Apr 9, 2016
nolngrgrsngslde I think a hatchback is very nice. Love having it on the S.
Anyone else disappointed?
Would you like to have it back?
I know that the glass roof reaches all the way back but why? who cares. Having a frunk does not make up for the versatility of a hatchback.�
Apr 9, 2016
Chris TX Model 3 is supposed to have a CUV variant. Waiting for that reveal.�
Apr 9, 2016
Craig9080 Disappointing, but not a deal breaker. Going to keep an ICE SUV in the driveway that will cover down on any cargo duties.�
Apr 9, 2016
KJD Hatchback is a requirement for me. Until they have that I will keep on driving the Model S.
I would love to buy a model 3, but not with that small trunk opening.�
Apr 9, 2016
BluestarE3 No, not for me. But Elon did tweet that they will be enlarging the size of the trunk opening. It still won't be a hatchback, but access to the trunk should be improved. We also know the rear seats can fold down.�
Apr 9, 2016
RandyS They have to shave about 2/3 off the cost of a Model S for a Model 3 without losing too many of the features, so I expected stuff like this to happen...If you want all the features, then you might be a Model S or X customer....�
Apr 9, 2016
frozenpenguin I would be disappointed if it were a hatchback. Much rather have a trunk.�
Apr 9, 2016
CyberKnife I would like it to have a larger opening which elon said they would look into doing.
I would be curious whether others would trade the nice big one panel roof glass for hatch back opening?�
Apr 9, 2016
eloder The vehicle you're looking for is the upcoming Model Y, not the Model 3.
The Model Y will likely be made when a European factory is up and running--hatchbacks are popular in Europe, but they are incredibly unpopular here in the US.
Americans value things like style, headroom, and visibility more than a hatch. You simply cannot have a vehicle of such a size this aerodynamic with that amount of rear headroom while also having a hatch--it's not physically possible whatsoever unless you want your vehicle to look like a Leaf or having things like a conical frunk and bug-eyed headlights.�
Apr 9, 2016
Justmurr i don't necessarily need a hatchback but that trunk opening was definitely something that was "tweak" worthy...
which I assume will have some impact on the glass roof�
Apr 9, 2016
vberber I didn't mind at first but now that i think of it, defiantly would prefer a lifgate�
Apr 9, 2016
KJD Yes I would, the glass roof if a gimmick that I could live without. Maybe the Model Y will be a proper hatchback.�
Apr 9, 2016
eloder There's zero reason for Tesla to create two hatchbacks, or two notchbacks out of the same platform. Model 3 is the notchback, Model Y will definitely be a hatchback. What you call a gimmick, is what I call one defining aspect of me wanting this car. North American wallets also agree, in general, with not going on the hatchback style.
People who want the Model Y more should just wait for the Model Y. Not everyone has a need to move couches every week in their car, I'd rather my passengers be comfortable and my car aerodynamic. Elon is sticking true to the essence of what a mid-sized luxury sedan is, unlike the Model S there are compromises that must happen when the car shrinks down to this size.�
Apr 9, 2016
yesup Not sure why so many people are disappointed.
We all know Model 3 would be a compact sedan, and that's exactly what we get. Nothing more, nothing less.
As US is Tesla's biggest market, this is a logical and natural decision.�
Apr 9, 2016
YBT People assumed it would have the lift-gate like the Model S sedan. I personally am disappointed it doesn't - I love the practicality of the extra cargo room these types of configurations enable.
Having said that - the M3 as a vehicle is so far into a league of its own these types of issues aren't deal breakers, just minor annoyances. Tesla will do their best to improve packaging as they continue to refine the alpha designs and I'm okay with that - as demonstrated the structure of the vehicle can only allow for a certain amount of opening space.�
Apr 9, 2016
Darryl I am looking for a small luxury sedan and could care less about the hatchback. Matter of fact I prefer not having hatchback.�
Apr 9, 2016
Big Dog glad it is not a hatchback. I an looking to purchase a sedan. If I wanted a hatch, there are a couple already on the market.�
Apr 9, 2016
S?XY P100D I prefer the practicality of a hatchback. However, to me the notch opening is a small sacrifice as long as the rear seats fold down.
Just show me how to load a 7 foot surfboard inside the 3 and I'm sold.�
Apr 9, 2016
doublejj I think some of you guy's are looking for some kind of electric woody..
�
Apr 9, 2016
hoang51 I am disappointed, but does not deter me away from purchasing a Model 3. Elon actually had an answer why Model 3 is not designed as a hatchback:
"Only way to get enough rear passenger headroom was to move the rear roof cross-bar support beam."
Carrying passengers > carrying personal belongings.
�
Apr 9, 2016
NeverFollow nolngrgrsngslde, I feel been in the same boat regarding your comment.
