For the last few years, the Tesla Model 3 has been at the forefront of the rise in electric vehicles, and for all the right reasons. With its strong safety rating, excellent range, and advanced technology, the Tesla Model 3 is often regarded as the best choice for anyone who wants to make the leap from gas to electric.
If you have been on the fence about the Tesla Model 3, looking at this list of the 11 best reasons why you should purchase one today is likely to tip you in the right direction. Let’s get into it!
Quick Facts: Tesla Model 3
| Price | Starting at $39,990 MSRP |
| Range | 272-315 miles |
| Charging Speed | Up to 44 miles per hour on Level 2 charger Up to 200 miles in 15 minutes on Supercharger network |
| Top Speed | 140-162 mph |
| 0-60 speed | 3.1 seconds (Performance) |
| Cargo Volume | 19.8 cubic feet |
| Federal Tax Credit | $3,750 for RWD, $7,500 for Performance |
| Seating | Up to 5 passengers |
| Features | Enhanced Autopilot, Full Self-Driving Capability |
Say Goodbye to Gas
If there is one reason and one reason alone to pick up the Tesla Model 3, it’s that you can say goodbye to gas forever. Tesla makes it very clear that it considers long-term savings over gas as part of the best ways to show customers the value of its vehicles. Even as charging prices can vary at home and at a Supercharger based on how you charge, weather conditions, etc., it’s almost always guaranteed that it will be cheaper than a comparable gas fill-up.
On average, as of the end of 2022, the cost of a 12-gallon sedan filling up with regular gas is right between $45 and $50. If you were only charging your Tesla Model 3 at home, you may not even spend this much with the increase in electricity. What’s more is that you may have to fill up your gas engine multiple times a month, sometimes more than once a week, so the overall cost benefit of not having to fill up with gas ever again quickly becomes clear.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
It’s time to bid adieu to the idea of ever needing to book an appointment for an oil change as soon as you pick up your Tesla Model 3. While the Tesla Model 3 isn’t completely free of maintenance, you are absolutely not worrying about it in the same way as you are with a gas-powered vehicle. Oil changes, filters, fluids, belt replacements, and so much more can go wrong with a gas-powered engine.
Even the brakes on a gas-powered automobile can quickly grow in cost, while the Tesla Model 3 uses regenerative braking, and with that comes the possibility that you may never need to worry about brake pads with your Tesla Model 3. Tesla Model 3 batteries have an 8-year warranty but are meant to last for close to 20 years.
According to Tesla, you only need to worry about checking fluids every two years, replacing the A/C desiccant bag every six years, and replacing the cabin air filter every two years. With the exception of rotating tires every 6,250 miles, you are all but absolved of many of the long-term ownership costs that come with owning an internal combustion engine vehicle.
Top Safety Scores
Considered one of the safest vehicles on the road since the moment it was tested by the NHTSA and IIHS, the Tesla Model 3 should feel very good while driving. The five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is notable as the U.S. government’s authority on vehicle safety.
The overall front, side, and rollover ratings all receive a five-star score, and there is nothing about the Model 3 the NHTSA showed concern over. Furthermore, the NHTSA has also indicated that Tesla Model 3 owners have the lowest probability of an injury in a collision out of the 900 cars they have tested over the years.
Similarly, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, has awarded the Tesla Model 3 with a Top Safety Pick+ score, its highest rating. Most important is that the IIHS has indicated that, throughout their testing, they have never had an instance in any Model 3 crash test where the battery exploded on impact. As this is often regarded as one of the biggest potential risks with an electric vehicle, it’s good to know that the IIHS supports Tesla’s claim that these instances are incredibly rare.
Supercharger Network
Many naysayers who attempt to strongly argue against the purchase of electric cars have hinged a lot of their arguments on the lack of a robust charging network. Tesla is out to change that perception, and with its Supercharger Network, they are doing exactly that.
As of April 2023, Tesla reached more than 45,000 Supercharger stalls worldwide and over 17,000 in the U.S. This number is spread across 5,000 locations around the world where Tesla customers account for more than 1.5 million Supercharger charges every week.
On top of all of these locations, there are close to 1,700 Supercharger stations in the U.S. alone, which are dedicated for use by Tesla owners. The most important thing with Superchargers is that they will quickly power up the Tesla Model 3 up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes under optimal weather conditions.
Infotainment
Giving up gas forever may be the single best reason for purchasing a Tesla Model 3, but a close second (sorry safety!) is the infotainment experience. With the launch of the Tesla Model 3, they have changed what drivers can imagine around a dashboard forever with the introduction of a single 15.3-inch display. For the most part, with only a few exceptions, every aspect of the Tesla Model 3 is controlled by the touchscreen.
