2021 Tesla Model 3: Getting used to single-pedal driving

The first time Jeff Carr sat in the driver’s seat of a Tesla he was advised by the sales associate to forget all he’d ever known about braking. Driving the one-pedal vehicle around downtown Toronto, Carr would feel his foot instinctively going for the brake several times before the vehicle would slow to a smooth and steady halt as he unpressed the accelerator. That was the moment that the realtor and Leslieville resident says it truly kicked in — this was different than any other car he’d ever driven. Carr tells us why he loves his Tesla Model 3.

“It’s become a great icebreaker for my business,” said Carr, who purchased his 2021 Tesla Model 3 from Toronto-Lawrence Avenue Tesla Canada. “I’m not driving around with clients as much now, but a lot of time I’m meeting them at a property. People have so many questions about the car, and it creates that instant connection with them.”

“I previously had a Toyota Camry, which was a solid car, but it was just time for a refresh and for something a little nicer for work. I started shopping around the end of last year, and I was talking to another agent who was driving a Tesla and he said I’d never go back.

“I think I test drove it three different times. Features like self-parking and autopilot were obviously amazing but what stood out to me were all the things you could set to your own personal schedule and mechanisms that maximize the efficiency of the battery.



“I haven’t really left the GTA with it yet. My partner and I kept the Camry for the bigger trips so, if we need to go somewhere further like to the cottage, we’ll take that car because we’d have to factor in stopping and charging it along the way.

“But I’m finding new charger stations are popping up all over Toronto. I recently went into one at College Park that I’d used 100 times before and suddenly noticed there was a designated Tesla parking area with free chargers. I’m in out of these buildings all the time walking around with clients — if I can just leave my car charging while I work that’s a big bonus,” said Carr.

“The biggest bonus of all — and something that a lot of people don’t know — is that there’s actually a substantial tax credit with electrical vehicles for self-contractors. So yes, the Tesla is an incredible vehicle all-around, but that (credit) is what sealed the deal for me.”

A CLOSER LOOK: 2021 Tesla Model 3

Safety first

“The safety features are pretty crazy,” said Carr. “Even if you didn’t check your blind spot, I think it would be pretty hard to crash into somebody. There are alerts for everything — it’s very intuitive in that sense.” In fact, The Model 3 was determined to be the safest vehicle ever tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Beyond its many technological offerings, the car’s metal structure is designed to resist the equivalent weight of two full-grown African elephants in a roof-crush test. Pretty wild for a pair of wheels.

It's personal

“I love that the Tesla kind of works around the driver’s schedule,” said Carr. “In the winter, if you get into your car every day at around 8:30 a.m., you can set it so that the car starts warming itself up at like 8 a.m. Plus, if I’m plugging the car and going to bed, the Tesla will wait for the off-peak hours of the hydro in your area and will only charge within that timeframe to reduce the bill.” The Model 3’s personalized approach also means you can use your smartphone as a key and access all driver controls from the central, 15-inch touchscreen.

Unique features

“I was deciding between the Model 3 and the Model Y — which is the crossover SUV size — but I’m primarily driving downtown and prefer to have a bit of a smaller car,” said Carr. “Plus, I just liked the sleek look of the Model 3 in particular.” Unique to the model is its all-glass roof, which extends from front to back, its dedicated Dog Mode that ensures comfort and safety for your pet if you need leave them in the vehicle unattended, a menu of hidden touchscreen games for the young at heart and storage space in the front hood.

Correction – July 5, 2021: This article was edited to clarify that the Tesla 3 does have a brake pedal.