Tesla features I wouldn't want to live without
There are plenty of incredible features of a Tesla that make the entire driving experience enjoyable, so much so that I find myself volunteering to give rides to the airport or be the designated driver, always with a smile since I'll get to be behind the wheel again! When thinking back to my old ICE vehicle, what seemed so normal now feels truly archaic and whenever I'm required to return to that world, as I recently experienced when renting a petrol car, I just can't wait to get back to the joy of a Model 3.
The true innovations are those you couldn't even predict and are so hard to give up once accustomed to. Nobody expected they'd want a smartphone until Steve Jobs pioneered the iPhone and it was certainly far from perfect, but combined so many useful features in one package that it changed the evolution of society.
Below are my favourite Tesla perks that I wish all drivers to experience and now leave me longing whenever they're unavailable, whilst not all are exclusive to Tesla, the combination of them together is an absolute winning formula and their implementation is industry leading;
One-pedal driving
The first thing you notice when driving an electric vehicle is the simplicity, of course there's no clutch or gearbox to speak of (just forward and reverse), but you'll also spend very little time using the brake pedal. Since every time you lift off the accelerator, the motor becomes a generator slowing the car down and feeding that kinetic energy back into the battery, saving range and allowing you to travel using just one foot for the vast majority of the time.
Autopilot
Automatic Lane Keeping Systems have existed in many high-end cars for several years, but none have taken it to this level. All Teslas receive basic Autopilot functionality which performs the same job of keeping speed and lane position on the motorway and this alone is priceless in easing driver fatigue and boredom on long trips. Taking it a step further, the Enhanced package features 'Navigate on Autopilot' which can automatically change lanes, traverse interchanges and take you from on-ramp to off-ramp without any intervention.
Cameras
Again not a new idea, but now something that I wonder how I ever lived without. The rear visibility of a Model 3 is minimal at best and having the ability to pull up wide-angle rear and side cameras on demand is exceptional. Blind-spot cameras automatically appear on screen whenever your turn signal is activated, greatly increasing safety and in combination with radar sensors providing inch measurements to nearby obstacles, parking is always a breeze! (Even without using the brilliant Autopark feature which takes care of the whole procedure autonomously).
Environment
Funny how we all got used to it, but ICE vehicles literally stink. For pedestrians and car occupants alike, there's nothing healthy or peaceful about combustion. Despite best efforts to minimise engine noise, vibration, smell and pollution, it's inevitable to be affected by some or all of these to varying degrees. Electric has no competition here and eliminates all those problems, with only wind noise and occasional bumps from inevitably inconsistent road surfaces, it's a pleasure to cruise with the windows down and still be able to enjoy the melodies & smells of nearby nature. Not to mention the ‘Biohazard’ air filtration system fitted to all Model Y, X & S cars which is perfect when stuck in traffic!
Driver profiles
A minor yet surprisingly helpful feature is customisable driver profiles, the ability to set your seat, mirrors and steering wheel position to be recalled at the touch of a button might not sound like much, but means one less thing for the driver to think about. An 'Easy Entry' profile is automatically activated on exiting the vehicle to raise the seat and push the wheel back for superb accessibility and I also have one set up in just the right lounging position for watching Netflix or relaxing with some chillout tunes.
Entertainment
Speaking of Netflix, the entertainment system warrants an entire article for itself, but I'll briefly touch on it here. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ or basically any streaming provider are available whenever you're parked, perfect for killing time whilst waiting for a pickup, or simply keeping busy whilst charging. Right now it's an extreme luxury and certainly not required for getting from A to B, but once Tesla's autonomous taxi network is switched on, you'll be so glad it's there!
Tesla have truly set the benchmark for luxury transportation and thanks to them we can expect that most of these features will eventually find a home in all vehicles, which would be an amazing thing to not only increase road safety and reduce driver stress and effort, but also just for great fun and the most pleasurable driving experience possible. If you know anybody who owns one, I highly recommend asking for a test drive to see for yourself!