I was invited to an owner's demo of the Highland at the Jacksonville Service Center, so I jumped at the chance. It was cool to see about 30 other enthusiasts excited to give the car a spin. Wanted to share some thoughts:
Cabin Noise: I arrived in my 2023 M3 RWD, so the noise level was fresh in my mind when I did my test drive, and I can say without hesitation that the Highland is absolutely quieter. The sales team mentioned that the M3 was like a mini Model S with these upgrades, so I also test-drove a Model S Plaid after the highland to compare, and while it's not quite Model S quiet, it is close.
Stalks: It seems people either love or hate the lack of stocks. I was indifferent but instinctively reached for the turn signal. I don't imagine that it would take long to get used to not having the stalks.
Steering Wheel Buttons: Since I drove both the Highland and Model S, I was able to compare similar steering wheels; I preferred the Highland. The buttons move on the highland steering wheel, so you get the satisfaction of clicking a button. Blinkers were easy to reach, no issue accessing the wipers, and I liked having a dedicated button to view the cameras. When I thought I was accessing the voice control, I found out that the double click actually turns on autopilot; was not expecting that. Also, they did confirm that the middle area/airbag cover is the horn button.
Doors: I've read reviews about the door "thud" being improved and that was also part of the presentation. I guess it was different?
Wireless Charger: I was surprised and pleased to see that the wireless charger was able to charge my phone with my case on. A few other test drivers also commented on this, so they must have made some improvements here. Wireless charging is inconsistent in my 2023.
LED Lighting: A cool factor that my kids would absolutely love. I'm curious if I would want to keep them on at night... thinking it may be a distraction.
Trunk: Dual lifts and much quieter when moving. Per the sales team, it's 1 cuft larger.
Suspension: Certainly improved. I drove over a storm drain in both the highland, my 2023 M3, and the Model S. The highland and Model S felt very docile over the storm drain compared to my M3.
Styling: So this is certainly subjective. My two favorite styling changes are the rear Tesla badge and the wheel covers. I'm curious to see if the wheel covers would fit my 2023 model. The team at the service center was not sure, but the wheel underneath is certainly different, so I'm not sure.
Hope this is useful for someone. If the tax incentive was available on a purchase, I would probably be looking to upgrade.
Cabin Noise: I arrived in my 2023 M3 RWD, so the noise level was fresh in my mind when I did my test drive, and I can say without hesitation that the Highland is absolutely quieter. The sales team mentioned that the M3 was like a mini Model S with these upgrades, so I also test-drove a Model S Plaid after the highland to compare, and while it's not quite Model S quiet, it is close.
Stalks: It seems people either love or hate the lack of stocks. I was indifferent but instinctively reached for the turn signal. I don't imagine that it would take long to get used to not having the stalks.
Steering Wheel Buttons: Since I drove both the Highland and Model S, I was able to compare similar steering wheels; I preferred the Highland. The buttons move on the highland steering wheel, so you get the satisfaction of clicking a button. Blinkers were easy to reach, no issue accessing the wipers, and I liked having a dedicated button to view the cameras. When I thought I was accessing the voice control, I found out that the double click actually turns on autopilot; was not expecting that. Also, they did confirm that the middle area/airbag cover is the horn button.
Doors: I've read reviews about the door "thud" being improved and that was also part of the presentation. I guess it was different?
Wireless Charger: I was surprised and pleased to see that the wireless charger was able to charge my phone with my case on. A few other test drivers also commented on this, so they must have made some improvements here. Wireless charging is inconsistent in my 2023.
LED Lighting: A cool factor that my kids would absolutely love. I'm curious if I would want to keep them on at night... thinking it may be a distraction.
Trunk: Dual lifts and much quieter when moving. Per the sales team, it's 1 cuft larger.
Suspension: Certainly improved. I drove over a storm drain in both the highland, my 2023 M3, and the Model S. The highland and Model S felt very docile over the storm drain compared to my M3.
Styling: So this is certainly subjective. My two favorite styling changes are the rear Tesla badge and the wheel covers. I'm curious to see if the wheel covers would fit my 2023 model. The team at the service center was not sure, but the wheel underneath is certainly different, so I'm not sure.
Hope this is useful for someone. If the tax incentive was available on a purchase, I would probably be looking to upgrade.
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