8 Little-Known Tesla Features Every Owner Should Be Using

Despite increasing competition from rival automakers, Tesla remains the most popular EV maker by a significant margin, with around 50% overall market share in Q3 2023, according to a study by Cox Auto. One of the key reasons that buyers keep flocking to Tesla is the wide range of useful features that each of its cars boasts, many of which can't be found on any other car on the market. In fact, there are so many features available to drivers that it can be easy to overlook a few of them, especially if you're relatively new to the brand.

As well as hiding certain features behind layers of menus, making them harder to find if you don't already know they're there, Tesla also adds new features on a regular basis. To help ensure Tesla owners are making the most of everything on offer to them, we've rounded up some lesser-known features that all drivers should be aware of.

Another useful Tesla feature available across the brand's entire mass-produced range is Dog Mode, which keeps the car at a comfortable temperature, allowing owners to leave their dogs unattended for short periods of time. Every good dog owner should be well aware of just how dangerous it can be to leave a dog in a hot car, and so when Dog Mode is enabled, the car's touchscreen shows a message to passersby explaining the feature. It displays a readout of the current cabin temperature, alongside a message that the dog's owner will be back soon — otherwise, owners risk having their cars damaged by well-meaning onlookers seeing dogs left in a car.

Owners who feel the need to check in on their pets during the time they're alone in the car can also watch them through the car's built-in camera, which can be viewed through the Tesla app. There is one caveat to using Dog Mode, though: The feature will only work when the car's battery level is above 20%. When it drops below that level, the Tesla app sends repeated notifications to the owner reminding them to return to the car as soon as possible.

Letting other people borrow your car can be a very stressful experience — especially if they're a less careful or less experienced driver. The problem can be even worse for owners with higher-spec Teslas, as the car will likely offer inexperienced drivers significantly more power than they are used to, making it easier for mistakes (or reckless choices) to be made. However, Speed Limit Mode is a useful way to ensure that friends, teenage children, or other family members aren't tempted to test the limits of your car or the law.

The mode can be enabled by tapping Controls, then Safety, then Speed Limit Mode. You can then set a predefined speed limit between 50 mph and 120 mph — although it's safe to assume that anyone looking to give their car to a less experienced driver isn't going to want them straying too near the upper end of that range. Acceleration will also be limited to its Chill setting whenever Speed Limit Mode is enabled. When the car approaches the limit, the owner will get a notification sent to their Tesla app, and a message will appear on the touchscreen.

When enabling Speed Limit Mode, the owner can choose a four-digit PIN to toggle it on and off, and can control it remotely via the Tesla app. The option to enable the mode can be found within the Security tab of the app.

The rear liftgate of a Tesla can be manually adjusted to raise to a certain height, avoiding obstacles or low garage roofs. This is particularly useful for the Model X and Model Y SUVs, although the process works the same across all Tesla models with a powered liftgate. To adjust, open the trunk as usual, and then pull the liftgate either up or down to the desired opening height. Then, hold the button on the bottom of the liftgate down for three seconds. You'll hear a chime to confirm the height is adjusted, and then the next time the liftgate opens in that location, it will only be to the height you set.

Although the liftgate does include an auto-detect feature, which should in theory prevent it from hitting obstacles, it's notoriously inconsistent. There are plenty of cautionary tales out there from owners who have driven their newly delivered Tesla into the garage, only to immediately open the liftgate into the garage door and scratch it. So, it's worth keeping an eye on the height of the liftgate, even after setting it for your home garage. There's no guarantee it will detect movable objects like doors, or even low-hanging objects if you park at a different angle than usual.

Multi-story parking lots have also been known to cause issues, as the car detects that it's in a different location and may therefore open the liftgate to its full height even after being adjusted for a home garage.

A 2022 survey of SlashGear readers found that 40% were unaware of Tesla's Romance Mode, despite it being available as an option for around half a decade now. Granted, it's probably the least useful feature here, but it's amusing enough to warrant mentioning regardless. When Romance Mode is enabled through the Toybox, the regular touchscreen interface is replaced by a video of a burning log fireplace, and the heaters on the car crank up to match the vibe. The car also puts on a suitable soundtrack — think Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," among others.

Despite Tesla's tongue-in-cheek efforts to give owners even more ways to amuse themselves while waiting around in their car, it's only really useful if you like the look of the virtual fireplace. Tesla's "romantic" playlist can be muted, leaving only the fire with the sound of logs crackling. Some owners have reported using it to make the car feel cozier when waiting around on cold days, so it's worth trying out if you spend a lot of time waiting to pick up children, spouses, or friends.