The 2017-2019 Tesla Model 3: How Do They Stack Up?
How do the first few model years of the Tesla Model 3 stack up to each other? Learn more as we compare Tesla’s 2017, 2018, and 2019 Model 3s.
Written by Andrew Kidd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Ford itself wouldn't launch its first mass-production electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E, for another three years. The four-door Model 3 sedan was a bit more affordable initially, with a starting MSRP of around $36,000 for the 2017 model year compared with the 2021 Mach-E's $43,995 entry cost—though later Model 3 iterations would
close that price gap
.How do the first few model years compare?
2017 Tesla Model 3: the peoples' EV
Car and Driver
lauded the 2017 Tesla Model 3 for effectively making electric vehicles accessible for the masses, delivering great range—an EPA-estimated 220 miles for its base model—at a relatively affordable starting price of $36,000 before subsequent price hikes.But while it helped ease range anxiety for the average motorist, C&D still considered the Model 3 to be lacking amenities with its strange controls, barren interior and a ride that left something to be desired.
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The 2018 Tesla Model 3
While Tesla promised a more affordable base variant of the Model 3 for the 2018 model year,
Car and Driver
states that they couldn't really deliver due to some technical hurdles in development. What we got instead were three models in the $50,000 price range and up.But at least Tesla offered some perks with the Model 3, including the Performance trim which added all-wheel-drive and a horsepower boost from 346 to 450 compared with the Long Range iteration. The Long Range edition has an EPA-estimated 310 miles of range per charge compared with the base model's 220 miles.
The interior still left a lot to be desired. As C&D points out, the Model 3 has a functional, albeit stark, interior design with commuters and families in mind. The publication notes again that the Model 3 lacked a refined ride and has quirky controls while wide panel gaps betrayed questionable exterior build quality.
The 2019 Tesla Model 3
Tesla finally delivered on its promise to produce a more affordable $35,000 version of the Model 3 in 2019 according to
Car and Driver
, though Tesla quickly made it harder to purchase by making it available for purchase by special order via phone or in-person only. For this model year, the cheapest Model 3 you could purchase online, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, would set you back around $41,000.The 2019 Model 3 saw the standard inclusion of Tesla's Autopilot feature, as well as the introduction of the Performance Upgrade package for the Model 3 Performance This package decked the Model 3 out with improved brakes, 20-inch wheels, lowered suspension, and a top speed boost to 155 mph.
The Model 3 Performance has a 0-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds, while the Long Range Model can hit 60 in 5.1 seconds.
The 2019 model also saw a range boost. The Standard Range Plus model boasts 240 miles of range while the Long Range Model can hit 310 miles. However, when tested by C&D, the range figures didn't hold up to real world applications. Despite that, the publication remarked that the Model 3 features a similar range and semi-autonomous tech as the Model S but for half the price.
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