Tesla was arguably the car that brought eco-conscious driving into the minds of the majority. While used Teslas continue to be popular, there are now many other electric and hybrid vehicles to choose from. So what makes a Tesla stand out? For those who love tech and innovation, there are many Tesla features to keep you engaged, as well as a few hidden Easter Eggs. Here are just ten of the features you should know about in your Tesla!
Autopilot
Tesla is famous for its self-driving capabilities and it is a key feature that makes driving a Tesla so attractive. Autopilot is designed to enhance safety and is intended to be used by fully alert drivers with both hands on the wheel.
Autopilot can help with auto-steering, accelerating and braking, helping you to drive more smoothly. While autopilot is there to help, the car is not fully autonomous. For instance, if you notice that you are going above the speed limit while driving in autopilot, you can tap the speed limit icon on the screen and it will safely lower your speed to avoid any speeding or in case of an emergency.
Another feature of Tesla’s autopilot feature is Smart Summon, which allows you to park your car using a command button. It does this thanks to a range of sensors and cameras that give it a 360 degree view of its surroundings.
Importantly from a safety standpoint, Tesla’s autopilot will issue prompts to ask the driver to grab the wheel and apply pressure to show that you are paying attention from time to time.
Live Sentry Mode
Live sentry mode keeps your Tesla’s sensors and cameras turned on. It’s a great security feature that can record any suspicious activity around it. If a threat is detected, an alarm will go off, the headlights will start pulsing and a message will appear on the touchscreen to alert any intruders that the cameras are recording them. Any footage will be saved and you’ll receive a notification on your smartphone.
When you put your Tesla in live sentry mode, you can remotely access its cameras, flash the headlights and even honk the horn all through the Apple or Android app. On top of all this, you can speak through its exterior speaker, no matter where in the world you are located.
Connectivity
If you subscribe to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity service - which is currently $99 per year - you will have access to features that require data usage, like live traffic visualization and streaming media and music.
And, even if you don’t subscribe to Premium Connectivity, all Teslas come with Standard Connectivity for eight years from the day the Tesla was first bought. This will give you access to most connectivity over Wi-Fi, as well as basic maps, music streaming and navigation over Bluetooth. However, you can also access the same features of Premium Connectivity by connecting your Tesla to your smartphone’s Hotspot via WiFi, although you should be wary of your phone’s data allowances.
In addition, while connected to WiFi, your car will update itself automatically with over-the-air software updates, just like your smartphone!
Navigation
Tesla’s in-built navigation system not only helps you find your way. If you have the Tesla app downloaded on your smartphone, you can send addresses wirelessly to your Tesla using Bluetooth, and it will tell you where to go.
Your Tesla can also help you go home faster too. By swiping up or down on the navigation bar, it will immediately start guiding you home.
Tesla App
We live in a world of apps, so obviously Tesla has one for Android and iPhone too. Through this app you can do everything from enabling sentry mode to turning on climate.
The app has four main options by default:
- Open the frunk
- Open the charge port
- Turn on climate
- Lock/unlock
By long pressing between these four icons, you will open a hidden menu with many more options which you can replace with any of the default icons, or even add a fifth icon. These extra options include enabling sentry mode and defrosting the car.
If you add a Tesla Widget to your iPhone’s home screen, it will show your car’s current location, battery percentage and sentry mode status.
Gestures
The latest Tesla updates now allow you to use gestures as short cuts instead of going through the infotainment screen. These include controlling the volume by holding the volume and swiping left and right, and the same for the climate.
When you swipe to the left or right, an arrow will appear to show that you can scroll forwards or backwards. This arrow will initially display in white to show that the action hasn’t started, but if you keep swiping it will turn blue and will take place as soon as you let go.
Caraoke
This feature is great for when you’re driving with friends. Caraoke is Tesla’s version of Karaoke, allowing you to sing in your car, although lyrics are intended only for passengers. The Caraoke feature offers the option of playing music with vocals, or without.
There are no songs to buy or download and the lyrics and songs are provided by StingRay, the creator of many karaoke apps.
Keys
When you own a Tesla, you have three different types of keys: your phone, a card or a fob. With the phone key, the doors will unlock when you pull a door handle thanks to your phone’s Bluetooth signal. The same thing happens when you walk away with your phone: the Tesla’s doors will automatically lock.
If you are using the key card, it simply needs to be swiped against the Tesla’s card reader, which is located below the Autopilot camera on the driver’s side door. This will then unlock or lock your car.
Additionally, you can also purchase a miniature Tesla accessory that functions as a key fob. The fob has three buttons, one to unlock the car, one to unlatch the front truck and the other to unlatch the rear trunk.
Dog Mode
This feature is great for drivers with furry friends. Pet safety in cars is no joke, as leaving them in a hot car can be life-threatening. So Tesla has come to the rescue with its Dog Mode feature!
If you are leaving your dog in your parked Tesla for a short time, Dog Mode will create a comfortable climate for them, as well as activate an interior camera to allow you to check on them. Dog Mode will also display a message on your Tesla’s screen to let passersby know that your dog is waiting at a safe temperature and that the owner will return soon.
Easter Eggs
In addition to the advertised advanced features, Tesla also has some hidden Easter Eggs for you to discover! These can often change with software updates so it's always good to be on the lookout for hidden features. They often reflect popular culture and are available for limited periods.
All of the Tesla Easter Eggs require a certain action to be activated, here are some of our favorites:
- Santa Mode: If you say “Ho Ho Ho”, the image of your parked car on the touchscreen will turn into Santa on his sleigh.
- Back to the Future: This past Easter Egg only occurred when the Tesla had exactly 121 miles of range. This changed the lettering on the car screen to mimic that in the Back to the Future movie.
- Mario Cart: This allows you to turn the road image to look like the Mario Cart rainbow road.
- Rainbow charge ports: If you press the button on the charger handle 10 times in quick succession while the Tesla is plugged in, the charging port will flash in the colors of the rainbow quickly before going back to its original color.
In addition to its obvious style and eco-benefits, Tesla technology provides many features that can greatly enhance your driving experience. From autopilot to Dog Mode, Tesla’s special features and its ability to update itself independently, make it a great option for a used car.