The first pane, the one on the far left, is mostly focused on your vehicle itself, what gear it’s in, and how you can open or close the trunk and frunk. Windshield wiper control also exists in this space, while the right-hand side of the display focuses on a map of where your Tesla Model 3 is located. You’ll see other aspects on the screen like your current battery status, time, and external temperature, as well as a host of other apps you have installed.
It’s these apps that may be among the most fun parts of Tesla Model 3 ownership as you can install everything from AA games to play while charging to YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Facebook, Gmail, and so more. This is so different from any other vehicle not named Tesla and yet the transition has become so fluid that it is likely to become the way of the future for other automobile manufacturers. Even Hyundai and Kia with the Ioniq 5 and EV6 have started to go all-in on larger displays.
Over-the-Air Updates
Working alongside the touchscreen, the idea that the Tesla Model 3 can receive over-the-air updates to stay current with its software is just awesome. Tesla already has a well-established history of supporting its vehicles with new features and or bug fixes with dozens of software updates over the years. Even the introduction of the beta software for Full Self-Driving Capability was delivered through an over-the-air update. These are not small updates either as many of these updates can be very sizable, and yet this is the best way to deliver them, and just about every other EV manufacturer has already begun emulating this fantastic part of Tesla Model 3 ownership.
Autopilot
While the jury is still out on when self-driving cars will become more than just a Hollywood movie plotline, Tesla is certainly attempting to lead the way with Autopilot. The inclusion of both Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability in the Tesla Model 3 gives way to a future where the driver is in a vehicle as a backup to AI taking care of the driving.
Even without self-driving, Enhanced Autopilot has some awesome features as part of its $6,000 price of admission. Smart summon with your Tesla Model 3 when parked is just so cool, and you can do it all from a smartphone app which makes it even more fun. The same is true with Autopark, which is an especially helpful software feature for anyone who worries about properly fitting into tight spaces.
Cabin Overheat Protection
This is a wonderfully nifty feature on the Tesla Model 3 and one that makes you wonder why no manufacturer has tried to popularize it before. Coming in handy in especially warm climates or summers everywhere, you can turn on Cabin Overheat Protection which keeps the inside of your Tesla Model 3 from getting too hot during warm days. Activating up to 15 minutes after you exit your Tesla Model 3, Cabin Overheat Protection works for around 12 hours once you’ve exited the car or until the battery drops below 20%.
Another fun perk for Tesla Model 3 owners is Dog mode, which allows you to keep a pet in the vehicle during quick stops while maintaining a cool temperature inside the car. There is even a sign that comes onto the touchscreen that assures passing pedestrians the dog has air and is in perfectly cool conditions. It’s one of the small perks that come with Tesla Model 3 ownership.
©canadianPhotographer56/Shutterstock.com
Cameras (Sentry Mode)
As part of your Tesla Model 3, you have a total of eight cameras surrounding your vehicle. While this is partially due to anyone who wants to utilize features like Enhanced Autopilot, Sentry Mode is another benefit. When Sentry Mode is activated, if anyone approaches your Tesla Model 3, motion detectors will immediately start camera recording while any movement is taking place. For anyone who has ever had someone accidentally scratch or dent your car while parked, this is going to come in handy if you can identify the person or if you need to make an insurance claim.
Price Matters
Even though Tesla can and has randomly adjusted the price of the Tesla Model 3 up or down, it remains a fantastic value for the range you receive. As Tesla Model 3 vehicles are thought to lose no more than 5% of their total value a year, it vastly outweighs more luxury models, which can lose upwards of 20% in value each year. When you factor in how long the Tesla Model 3 battery lasts, this could mean that your car still has at least half of its value many years down the line. This is great news for anyone who wants to resell and upgrade or just purchase another new Tesla Model 3 down the line.
Range is King
The biggest factor that has many people worried about jumping into the deep end with an electric vehicle purchase is range. To that end, the Tesla Model 3 outperforms just about every other comparably priced sedan or SUV on the market. The RWD model, which has an April 2023 starting price of $39,990, can go upwards of 272 miles of range on a single charge.
This number jumps to 315 miles of range with the Performance AWD model and, when the upgraded Long Range model returns in the second half of 2023, you are likely going to receive well above 330 miles of range on a single charge.
Compared to models like the Kia EV6, which can only hit a max of 310 miles with RWD, or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 which can only hit 303 miles, the Tesla Model 3’s 315 miles before its Long Range model shows why it’s the current range champion.
Wrap Up
The Tesla Model 3 is by no means a perfect car as it has had plenty of issues along the way. Multiple recalls, battery troubles, and quality control have all shown the Model 3 is imperfect. Still, with its range, low entry price, awesome features like Sentry Mode, and over-the-air updates, it shows what’s possible with an EV when an automobile company dedicates itself to advancing the industry forward.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©canadianPhotographer56/Shutterstock.com.