I made two reservations, however I cannot convince myself for getting a non versatile car with a regular trunk,
so I guess I will have to wait for the model Y.
I understand the justified requirement of having a five adults car and the compromise of still getting a low drag coefficient,
to be the reason for a regular trunk.
But this is too much of a limitation: Even if the back seat can be folded, the large horizontal shelf between the two pillars will
not allow carry any large object: Someone mention a dog box, in my case I'd like to carry two fancy bicycles that I want to keep protected.
I like the Model S, but I find it a little too big and difficult to park in a city. I cannot have a second car either.
?
It would be interesting knowing the real dimension of the Model 3, and in particular knowing the hight of the trunk.
For this purpose, I tried to evaluate what would be the current size of the Model 3 trunk, using a BMW 325i as reference:
How many "Carry-on" bags and suitcases, and surfboards, would fit in the Model 3 trunk?
While I find the Model 3 been astonishing and beautiful, with some unique features like auto-pilot and recharging network access,
a I am still convince that the Model 3 is not the car I will buy.�
Apr 9, 2016
igotzzoom Not true. Except in 'Murica they're called crossovers, at least if you want to sell them in any numbers.
�
Apr 9, 2016
GoTslaGo The model 3 trunk from the pics and reveal reminds me of my former 2004 BMW 3 (E46 for BMW enthusiasist). Once you drop the back seats down it has lots of room. Drove cross country with 2 bikes (Cannondale road, Specialized Mtn), of course wheels off. Also a snowboard and a set of skis, boots etc. Everything cushioned with blankets, etc...
I really liked that BMW 3... Now I'm looking forward to the Tesla 3!�
Apr 9, 2016
CarlitoDoc No problem for me. Want a hatch-back?? Get a Model S !!!�
Apr 10, 2016
Seesaw Having a tow bar is a massive help.�
Apr 10, 2016
Luke42 Yeah, no.
If a Model S were more important than my other financial obligations, I would have bought one already.
The Model 3 has a much more reasonable impact.
Remember that, for those of us with modest tastes, new ICE cars run around $20k. So a $42k Model 3 is already double "what a car costs", and the Model S is a couple of times more than that.
The Model S is a very nice car and I thought long and hard about whether I could justify one. But it costs as much as a house in my town (the options you pick on the S determine which neighborhood the house is in), and so I ultimately couldn't justify it.�
Apr 10, 2016
pangolina I'd be OK to have a liftgate instead of glass panel or extra headroom in the back. It will be one person car, and second vehicle or Model S is not an option.
I'm going to keep my reservation however.�
Apr 10, 2016
Luke42 Same here. My kids ride in the back, and the oldest one is 6. Also, we're a short family, so headroom ia rarely a problem for any of us.
I'm keeping my reservation, though, because I like everything else about the car so far*.
* I suspect that the ascetic dashboars will be completed with a HUD. But I'd be fine with that 15" Dell diaplay they're using now. That's the kind of display that I use for every other kind of important information, so it's all good.�
Apr 10, 2016
Fred Thompson Maybe Tesla can get a deal on Gorilla Glass for its back window where it will be light enough to change the design of the trunk to a hatchback?
Gorilla Glass, Used for Smartphones, Is Coming to Cars | NDTV Gadgets360.com�
Apr 10, 2016
WarpedOne All of you who desperately need a hatch.. go buy a BWM 3 series, or Audi A4, or MBC.
*None* of those has a hatch and still sell in hundreds of thousands. Or did sell and they will love some attentions.
3 is not everything for everybody.
Sorry.�
Apr 10, 2016
darthy001 BMW has the GT-version of the 3-series as well as the Touring-stationwagon versions in the same series.
Audi has the Avant-stationwagon version of the A4.
Mercedes has the CLA shooting brake as well as the station wagon C-class.
All with hatches..
Not saying the Model 3 needs a hatch, but the competition most certainly offers cars in the same segment with hatches as an option.�
Apr 10, 2016
David_Cary All those liftbacks are not available in the US. Shows that someone doesn't think they would sell enough to be worth bringing them over. Given the constraints - no liftback makes a lot of sense. But doesn't mean Europe or elsewhere is going to be happy. Model Y�
Apr 10, 2016
darthy001 Yes, no doubt very different markets. I personally never understood why americans dont want the extra cargospace and ease of use of the hatch-opening.
I had an Audi A5 coupe for a couple of years that had a similar trunk to the Model 3 and it was a hassle when moving stuff. Then again not really a car made for moving stuff in the first place. This is one of the areas where the Model S shines so bright. Almost the best of both worlds in terms of looks and storage�
Apr 10, 2016
yesup And all the "competition" has tons more production, distribution and servicing capacity. So they can have many variants of the same car including coupe and convertible versions as well.
Of all those cars you mentioned above, sedan versions are still the best selling in US - by far.
