we compare the new prices with competing electric cars

You’ve probably heard of Tesla’s very aggressive new pricing policy at the start of 2023. While most new customers welcome this price drop, many competing manufacturers are likely to suffer. Let’s review the market to assess how other electric vehicles stack up against the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Tesla ended a most unusual year in 2022 in France, with a Tesla Model 3 which was too expensive to be recommended, and a Tesla Model Y Propulsion which arrived with a bang, at a lower price than its little sister. 2023 has arrived, and a wave of massive price cuts with it, restoring some order to the range of Elon Musk’s firm.

We will first recall the different prices of the Tesla sedan, before comparing them to other proposals on the market. Whether you are interested in a Tesla Model 3 or any other model currently available from other brands of electric vehicles, you will be able to compare the different offers from Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, MG or even Cupra which are in the same segment.

Tesla massively lowers its prices to fold the cards

Tesla is definitely not doing anything like the others, and 2023 is not a year in which that will change. The yo-yo of the prices of the various vehicles of the firm of Elon Musk is a phenomenon known since forever, and after a long period of successive increases, the time for the decline has come.

The second week of 2023 saw prices fall globally, especially for the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y, which are – by far – the manufacturer’s two most popular models, ahead of the Tesla Model S and Model X.

We have already recalled the price changes in detail in a dedicated article, and as a reminder, here are the prices of the different versions of the Tesla Model 3 at the time of writing these lines:

These prices are exclusive of the ecological bonus, which is 5,000 euros for vehicles under 47,000 euros. This is therefore indeed the case for the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion, whose price to pay is 39,990 euros in its basic version (white or black, black interior, 18-inch rims), which necessarily makes it very competitive.

Competition from the Tesla Model 3

Of course, Tesla’s electric sedan has a few electric vehicles that offer a coherent alternative, with more or less high prices. We have selected five electric cars which are among the most popular in this segment, to be compared to the different versions of the Tesla Model 3.

Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen Group has many models of electric vehicles, and the Volkswagen ID.3 is often compared to the Tesla Model 3. Besides the similarities in their naming, the two electric vehicles have many points in common: minimalist interior, similar size battery, and the possibility of making it the main vehicle of a household thanks to the fast charging network which is relatively dense in Europe today.

The Volkswagen ID.3 range currently consists of three models:

• ID.3 Pro Performance First: €46,750
• ID.3 Pro Performance First Exclusive: €50,200
• ID.3 Pro S First Exclusive: €55,600

The entry-level version, the ID.3 Pro Performance First, is eligible for the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros, which makes it possible to purchase it for 41,750 euros. The latter is directly comparable to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion, which has a battery of comparable size, but has much more autonomy: up to 510 WLTP kilometers for the Model 3, against only 425 kilometers for the ID3.

The top of the range of the German manufacturer, the ID.3 Pro S First Exclusive, offers a greater autonomy for 55,600 euros (545 kilometers), but it is again more expensive and less capable than the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie at 52,990 euros (626 kilometers).

Cupra Born

A technical cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3 but with a sportier profile, the Cupra Born is an equally credible alternative to Tesla’s electric sedan. Currently, the range breaks down as follows:

• Cupra Born V: 44,500 euros
• Cupra Born VZ: 45,500 euros
• Cupra Born VZ XL: 46,500 euros

Given the difference of only 2,000 euros between the entry level (58 kWh battery, WLTP range of 426 kilometers) and the top of the range (77 kWh battery, range of 550 kilometers), it seems unwise to opt for anything other than the Cupra Born VZ XL at 46,500 euros.

In addition, the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros is applicable, which gives a price to be paid of 41,500 euros by the end customer. This allows the Cupra Born VZ XL to place itself more than 10,000 euros below the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie. In terms of autonomy/price ratio, the Cupra Born remains an excellent choice in its most capable configuration. For less, the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion offers “only” 50 km less, but much higher performance and habitability.

