10-80% charge in just 18 minutes when plugged into a 350kW DC charger. During our stop at Bandar Baru Ayer Hitam in Johor, we even managed to charge the Ioniq 6 from 10-80% in just 20 minutes from a 180kW DC charger.
It might still be early days to know whether Tesla would be interested in letting us perform a similar long range test with the Model 3 Highland but of course, we will let you know if that is going to happen.
In case you are wondering if there are other EVs besides the Tesla Model 3 Highland and Hyundai Ioniq 3 that can also deliver over 600km of range, the closest options after these two models would be the Mercedes EQE 350+. It comes with a WLTP range of 669km but you have to fork out RM419,888 to get your hands on the EQE 350+.
All in all, if you just looking purely from the price factor, the Tesla Model 3 Highland is likely the EV you might be inclined to get. That being said, we always recommend everyone to spend some time and visit the showroom to have a closer experience with each vehicle that you are interested in.
This is so that you can get the full picture before making your decision and buying a car is not as simple as buying candy for the majority of us. While you might not be able to do so for the Model 3 Highland at the moment since Tesla has yet to open any showroom here, we do hope to see the company putting it on display somewhere in Malaysia very soon.
Not only that, we also hope that the company will be able to provide test drive sessions for Malaysian consumers as soon as possible. After all, Tesla will begin to deliver the Model 3 Highland into Malaysia in just a few months’ time.