Tesla, with limited resource and production facility, has to prioritize one version to start - and sedan is the only choice.�
Apr 10, 2016
Luke42 Those cars are overpriced, and lack a compelling value proposition.
If it weren't for the Model 3 (and its competitors), we'd just get another Prius. We owned our last one for 12 years, and it was a fantastic owner's car (as opposed to a driver's car). The Prius is the car that converted me to the hatchback camp.
The Model 3 is likely to be the car that finally makes the 2004+ Prius obsolete*, assuming that Tesla puts a decent warranty on it.
* Except for cargo loading ability. The old Prius still has an edge there. Tesla could remove this asterisk by providing a choice between a hatchback and the pano roof on this car.
I'm going to buy a Model 3 anyway, asterisk and all. I like the car, and the change it stands for. My reservation stands.�
Apr 10, 2016
Topher Yes. I was hoping for a hatchback. I can't think of a single advantage to a sedan, from a usage viewpoint (there are of course design issues, which is why we are getting a sedan).
Thank you kindly.�
Apr 10, 2016
darthy001 Totally agree, but the statement I replied to was that the competition didnt have hatches at all in the same series
Fully understand it if Tesla ends up with this design by choosing headrom over hatch. Had I been in the market for a 3 I would have wanted a hatch, but I am not... New roadster on the other hand....�
Apr 10, 2016
gigglehertz I was initially disappointed because I've grown to really like the cargo capacity and ease of access of my Leaf's hatch. The more I think about it though the more happy I'll be with the rear glass. I think the headroom and better visibility will be worth the trade off. Besides, I'm giving the Leaf to the gf so I'll still have it to haul stuff on that rare occasion. I don't have kids so the back seats are fine for luggage and what not on longer trips. I trust Elon and Franz to make a very aerodynamic car, unlike my Leaf that vibrates so bad at 65-70 mph that it feels like it's going to start coming apart.�
Apr 10, 2016
Tiberius As I said in the other thread, I'm not too worried about it. This will be a commuter for us. For cargo space, I'll stick with our 4Runner (until they come out with a $35k full-size SUV, which might take a while)�
Apr 10, 2016
Siciliano A hatch would've been nice, but I'm ok with the current design. I have a Range Rover sport, so I'm going to be sacrificing a LOT in the way of trunk space... but I will just get the wife an SUV to replace her car. Problem solved.�
Apr 10, 2016
doublejj I'm just going to keep my F250 & park it......�
Apr 10, 2016
K-lein I only have one car. I need a car that is polyvalent.
Given how useful hatchbacks are, I think my next car must have one.
I guess I'll keep my Ampera a few more years while I wait for Tesla Model Y ?�
Apr 10, 2016
Zythryn I would far rather have the extra headroom for back passengers than extra charge which I almost never use.
Besides, I like having more options, which means a larger potential market for EVs. The Bolt and 2nd gen Leaf (most likely) will be hatchbacks. It will be nice to have an option for those that prefer a sedan.�
Apr 10, 2016
tga Same here. As much as I would have preferred a liftback a la Model S, It's not a deal breaker for me. I've long given up the fantasy of having a single one-size-fits-all vehicle. I'm keeping the pickup; the 3 will be the daily driver for me, with the occasional second front seat passenger and dogs in the back.�
Apr 10, 2016
Lyon I'm a little disappointed but I'll likely replace my Model S with a new Model S so Tesla's going to make more money out of the deal. My need to a hatch/lift gate is so I have a place to put the dogs.
Here's hoping the rumors about a Model S refresh coming soon are true, I really like the LED headlights on my wife's Model X.�
Apr 10, 2016
WarpedOne I can:
- more rigid chassis resulting in better road-feel and holding
- lower weight resulting in better road-feel and holding, better efficiency
- lower noise resulting in better driving experience
- lower possibility of water ingress
- a bit lower price
Hatch is not a god-send, it is yet another trade-off.�
Apr 10, 2016
Fred Thompson I would rather have good vision out the back while driving than a hatchback. I sat in the new Volt that has a hatchback and the vision out that back was not good. If Tesla can overcome the weight problem of the large piece of glass in the back and not compromise the vision out the back while driving, I would prefer a hatchback.�
Apr 10, 2016
EVnut Uhhh, right. Just like the Model S.�
Apr 10, 2016
EVnut I'm glad they didn't screw up the handling and driving experience of the Model S by including a hatch. :wink:�
Apr 11, 2016
WarpedOne Yes, it is hard to understand that something very good could still be even better.�
Apr 11, 2016
McHoffa I drive a Honda Fit, which is 100% utility and 0% pretty much every thing else (style, fun, sporty, noise). I've really made use of my cargo space and I love how much stuff I'm able to haul. That said, I'm ready to actually enjoy my driving for a change. If the Y is a CUV variant of the 3 and available at the same time, that's where my wife's reservation will end up going.�
Apr 11, 2016
SureValla This photo of the road bike in the hatch is exactly me. I put my road bike in my prius hatch all the time. Its so awesome not to have to take a wheel off to make it fit. I thus would have preferred the hatch as well.
