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.
The base price of the Model 3 after a fresh new price reduction is $42,900. The price dropped $1,100. Let’s throw some more context on that.
There have been a couple of recent announcements regarding Tesla Model 3 range ratings. Not being groundbreaking news, we never covered the updates, but now is the time. So say the rulers of the Internet.
We have learned many things from the brilliant minds over at the Engineering Explained YouTube channel, and now we know that Jason from Engineering Explained went off and purchased his own mid-range, rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3 to celebrate hitting 2 million subscribers on the channel.
Sometimes I feel like the boy who cried wolf. On October 12, I wrote an article that you should order a Tesla Model 3 by October 15 or you wouldn’t be guaranteed delivery by year end. Then, on November 11, I wrote about 5 options to still get a Tesla in 2018. Tesla didn’t want that to be the end of the story. As we wrote on November 15, the company secured extra trucking capacity and announced to the world it won’t use rail to ship to the East Coast (since it takes too long and Tesla wouldn’t want you to miss out on getting your Tesla by year end). But that’s not all.
Want a Tesla Model 3 and want the $7,500 US federal EV tax credit? Here are 5 potential ways you can get a Model 3 and the tax credit.
Today, I want to update my use of the Edmunds True Cost to Own model to analyze the market for mainstream midsize sedans. I’ll compare the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range to all the leaders in the midsize market today. The short story, as you’ll see if you go through it all, is that the much quicker, safer, and more luxurious Tesla Model 3 can be cost-competitive with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, and Chevy Malibu.
When I saw the new battery option, I knew I needed to update the total cost of ownership (TCO) model for the Model 3 and see how that affects the cost of ownership for potential customers.
In case you missed it, last tonight, Elon Musk dropped this nugget on his Twitter feed that Tesla was offering a new, lower cost, Tesla Model 3 Mid Range. Before I go any further, I want to reiterate what I said in my previous article about Tesla, simply, “Let’s All Calm Down.” Now let’s proceed with some speculation.
Tesla has unexpectedly dropped a “Mid Range” battery option into its Model 3 variants, officially the Tesla Model 3 Mid Range Rear-Wheel Drive, priced competitively and still offering great real-world driving range.
The additional good news is that this variant has expected delivery dates of 6–10 weeks, meaning that early signups should still receive the full US federal tax credit.
