It pretty much does look like a model to me. The trees and rocks look a little fake and the roadway almost looks like it has wood grain, the grass in the middle seems too high too.

I think it's that white thing at the top and lack of color in the sky plus the lack of any look of movement on the cars that give it that almost fake appearance. Also the cars look like they were just set in place and you can't really see any people in any of them clearly.