I don't often have passengers so I don't care for the extra headroom of the occupants. Not a deal breaker for me, I'll still be converting my 3 reservation to an order regardless of the tweak Mr. Musk does.�
Apr 11, 2016
EVnut You are clearly correct. Witness your confusion about improving the ? with a hatch!
(see what I did there?)�
Apr 11, 2016
SW2Fiddler Good news...
There will be a Gen III "Sedan AND Crossover."�
Apr 11, 2016
UKayla Personally, I do NOT want a hatch. I can see how the lift back on the S can be useful after seeing it in store on reservation day but I don't need it. I don't camp, I don't haul around large appliances, I don't have dogs. We have a BMW 3 series with a normal trunk and it's actually huge and holds a ton of stuff. Even though the opening isn't as big as a hatch would be, it's still useful. My husband carts around an amp and guitars and a pedalboard without issue.
Most of the time, if we need to haul around anything large it would be too large even for a hatch so we borrow a truck. There's nothing that I can think of that we regularly encounter that would not fit in a trunk but would fit in a hatch.
Someone on another thread asked, "Don't you ever make large purchases?" I bought a table saw one time but that fit just fine. I bought a mattress and had it delivered. Same with washer and dryer. I wouldn't have fit those in a hatch (and couldn't have carried them in by myself anyway...).
I think that the average American commuter just doesn't NEED a hatch. It makes me think of my friends who get a giant SUV when they have one child because they "NEED" the extra space, but then I see people who have regular sedans and kids because they can't afford to buy a new vehicle and they make it work and it isn't much of an issue. Can you make life work without a hatch? Probably. If there's no way, and I get that some people have unique circumstances that would make it so, then a small sedan is probably not the type of car you need.�
Apr 11, 2016
Topher The average American commuter doesn't NEED a car.
Thank you kindly.�
Apr 11, 2016
SureValla you don't realize how amazing a hatch is until you have one�
Apr 11, 2016
doublejj I've had several hatch vehicles, that's why I bought a truck. Hatchback cars are a compromise. They cannot decide if they are a van or a car. That's why uhaul is so successful in America, we don't like to compromise. I want a sedan & I will rent or drive my truck on the rare occasion I need to haul something.�
Apr 11, 2016
diamond.g How many would be content to pay extra for the hatch (like you do in the 3 Series GT)?�
Apr 11, 2016
UKayla Maybe in a big city. I live in a small city and the joke of public transportation is only good for a few miles, people who live in surrounding areas MUST drive or they aren't getting food. I lived in a decent-sized city for a while and even their bus system was too limited and too much time and hassle for it to be feasible for daily needs.�
Apr 11, 2016
Incredulocious Yes, I'm disappointed the Model 3 design didn't incorporate a hatchback. Hatchbacks are just so wonderfully practical for those of us who like to be able to easily (and frequently) load up with bikes, camping gear, skis, whatever � and without compromise to anything. Not to performance, not to headroom, not to great looks. Yes, there are plenty of cars that compromise on any or all of these... heck the Model S compromises on headroom (I'm 6'4") but that doesn't mean that there has to be compromise.
Of course, "great looks" is very subjective and I realize that there are a lot of folks (particularly in the U.S.) who apparently prefer the aesthetics of a trunk on a sedan, but to me and many others the trunk is just a wasted opportunity in design. Given the Model S, many of us were expecting Tesla to go with a hatchback design again and in fact, watching the reveal, I was pleased and unsurprised to see that the Model 3 appeared to be a hatchback. I was quite surprised soon after when it became apparent that, despite the hatchback looks, it's actually not a hatchback.
So, yes, disappointed. We'll see what happens in terms of tweaks before the production version (just as they changed the looks of the Model S from prototype to production), but it does sound like Elon intends to stay with the trunk design.
If not offering another hatchback, maybe they'll do like many European manufacturers do and offer a wagon variation... like this lovely design:
(from X-Tomi Design: Tesla Model 3 Sportwagon Prototype)
Here's more thoughts on this subject:
Who prefers a Model 3 station wagon?
This is the Tesla Model 3's Biggest Design Fail
Swedish Market Economy: Tesla Model 3 abandoned door hatchback � a design flaw? � Auto Motor & Sport�
![[?IMG]](https://electrek.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/tesla-model-3-sportwagon-prototype-e1459944194799.jpg)
Apr 11, 2016
Olle I was counting on lift back and am disappointed. The rest of the car is everything I hoped for, so very happy and excited overall�
Apr 11, 2016
S?XY P100D That's a handsome looking station wagon. I'd buy that.�
Apr 11, 2016
EVnut This sort of response interests me. I've made bullet items out of your points.
