Zack@BLKMDL3
6 drives and 6 hours into FSD v14.3.3, here’s my review:
- Actually Smart Summon improvements are fantastic. The 33% speed increase from 6-8mph is actually extremely noticeable and makes it feel more human-like driving through a parking lot, especially a crowded one. Some may think it’s not a big change, but it is.
- “Hey Grok” is amazing! It has worked perfectly for me each time so far as a wake word, and I’ve used it a bunch. Huge quality of life improvement and being able to set navigation reminders is a really awesome feature!
- FSD v14.3.3 reacted to someone running their stop sign before I could even see them around a wall in a parking garage.
The driver monitoring system (DMS) is way more relaxed in this build than previously, especially in Standard profile.
- The new car visualization looks so much richer and better as combined with the spring update, way cooler. The acceleration profile of Mad Max is much smoother from 0-2mph off the line compared to v14.3.2, it doesn’t feel jerky or a jolt off the line. This is a big improvement and it’s still plenty quick.
- On city streets, and I’m pretty sure on the highway as well, Standard is more relaxed with changing lanes. It doesn’t change as frequently which is a nice thing to have for street driving. I’ll get a lot more seat time this afternoon through this week.
- There has been no twitching or jerky behavior with this build. Smooth inputs even in tricky scenarios- in the past few days FSD v14.3.2 has been slightly twitchy in my experience but this is way better.
- When FSD v14.3.3 reverses out of a parallel or perpendicular parking spot, I’ve noticed on this build it doesn’t reverse as far as before and it reduced unnecessary reversing distance. It feels more human like as it knows exactly the amount of steering angle required to exit the spot without backing up to far. This was even present in my 2025 Model 3 without a front fascia camera.
- Mad Max feels a bit more refined. It’s like a smooth slice through traffic and I’m now using it almost exclusively vs hurry I used before. The improved off the line performance is a big factor in that as well. Very calculated decisions and inputs.
- The new FSD Intervention streak feature is a really cool addition, would’ve been awesome to have for our FSD Cannonball Run record from New York City-LA, but I love how they are incentivizing using the system more as it’s safer than driving yourself.
- Speed control in 55mph speed zones needs more work, this was apparent on the cannonball with FSD v14.3.2 but there’s no clear max speed for it in 55 zones. Should be tamed and restricted a bit specifically in 55mph zones. Looking forward to improved pothole avoidance too.
- I like the new messages at top of the screen, specifically if you do not have a destination set in the navigation, it will tell you to select one. If you are in Mad Max occasionally it will let you know increased attention could be required if the surroundings require it.
- Parking garage behavior seems unchanged from FSD v14.3.2 when inside, but noticed it was slightly more confident entering and exiting the garages and coming up to the ticket dispenser. Didn’t see much looping behavior.
- I haven’t had FSD v14.3.3 camp in the left lane yet, as I haven’t had it on an empty highway since there’s been traffic today. This was a feature that FSD v14.3.2 had in that we didn’t enjoy on the cannonball. I’ll get some seat time in on my drive to NorCal this week where we’ll see if it does it.
- I haven’t had any weird braking, jitteriness or twitching yet, definitely a big smoothness jump over FSD v14.3.2, even more so than FSD v14.2.2.5 in my experience so far.
Overall, this version did a great job combining the attributes of FSD v14.3 like the insane reaction time, parking features, and new stack with the refinement that we loved with FSD v14.2.2.5 AND the great Spring Update features.
Elon said this update is a banger, and it is. Great work @Tesla_AI teams!!
