Although I've posted several times before about this, I'll try again to show how any comparison between wheels or wheelbase or height and apparent length of a photo of a car is fatally flawed. The side of the car is several feet closer to you than the front and back of the car (which stick out the most in the middle of the car). Perspective shortens their apparent length. Don't believe it would make too much difference? Try your techniques to estimate the length of the Model S as a test. Here's what I get starting with a known wheelbase of 116.5 for the Model S and trying to estimate the length:
View attachment 174912
The apparent ratio of wheelbase to length on a photo of a Model S is about .64, which yields an estimated length of 182", obviously a far cry from the actual length of 196".
If the Model 3 was really 166", here's what it would look like parked between an e-Golf and a BMW 3 series:
View attachment 174913
It looks like the size of a sports car, not a five seater sedan.
Or how about this. Which looks like a more likely size comparison with the Nissan Leaf.
A hypothetical 166" Model 3 versus Leaf:
View attachment 174915
A hypothetical 177" Model 3 versus Leaf:
View attachment 174916
I stick with my estimate of 177", with a longer than normal wheelbase to give it the same interior size as the 182" BMW 3 series. But if I'm wrong I bet it's longer than my estimate, not shorter.