You emphatically say that you do not want a hatch. But you don't say why. You mention that you don't haul big things. You mention that you have a car with a trunk that isl useful. You can't think of why you need a hatch, but what about not needing one really, really inspires you to not want one?
Nobody needs a car that looks good either. But why not have it, if all else is the same? Does anybody get harmed with a hatch over a trunk?
How does not needing a hatch equate with NOT WANTING A HATCH? It isn't like it changes the look of the car. Let's pretend that everything was the same (note here that nobody looking at the Model S realizes that it is a hatchback) - so same looks, same cost, same handling. What is it about a hatch that so repulses you? From what you wrote here, it sounds like you desperately want to avoid the car having any extra utility.
And finally:What does the average American commuter have to do with this? Especially when you consider how many American commuters drive solo in SUVs to the office. And... a small sedan is EXACTLY what I need... if it has a hatch. And all of my small sedans have had hatches. Of course they aren't called sedans like the Model S is for some reason.�
Apr 11, 2016
NoPetrolDream I am not disappointed my Model 3 will be a sedan with a regular trunk. Have always liked sedans and finally got back into one last year after driving pickup trucks for many years. All those years with trucks and the beds were used only on rare occasions. I now use my trunk daily, and with Model 3 I get a bonus trunk up front!�
Apr 12, 2016
nirad I actually almost placed a reservation for a Model 3 before I realized that it isn't a hatchback like the Model S. I have a large dog and a regular sedan won't work for me.
I am a bit disappointed by this. Though maybe I will just end up buying a Model S before the Model 3 is available. Nevertheless, for the hell of it I photoshopped what the Model 3 could look like with the rear window split for a hatch. The frames for the rear glass pieces could be internal with the panes placed over them, and with black tinted glass covering the frames:
![[?IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ud0LDwo8OZc94WR0rthI0vVfTm_vroN3xxPt60NZP6x9_AppLFNG-WDGLeHQQXLhO3rltvKcKyYtmCpG3NGz-tkg=s0-d)
�
Apr 12, 2016
Chuq I know people have stated that the Model Y is the car that we are looking for, but I'm not sure why it needs to be a whole separate model; it's not unusual for vehicles to have various shape variations available - e.g. Mazda6:
It would be nice if the Model 3 went down this path rather than having a whole new model purely for a different shape.�
Apr 12, 2016
WarpedOne Model Y is not just different shape, is a different vehicle concept.
Higher ground clearance, higher seating, higher rooftop, bigger trunk, hatch, more upright seating, some plastic around wheels and car corners, etc.
And yes, also lower efficiency.
CUV�
Apr 12, 2016
Chuq Thanks for the clarification! All I want is slightly more storage :-(
.. and not a Bolt!�
Apr 12, 2016
NeverFollow I don't like the handling of SUV either, I rather driving a car lower to the ground!
And the model Y will certainly be more expensive, something I cannot justify to buy since I live in California..�
Apr 12, 2016
S?XY P100D You should be able to transfer your reservation $ without a problem. If Tesla unveils the Model Y prior to the 3's production release, I would consider doing the transfer for a pair of Falcon wings...
The photoshop edit looks great! I wonder, though, if the horizontal pillar would cause obstruction to the rear view. Would you be able to move it higher up the roofline, say above the rear seat headrests?�
Apr 12, 2016
diamond.g If they keep the same S to X price difference for the 3 to Y then it should be around a 5000 increase for the equivalent 3 spec in Y form.�
Apr 12, 2016
yesup The reasoning is very simple - sales number.
You want the car to sell, and has the largest number of potential customers.
Based on 2104 US sales number, sedan has 35% market share, SUV/CUV 36%.
That's the two largest segments - and Model 3 and Model Y together can go for the 71% market. If you were the CEO, you would make the same decision.
Those bigger manufacturers would go after smaller market segments next such as hatchback (5%), Coupe (3%), Station wagon (1.2%), convertible (1%). But for Tesla with limited resources and production capacity, dedicate all their resources for the 71% market is a better investment than going after the 5% hatchback market.
Of course, this is unique to US. In Europe, hatch back and wagon rule. But Europe accounts for only 17% of Tesla sales. So having a hatch back version would not be a priority as SUV/CUV also sell very well in Europe too.�
Apr 12, 2016
Chuq That explains it - The ratio is a lot different here in Australia as well (closer to Europe).
But by the same token, EVs have a small percentage of the market in the USA too, doesn't stop Tesla from breaking the mould�
Apr 12, 2016
anticitizen13.7 Read some of the reviews of Model X, and owner experiences here at TMC. The Model X, despite being a CUV/SUV, does not sacrifice much if anything in the way of handling, vs. Model S. The skateboard battery pack keeps the center of gravity low.�
Apr 12, 2016
yesup It's hard to explain Americans' aversion to hatch back and wagon.
