Tesla has always done things differently, from introducing long-range, powerful EVs at a time when most automakers were extolling the virtues of having 40-mile glorified golf-carts that would suit most people’s driving needs, to introducing a pickup that looked like a futuristic zombie-apocalypse weapon. One of its many industry upheavals was online ordering, allowing potential buyers to not only spec out their potential purchase on its website, but then allowing them to order it without the need to bicker at a dealership.
Even its vehicles often stray from established industry norms, embracing digital solutions to what used to be mechanical problems (which, in all fairness, works well for EVs, but not so much for ICE vehicles). Updated quite frequently, Tesla features are sometimes gimmicky, though they may still serve a purpose, such as Dog Mode, which maintains cabin temperature for pets left briefly in the vehicle, while assuring passersby via the center display that the animal is safe. And while those features may be nice to have occasionally, some prove valuable every day, and are greatly appreciated over time.
Over-The-Air (OTA) Updates
Timely Software Updates Without Physical Connections
Over-The-Air update graohic from Kia OTA download siteKIA
The common practice in car-buying is to purchase or lease a new vehicle and then sell it or return it in a few years’ time for one that is more up to date. Owners got used to the reality that their once state-of-the-art vehicle no longer matched the current standard, and would soon require a change to a shinier, more technologically advanced model. As computers and vehicle features became more symbiotic, part of the routine involved maintenance appointments to get software updates for things like navigation maps and drive-by-wire systems.
Tesla, however, decided early on that it would update the vehicle’s software and firmware wirelessly, refining existing feature functionality (such as fine-tuning Autopilot software every month or so) and adding new features that are sometimes functional (such as Dog Mode) and sometimes fanciful (such as Arcade and Theater, for rear-seat entertainment or when the driver is parked). Like a smartphone update, owners are notified via the mobile app or the onboard display, and initiate the download at their convenience.
Feels Like The Vehicle Is Evolving Rather Than Stagnating
2024 Tesla Model X interior shot of second-row screenTesla
OTA updates are known for their passive-aggressive nature, as owners become accustomed to waking up to a fully charged vehicle that now has updated functionality or additional capabilities (not always positive), and the vehicle becomes less like a static appliance that completes its tasks in the same manner, and more like modular furniture that takes on new functionality. Not every update introduces life-altering changes, but the convenience avoids time-consuming dealership visits and finds better ways to do things with the owner only needing to click acceptance.
Phone Key
Using The Smartphone To Replace Keys, Fobs And Remotes
Toyota Audio Multimedia Advanced Remote ConnectToyota
You’re rushing to get the kids off to school, or to leave for that doctor’s appointment, and your keychain is nowhere to be found. Sure you could grab the spare, but then the house would be unlocked, so you end up flipping over couch cushions, turning out sock drawers, and even checking the fridge you put groceries into last evening. Or, you walk out of the coffee shop balancing your grande latte as you dig into your pocket or purse to retrieve the key fob. You promise yourself to be more careful and/or prepared for next time, but you rarely are.
Tesla addressed these scenarios by turning the ubiquitous smartphone into the vehicle’s primary key (you can also get a credit-card-like transponder), through the Tesla mobile app and Bluetooth capability. As you near your Tesla, the vehicle recognizes the paired phone and unlocks the door. Once inside, press start and you’re ready to go. When you get to your destination, exit the vehicle, close the door and walk away, and the vehicle locks itself once you’re out of range. Note of caution: Bluetooth connectivity varies by device, which may cause recognition delays, as may a low device charge and some battery-saving modes.
Instead Of Grabbing Phone And Keys, Just Grab The Phone
Tesla Mobile App on a smartphone showing the Phone Key screenTESLA MANUALS/YOUTUBE
Appreciation for Tesla’s Phone Key grows as Tesla owners think back on all the times they interacted with their previous car’s keys each and every day — but they rarely do, and the memories quickly fade as owners no longer absentmindedly reach for keys to get into their vehicles or turn the ignition. Early on, drivers may fumble for keys but quickly adapt to simply approaching the vehicle, then driving away. The convenience becomes instantly apparent — with the odd broken fingernail — when owners rent a car or drive somebody else’s vehicle.
Scheduled Departure Pre-Conditioning
Get Into A Comfortable Cabin Summer Or Winter
Detail shot of a 2013 Tesla Model S interior showing the temperature readouts on the center displayTESLA
Few aspects of vehicle ownership are as instantly unpleasant as climbing into an uncomfortable cabin on a freezing winter morning or during a sweltering summer’s day. But extreme temperatures in the cabin go beyond passenger comfort and can affect the lifespan of materials. Historically, owners have gotten their vehicle cabins to comfortable temperatures by starting the vehicle and going back to the warm or cool confines of a building; remote starters (either physical or virtual, through the use of new vehicle mobile apps) make it easier to not even leave the house.
