The Tesla Model 3 continues to dominate the US premium-class car market. In fact, it has dominated this market to such an extent that it has more sales in 2019 than all of BMW’s small & midsize models combined, all of Mercedes-Benz’s small & midsized models combined, all of Audi’s small & midsized models combined, all of Lexus’s small & midsized models combined, etc.
Following up on my 5 year cost of ownership comparisons between the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (SR+), the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C300 and C300 4MATIC), and the Audi A4 (Premium and Premium Plus trims), it’s time to run an updated comparison between the Model 3 SR+, the BMW 3 Series, and the BMW 4 Series. It seems like this is the most relevant comparison you can make with the Model 3 SR+, since we already know the Model 3 beats sporty BMW driving at sporty, beats “the ultimate driving machine” at driving, and is stealing the title of Most Loved Car Brand Among Boys. What does BMW have left? Lower cost?
I’ve been thoroughly digging through our archives lately and ran across a series of articles published in the middle of 2017 that seemed to be worth a refresh and rerun. These are simple comparisons I conducted between the Tesla Model 3 and other premium-class cars in its general price range and size. Let’s revisit how current BMW options compare to the Model 3, this time adding in some 5 year cost of ownership scenarios.
BMW and Mercedes are considering a partnership to develop a new chassis for electric cars. They are also cooperating on autonomous car technology as convergence in the industry continues.
Some things cannot be explained by numbers. The Tesla Model 3 driving experience is phenomenally better than the driving experience of nearly every other car on the market. That is not hyperbole. Race car drivers have said it, top auto journalists have said it, and hundreds of thousands of other people have said it. You just have to experience the Model 3 to understand it.
People like to bash the BMW i3 for its somewhat quirky looks, or for its less than “ultimate” specs. Others love it. I love it, and I actually drive one. Whether you are an i3 critic or an i3 fan, though, we’re definitely at a “Munich, we have a problem” moment.
With our US large luxury car sales report, US small & midsize luxury car sales report, US electric vehicle sales report, and other Tesla-related sales reports recently completed, it’s time for another edition of Nasty Tesla Charts!
For this month’s edition of “Nasty Tesla Charts,” I decided to add one non-sales chart that I should have added months ago. It’s just too good of a chart to not include here. The other 22 are Tesla sales charts that deserve much more attention than they get.
The Tesla Model 3 is a hot topic among Tesla fanatics, portions of the climate hawk flock, regions of tech world, and various corners of the hyperactive Wall Street circus. But in the homes of Joe Schmo, Homer Simpson, Roseanne Conner, Danny Tanner, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, the gang at Paddy’s Pub, Leslie Knope, the Griffin family, and many actual American families, the Ford Mustang and BMW 3 Series are much more familiar names and perhaps cars they drive or dream of driving one day.
Last night, at an event a few blocks away from the Los Angeles Auto Show, BMW hosted the world premiere of its latest vision vehicle, dubbed the iNext.