For example, in Europe, VW Golf outsells its sedan sister Jetta 50:1 (500,000 : 10,000) in 2015.
In US, Jetta outsells Golf 2:1 (131,000 : 6,700) in 2015 despite Jetta is using a previous aging platform while Golf is using the latest modern platform resulting in being larger, better handling and almost better in every aspect.
Go figure.�
Apr 12, 2016
MarcCBR Not me. There are already plenty of hatchback green cars available. Those that don't like a trunk might want to consider a Chevy Bolt or stop whining and wait for the Y.�
Apr 12, 2016
S?XY P100D We Americans like big butts. Europeans like no butts.�
Apr 12, 2016
nirad This kind of split window design has worked for the Toyota Prius and the Honda CRX before it. The only difference here is that two panes divide where the trunk opens. And of course the Model 3 will have a mandatory backup camera.�
Apr 12, 2016
S?XY P100D True but the hinge on the 3 puts it right smack in the center of the viewing area. Check out the side profile of the 3. (Well, maybe a bit lower than center.) Also, there must be some government regulations to follow.
Hopefully I'm wrong coz it would be useful to get that enlarged opening.�
Apr 12, 2016
CHG-ON I am. It offers so much more utility. But I ain't buyin' anyway! I already have my true love.�
Apr 12, 2016
stopcrazypp I've pointed out similar to the suggestion to put the hinge there. In a Prius or CRX, the split is not at the hinge, but rather at the spoiler, which means the beam can be much smaller and won't be directly in center.�
Apr 12, 2016
igotzzoom Disappointed, but over it. If Elon makes good on his promise to make the trunk opening larger, I think I'll be OK with that.�
Apr 12, 2016
Jay1001 Honestly I was hoping the model S type hatch opening but it is not a deal breaker.�
Apr 12, 2016
dctrombly It's a shame for sure. Should've been designed from the ground up as a mini model S design. Could've had the same glass ceiling still. Feels like they're almost aiming for impracticality for some reason.�
Apr 12, 2016
yesup They couldn't.
Model 3 is a lot shorter than Model S.
They have to decide between compromising head room and go with lift back (mini Model S), or improve head room without lift back - they chose the later, wisely.
The split window solution in the previous page does not work. You need a thick cross beam - currently it is at the bottom of the window. So even if you make a split in the window, it still won't work because of the cross beam. And if you move the cross beam to the window split, it would be way too thick blocking all rear vision.
As I mentioned repeatedly, in US, sedan is popular. Having a normal sedan trunk is OK, people accept that. However, if you don't have enough head room for the passengers, you will get roasted in the car reviews for sure, and it will generate a lot of negative publicity.�
Apr 12, 2016
EVnut That's the spirit of open discussion!�
Apr 13, 2016
EVnut You make some valid points... but not this one.
It's also OK to have an ugly car. A slow car. A car with three wheels. A car with hand-cranked windows. To boil this down to "accept that" is certainly missing the point of discussion (especially in a thread made specifically to discuss just this). And if so many customers want certain features (yes, even in the face of US car-buying statistics) shouldn't those desires be discussed and noted? As somebody else pointed out astutely: If we did everything by what US consumers were buying, the model 3 would be gasoline powered, slow, bland and ugly.
And I guess the Model S would have had a trunk.�
Apr 13, 2016
PGeer I'm driving the X and my wife has her second Leaf, which she adores. I can't imagine Tesla won't introduce one in the future.�
Apr 13, 2016
dhanson865 but the beam in the rear view mirror is still sub optimal, though backup cameras and around view monitors, and autopilot could make me ignore that slight flaw.�
Apr 13, 2016
stopcrazypp I'm not really suggesting Tesla go with this design, just pointing out what applies to the Prius and CRX doesn't apply here. The design that makes the most sense as a hatchback is to have the hinge on the top, as with the Model S (sacrificing the rear headroom). Obviously Tesla has no plans to do this, but rather just have a slightly larger trunk opening.�
Apr 13, 2016
arjay All I need is a powered trunk lid for ease of loading a case of wine.�
Apr 13, 2016
gregincal Both rear headroom and rear visibility. Although I like the lift back on my Model S I don't like the small rear window. If the Model 3 rear window would end up being smaller or even split I'm probably happier with a trunk.�
Apr 13, 2016
SureValla IMO the split windshield and rear visibility of my prius is the weakest part of the car. I'm wondering if Tesla could somehow make it so the entire rear section of the 3 roof came up like a hatch. To prevent it from being too tall they could put some sort of limiter on how high it opens.�
Apr 13, 2016
JamesL I don't think the glass roof is a gimmick. It is how they are obtaining the headroom in such a small
In that scenario, you would need a cross member right where your rear seat passenger heads are. You can't just stick a hinge on two sheets of glass.�
Apr 13, 2016
david_42 Hatchbacks are major players in the PNW, small footprint and plenty of room. Good aerodynamics are achievable using a kammback design.
