You’ve probably heard about Tesla’s new, very aggressive pricing policy in early 2023. While most new customers welcome this price drop, many competing manufacturers are likely to suffer. Let’s check out the market to see how other EVs stack up against the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
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Tesla ended a very unusual year in 2022 in France, with a Tesla Model 3 that was too expensive to recommend, and a Tesla Model Y Propulsion that came in strong, at a lower price than its little sister. 2023 has arrived, and with it a wave of massive price cuts, restoring some order to the range of Elon Musk’s firm.
First we will remember the different prices of the Tesla sedan, before comparing them with other proposals on the market. Whether you are interested in a Tesla Model 3 or any other model currently available from other electric vehicle brands, you will be able to compare the different offers from Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, MG or even Cupra that are in the same segment.
Tesla massively lowers its prices to double the cards
Tesla is definitely not doing anything like everyone else, and 2023 is not a year that changes that. The yo-yo of the prices of the different vehicles of Elon Musk’s firm is a phenomenon that has always been known, and After a long period of successive rises, the time has come for the fall.
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 do not include the ecological bonus, which is 5,000 euros for vehicles under 47,000 euros. This is, therefore, the case of the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion, whose price to pay is 39,990 euros in its basic version (black or white, black interior, 18-inch wheels), which necessarily makes it very competitive.
The concurrence of the Tesla Model 3
Of course, Tesla’s electric sedan has electric vehicles that offer a coherent alternative, with more or less high prices. We have selected five electric cars that are among the most popular in this segment, to compare them with the different versions of the Tesla Model 3.
VW ID.3
The Volkswagen Group has many models of electric vehicles, and the Volkswagen ID.3 is often compared to Tesla’s Model 3. In addition to the similarities in their name, the two electric vehicles have many points in common: minimalist interior, battery of similar size and the possibility of turning it into the main vehicle of a household thanks to the fast charging network, relatively dense in Europe today. in day.
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 euros
- ID.3 Pro S First Exclusive: 55,600 euros
The entry version, the ID.3 Pro Performance First, benefits from the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros, which allows it to be purchased for 41,750 euros. The latter is directly comparable to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion, which has a comparably sized battery, but has much more range: up to 510 kilometers WLTP for the Model 3, compared to only 425 kilometers for the ID3.
The top of the range of the German manufacturer, the ID.3 Pro S First Exclusive, offers greater autonomy for 55,600 euros (545 kilometers), but 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 is broken 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, 426 kilometer WLTP autonomy) and the top of the range (77 kWh battery, 550 kilometer autonomy), It seems reckless to me 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 be more than 10,000 euros below the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie. In terms of range/price ratio, the Cupra Born remains an excellent option in its most capable configuration. For less, the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion offers “only” 50 km less, but much more performance and habitability.
Renault Megane E-Tech
Renault’s French electric, the Mégane E-Tech, is available today in three different versions, with lower starting prices than the Tesla Model 3:
- Renault Megane E-Tech EV40 130ch boost charge: 39,000 euros
- Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch supercharge: 42,000 euros
- Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch optimum load: 44,000 euros
These prices do not include the ecological bonus, and the three versions benefit from 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, it 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 amount of 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 supercharge, and less than 1,000 euros separate the Renault Mégane E-Tech EV60 220ch optimal load, which makes the American saloon very interesting for those who can afford the small additional 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. In fact, the range of the German brand is currently broken down as follows:
- BMW i4 eDrive35: 53,550 euros
- BMW i4 eDrive40: 61,500 euros
- BMW i4 M50: 74,900 euros
Thus, the BMW i4 eDrive35 is directly comparable in price terms to the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie, but these two vehicles still have size differences. The battery is about 15% larger in the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie, and the WLTP range is quite different: 300 miles for the i4 vs. 390 miles for the Model 3.. The same goes for performance, with the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds compared to 6 seconds for the BMW i4 eDrive35.
So, the BMW i4 eDrive35 is rather comparable to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion in terms of autonomy and performance, but the latter is almost 15,000 euros cheaperWhich makes the i4 hard to justify unless you greatly enhance the more upscale interior the German automaker has to offer.
Finally, the BMW i4 M50 with sporty features (0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds) and with a battery of more than 80 kWh is no match for the Tesla Model 3 Performance for 59,990 euros. For 15,000 euros less there you also benefit from a faster car (from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds) and with more autonomy. (547 kilometers WLTP compared to 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
- Comfort Range MG4 Scope: 33,990 euros
- MG4 luxury range Scope: 35,990 euros
These rates are exclusive to the ecological voucher, and therefore, you have to pay between 24,990 and 30,990 euros for an MG4, which also places it well below a Tesla Model 3 Propulsion that requires at least 39,990 euros.
Of course, range and performance are less good than Tesla’s electric sedan, and its ability to be the first vehicle in the household isn’t guaranteed based on usage. But Priced so aggressively, the MG4 is still an excellent car that we can easily recommend..
A Tesla Model 3 is usually the most sensible purchase
As you can see above, the choice of reason is, without exception, the Tesla Model 3. First of all, the Propulsion version destroys the few competitors that exist, in the triple level of autonomy, consumption and price.
Only the Cupra Born manages to hold its own of the game in the highest-end version, confirming that the autonomy/price ratio of this electric car is among the best on the market. The MG4 is, of course, extremely well placed price wise, but it’s important to remember thatdoes not play on the same field as the Tesla Model 3 in terms of benefits.
We’ve already gone over the reasons why we’re likely to be swamped by 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, while others are trying to resist, saying prices won’t budge any time soon.
With prices returned to levels that allow you to be competitive, Therefore, the Tesla Model 3 once again becomes the most sensible option for most buyers.. At the top of the range, some may prefer a BMW i4 M50 for its services, but the bill will necessarily be higher.
By slashing the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has completely shuffled the cards in the electric car arena. These two models were already recommended, but they are really becoming essential. Ought…
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