Tech: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Review, Part 1 - A Self-Driving Car?

With Tesla demonstrating its robotaxi tech to mixed reviews, I thought it was a good time to test out the "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" 30-day trial on my new Model 3.  Does it work? It sure does...mostly:

I've heard people describe FSD as being driven around by a 16-year-old who just got his learner's permit, and they're right.  FSD will amaze you with its ability to stop at red lights, signal lane changes, turn into shopping centers, and merge into light traffic. 10 seconds later, it might hit the brakes a little too early, misread a traffic sign, or "freak out" when confronted with a poorly marked road.  Like a novice driver, the system performs best on lightly populated highways, and worst in crowded, chaotic city streets.

Tesla would have gotten a lot less flak if they called the feature something else ("Driving Assistant"? "Ultra Autopilot"?), but FSD is still apparently the most advanced consumer self-driving tech out there.  Just keep a close eye on it.