And, yeah, the Model 3 as a sedan is a show-stopper for us. My wife has been driving hatchbacks for her entire life and two of my last three vehicles were hatchbacks. Since 99% of the time the car will be driven with one or two people in it, rear headroom isn't a big concern and who cares if people can see the sky?�
Apr 13, 2016
N5329K Rear visibility is important to me. I think putting a camera back there is tantamount to saying, "we screwed up." So is rear seat headroom, even if I won't be spending much time back there. Poor rear visibility in the Gen 2 Prius was one of the main reasons we never considered buying one (we have a Gen 1, which is a true sedan with fine visibility aft). Poor rear headroom in the Model S was one of the reasons we didn't consider buying one of those, too.
So if the 3 is a true sedan with great visibility, ample headroom, adequate trunk (with fold down rear seats) and a view of the sky that can't be equalled in any other closed car, I will be very, very happy to own one.
Robin
.�
Apr 13, 2016
diamond.g Are you going to order a Bolt or are you going to wait for the Y?�
Apr 13, 2016
SureValla Fully understand. My suggestion was to put the hinge all the way up to the B pillar area where the rear windshield piece meets the roof piece. This would effectively be in the middle of the car. I realize its not perfect and im not really advocating for it over the notchback. Just suggesting as a possible solution.�
Apr 13, 2016
gregincal When I first saw the picture during the reveal that's how I hoped it would work. Not sure of engineering issues having such a long liftback, but it would be cool.�
Apr 13, 2016
quantumslip Has any attempt been made to calculate the delta between the model 3's trunk opening and say the BMW 3-series trunk opening size (sedan)? How much of a difference are we talking here? Everyone says it's smaller but how much smaller is not clear to me.�
Apr 13, 2016
stopcrazypp There isn't even a consensus about the length of the vehicle, so I doubt there can be a useful estimate of trunk opening size (which given the shorter measurements involved is subject to even more error). Currently, it just looks shallow.�
Apr 13, 2016
pangolina I'm more concerned with the size of the trunk opening, particularly its vertical dimension rather than depth of the trunk itself... Width-wise it looks OK, and overall internal volume of the trunk seems to be OK as well (based on one of the test-rides videos). But the distance from top edge of the opening to bottom edge looks rather small, smaller than in Mazda Protege for instance (I used to own one). On the other hand it might be because of the angle from which the video was taken...�
Apr 14, 2016
yesup The problem is not where you put the hinge, but rather where you put the cross beam.
Right now, there is a cross beam structure at the bottom of the glass instead of being in the roof above the rear passengers. So you cannot get unobstructed access even if you find a way to open the glass.�
Apr 14, 2016
Haddock As a Yoorpean, I would have preferred a hatch or a station wagon, but I can live with a trunk. I don't really want a crossover (sends the wrong signals), but I'd consider that too.
I probably won't get a Bolt (Ampera-E) because:
* No three-phase charger, so limited to 3.6kW in my 16A-230V European home. (Model S or Renault Zoe can charge at 11kW at my home)
* No accessory hook or low-weight towing
* No superchargers
Skoda even managed both a trunk and a hatch in the same car.
�
Apr 14, 2016
Chris L The M3 got the trunk because Tesla wanted to give (tall) adults in the back seat a lot of headroom and a feeling of spaciousness (glass roof). I was out this morning in southern California traffic for more than an hour, and I made a point of looking at all the cars to see how many had adults in the back seat � and there were NONE! Not a scientific study, to be sure, but it looks like Tesla obsessed on a feature that will benefit almost no one, to the detriment of all of those people who want the practicality of a lift-back for loading stuff in the back of the car.
It would be really nice if they would make two variants of the M3�the trunk version, and a liftback version with the structural cross beam relocated further forward. It should not be any more of a production hassle than single-motor vs. dual-motor, or standard battery vs. optional larger battery. Both versions could be built on the same robotic production lines. Since Tesla builds each car to a specific customer configuration, there would be no issue of maintaining inventories of cars with different variations (as manufacturers with franchised dealers have to do).
For those who say wait for the Model Y SUV/Crossover if you want a hatch/liftback, I say the people who routinely load lots of tall people in the back seat should wait for those TALLER Model Ys, and give the sleeker, lower M3s an MS-style liftback.