Renault Megane E-Tech

Renault’s electric Frenchwoman, the Mégane E-Tech, is available today in three different versions, with starting prices lower than the Tesla Model 3:

• Renault Mégane E-Tech EV40 130ch boost charge: 39,000 euros
• Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch super charge: 42,000 euros
• Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch optimum charge: 44,000 euros

These prices are exclusive of the ecological bonus, and the three versions are eligible for the maximum bonus of 5,000 euros. If the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV40 with a 40 kWh battery is hardly comparable to a Tesla Model 3, this is not the case with the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60.

With a 60 kWh battery and a 220 horsepower motor, the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 can be considered a good alternative to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion. Unfortunately, whether in terms of performance, range, space on board or even the ability to cross France in a reasonable time, the Tesla Model 3 wins hands down.

Less than 3,000 euros separate the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion from the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch super charge, and less than 1,000 euros for the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch optimum charge, which makes the American sedan very interesting for those who can afford the slight extra cost.

BMW i4

In the world of premium electric sedans, the BMW i4 is a direct competitor to the high-end models of the Tesla Model 3. Indeed, the range of the German brand is currently broken down as follows:

• BMW i4 eDrive35: €53,550
• BMW i4 eDrive40: €61,500
• BMW i4 M50: €74,900

The BMW i4 eDrive35 is thus directly comparable in terms of price to the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie, but these two vehicles still have differences in size. The battery is about 15% larger on the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie, and the WLTP autonomy is quite different: 483 kilometers for the i4 against 626 kilometers for the Model 3. The same goes for performance, since the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie shoots 0 to 100 km / h in 4.4 seconds against 6 seconds for the BMW i4 eDrive35.

So, the BMW i4 eDrive35 is rather to be compared to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion in terms of autonomy and performance, but the latter is almost 15,000 euros cheapermaking the i4 hard to justify unless you greatly enhance the more upscale interior offered by the German automaker.

Finally, the BMW i4 M50 with sports performance (0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds) and with a battery of more than 80 kWh is also no match for the Tesla Model 3 Performance at 59 990 euros. For 15,000 euros less there too, you benefit from a faster car (0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds) and with more autonomy. (547 WLTP kilometers against 519 for the BMW i4 M50).

MG4

The Chinese manufacturer MG has a habit of offering a price / performance ratio that is hard to beat. The MG4 is no exception, with a range broken down as follows:

• MG4 Standard Autonomy: 29,990 euros
• MG4 Comfort Range Scope: 33,990 euros
• MG4 Luxury Autonomy Scope: 35,990 euros

These rates are exclusive of the ecological bonus, and it is thus necessary to pay between 24,990 and 30,990 euros for an MG4, which places it all the same much lower than a Tesla Model 3 Propulsion which requires at least 39,990 euros.

Of course, autonomy and performance are less good than for Tesla’s electric sedan, and its ability to be the first vehicle in the household is not guaranteed depending on usage. But with such an aggressive price, the MG4 remains an excellent car that we can easily recommend.

A Tesla Model 3 is often the most sensible purchase

As you can see above, the choice of reason is, without exception, indeed the Tesla Model 3. First of all, the Propulsion version sweeps away the few competitors that exist, on the triple level of autonomy, consumption and price.

Only the Cupra Born manages to hold its own of the game in the most high-end version, confirming that the autonomy / price ratio of this electric is among the best on the market. The MG4 is, of course, extremely well placed price-wise, but it is important to remember thatit does not play in the same court as the Tesla Model 3 in terms of benefits.

We have already gone over the reasons why we are likely to be inundated with Tesla in 2023, and looking at the market more closely, this is even more obvious. Some brands have tried to follow Tesla’s lead by adjusting their prices, where others are trying to resist and say prices aren’t going to move anytime soon.

With prices returned to levels allowing it to be competitive, the Tesla Model 3 therefore once again becomes the most sensible choice for most buyers. On the top of the range, some may prefer a BMW i4 M50 for its services, but the bill will necessarily be higher.

By radically reducing the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has completely reshuffled the cards in the field of the electric car. These two models were already recommendable, but are really becoming essential. Should…
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