2026 Tesla Model YTesla
There are two aspects to Tesla’s Scheduled Departure Pre-Conditioning: programming a departure time into the vehicle’s charging schedule for comfortable morning departures, and pre-conditioning the cabin for comfort and the battery for more efficient operation and charging. Scheduled Departure draws virtually no power from the battery, as it is topped off as energy is used for Pre-Conditioning, which, without the cable hook-up, can draw up to 7kW from the battery, if the ambient temperature is frigid. A quarter-hour of Pre-Conditioning could translate to reducing driving range by 3–5 miles.
Pre-Conditioning A Tesla Cabin Takes Some Planning But Soon Becomes Routine
Interior shot of a Tesla Cybertruck with computer generated air-flowTESLA
Scheduling departures is something that takes Tesla owners a while to adopt, as many simply get used to plugging in their EVs at night and driving away in the morning (weathering cabin discomfort as they have traditionally done in their ICE vehicles). Once they do adopt it, it quickly becomes part of their daily ritual and improves their quality of life; a happy driver tends to feel less stress, which may reduce the likelihood of motoring incidents. There are conditions attached to pre-conditioning, such as a minimum battery charge level of 20 percent.
One Pedal Driving
Takes Advantage Of An Electric Motor’s On/Off Characteristics
Tesla replacement pedals in chrome Showing brake and accelerator pedalTesla
One of the benefits of automatic transmissions is the ability to mostly navigate stop-and-go traffic simply by using your right foot (whereas previous “standards” required using both feet). The constant shuffle between brake and accelerator pedals can become tiring and may in some cases even lead to repetitive motion strains. It’s something drivers don’t really pay attention to until they try to walk away from their cars and feel a sore toe or a knot in their calf muscle.
Tesla’s One-Pedal Driving system relies primarily on an electric motor’s ability to recapture energy as it decelerates. A car’s electric motor is either on or off—when it is on, the car accelerates; when it is off, it acts as a generator, replenishing the battery’s charge. The term regenerative braking is generally associated with working the brake pedal, but an electric motor has strong enough stopping power on its own (even to a complete stop) to negate the need to work the brake pedal in routine driving (depending on vehicle speed, driving conditions, and emergency needs, of course).
One-Pedal Driving Feels Unnatural At First But Quickly Becomes Normal
Many first-time users find One-Pedal Driving unnatural, but they frequently report that overcoming the instinct to work the brake pedal to slow down occurs quickly, and the technique becomes natural in specific situations, such as the stop-and-go of urban commuting. Once accepted, the system makes traffic feel less tedious and encourages smoother driving. Reducing dependency on the brake pedal feels unconventional at first, but becomes routine over time, making traditional driving feel unnecessarily complex.
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Sentry Mode
Using The Vehicle’s Driver-Assistance Systems For Security
Detail shot of a Tesla interior showing the center display screen on the Sentry Mode screenTESLA
Parking in an unknown location is sometimes a cause of stress for some owners, whether that relates to door dings, vandalism or even the potential for theft. Many new vehicles have motion detection and sound alarms, but all you have to do is walk through a busy parking lot to see how many times alarms go off and how little attention is paid to them by passersby. Some aftermarket dash-cams provide proof for potential legal action, but most of them are forward-facing or front and rear, at best.
Tesla’s Sentry Mode taps into the vehicle’s external camera and sensor systems (installed primarily for driver-assistance technologies) to monitor the vehicle’s perimeter and store recorded incident footage on the onboard computer. It sends visual alerts and real-time footage to the Tesla mobile app if the threat is severe (such as the vehicle being towed or somebody popping the trunk) but everyday occurrences, such as people squeezing by your car in a parking lot, are recorded without push notification to the app. The onboard screen can also alert individuals that they are being recorded, as a deterrent.
Like Insurance, Sentry Mode May Never Be Needed Until The Day It Is
Detail shot of a Tesla interior showing the center display screen on the Sentry Mode live feedTESLA
Sentry Mode is one of those features that works in the background and that owners may never need — until that one instance when they do. Many owners come to appreciate the peace of mind from having it working, considering it a type of insurance. There is a price to pay in the power it draws, which is not an issue when the car is in the driveway at night plugged in, but could become one in an airport parking lot, where it may draw about 6kWh over 24 hours (about the equivalent of a couple of desktop gaming PCs sitting idle) and reduce range by about 20 miles a day.
Sources: Tesla, J.D. Power, Polestar