I'll still be buying the Model 3, even if it has only a little hole for a trunk, but it could be a lot better.�
Apr 14, 2016
gregincal Seems like sort of a strange way of looking at things. How many of those cars currently had something in the back needing a hatchback? Most of the time people don't need either thing, so just saying that most people don't have passengers in the back doesn't mean that they don't have passengers in the back more often than they need the utility of a hatchback. In my Model S I almost never have people in the back seat but it's even much more rarely that I stick anything in the back that wouldn't easily fit in a trunk. However, I will really like having better rear vision than I currently get in the Model S.�
Apr 14, 2016
SureValla I would guess the need for cargo in the back would occur more often then the need for headroom for tall adults in the back seat.�
Apr 14, 2016
gregincal You can guess that, but that doesn't mean it's correct (and remember, we are talking about cargo that doesn't easily fit into the existing trunk or frunk).�
Apr 14, 2016
Chris L Bicycles, strollers, house insulation, golf clubs, surf boards, etc. Tesla now has hundreds of thousands of reservations holders and their email addresses � easy enough to poll them as to which option they would prefer (if there were to be options). No guessing required. Tesla will likely build a couple million or so Model 3s in the first five or six years, so roughly a million liftback versions, if there would be one � enough to justify the extra tooling.
The trunk version of the Model 3 has plenty of cargo room for my purposes, that's not the issue. It's not having easy access to that cargo volume that is the issue.�
Apr 14, 2016
Chris L Neither is the issue whether one version is "better". Having two variants would give Tesla's customers a choice � different strokes for different folks. Adding a lift-back variant would not take anything away from the people who prefer the trunk version.�
Apr 14, 2016
gregincal We're talking about two different body frame designs. Perhaps someday Tesla might do this but I think at the moment they are concentrating on how to make this quickly enough, not add complexity.�
Apr 14, 2016
Chris L There would not be two different body frame designs, just the detail structural elements in the back part of the roof, mostly the cross beam location. Tesla said the lift-back would have impinged on the back seat headroom; the only way they would know that is if they designed and engineered a lift-back version of the Model 3 first, before switching to the trunk version. I think they, and most people, started out thinking the Model 3 would have a lift-back configuration similar to the Model S. I don't think we should be dismissive of the possibility of a lift-back version based on the assumption that doing it would be too challenging. In any case, Tesla will decide what they want to do. If they had prioritized eliminating production challenges, there would have been no all-glass roof.�
Apr 14, 2016
yesup Actually, it does. It adds to the development cost, and would likely delay the launch and production rate of the sedan version.
The development cost for a lift-back version is not trivial at all. Basically, they have to redesign the frame/chassis rear of B-pillar.
Tesla had to make the decision long ago. If they only make the decision now, I doubt you would see the car before 2019.
And why do they need to poll? The sales number tell the truth and gives you the picture exactly what US customers want.
Tesla knows that and made the wise decision according the what customers are buying.
In cars with sedan and hatch back versions, sedan outsells hatch back version by far in US.
I understand what you preference is, but unfortunately, you are a minority in US.�
Apr 14, 2016
coco81 You didn't saw any car with people in the back seats... How many cars with huge objects in the back did you saw?
Audi A4, BMW 3series, MB C-class, the Model 3 real competitors are sedans and is OK. Yes, they have a wagon version but 90% of buyers choose the sedan version.�
Apr 14, 2016
diamond.g And when they do offer a Hatch/Lift Back [wagon] version, it isn't for the base price. It appears, at least in the case of BMW, that you have to pay an additional 9-10k to get the option. Would Model 3 buyers that want that style rear pay the extra for it?�
Apr 14, 2016
EVnut I keep circling back to the question about why the cheapest model of car from so many auto makers is often a hatchback. Most of these cars start under $20k. If a hatchback is so much more expensive to make (as I keep being told)... this doesn't make sense. Or is it because these cheap cars are death traps, and in order to make a SAFE hatchback, it's more expensive?�
Apr 14, 2016
N5329K I don't doubt Tesla could have designed the 3 as a hatchback. But I'm pretty sure they can't ramp production to meet the obviously strong demand by introducing variants with differing structure. Hatchback? Wagon? Convertible? Coupe?
They are going to have lots on their hands as it is without piling more on. The 3 is a classic small-ish sedan with an unusually large interior volume. If that works for you (as it does for me), you'll have your car in a few years. If you need a hatchback, there's the Bolt. Or a Model S. You can have one of those, with a tax credit, next month.
Robin�
Apr 14, 2016
david_42 Zero interest in any of the current offerings or future ones like the Bolt. That car looks like they designed it to be ugly and then ran it into a wall.�
Apr 14, 2016
SageBrush I'm hoping that I will not dislike the trunk so much that I cancel my reservation, so do not infer my preference for a trunk from the reservation.
And while true that the US car market overwhelmingly chooses sedans over hatchbacks, we do not really know if that preference carries over to the Model ? reservation group. What do the BMW and Audi markets with cars similar to this Tesla choose ? It does not appear that the hatchback design of the Model 'S' was a marketing problem despite my impression of hatchbacks being rare in the US luxury car market.�
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