Tesla is quickly becoming a legacy automaker. Although lacking the century-long history of GM or Ford, Tesla is one of the oldest electric car brands.
The cheapest Tesla car is competitive with other electric vehicles, allowing consumers to choose their EVs based on factors other than price. This means the Tesla Model 3 could be an excellent option when you want a small electric car, while the Model Y brings compact SUV qualities to your driving experience.
Could one of the four Teslas be right for you?
2023 Tesla Model 3: The most affordable Tesla
The Tesla Model 3 is the cheapest model from this brand, offering competitive pricing across the range. The Model 3 is a Top Safety Pick+ winner from the IIHS and earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA. This safe and impressive electric car is eligible for the Federal EV Tax Credit, reducing the price by up to $7,500 for qualifying owners. The price range for the Model 3 is $40,240 to $53,240 covering three trims.
You’ll find a lean and sparse interior when you step inside the Tesla Model 3. This small Tesla has a large touchscreen in the center of the dashboard to handle most of the controls required in the cheapest Tesla car.
The Model 3 is the cheapest Tesla car, and it has up to 358 miles of driving on a full charge in the Long Range model. Both the Long Range and Performance models include AWD to send power to all four wheels for better traction and stability. The Model 3 is where affordability meets practicality in the EV world.
2023 Tesla Model Y: Could this small Tesla EV be right for you?
The Tesla Model Y is second on the list of the longest-range electric SUVs ranked by Kelley Blue Book. The Model 3 and Model Y share a platform, allowing the Model Y to be a small and useful electric SUV. The shared platform ensures that the Model Y achieves the same safety ratings as its sibling, hitting top marks with the IIHS and NHTSA. The Tesla Model starts at $47,490 and goes up to $54,490 across three trim levels.
Surprisingly, the Tesla Model Y offers three rows of seats, despite its small footprint. Legroom in the third row is tight, but this area is still useful for small children or short drives across town. The second row brings up to 41.8 inches of legroom, making passengers comfortable. The second and third rows fold flat to open up 72.1 cubic feet of space behind the front seats in the 5-seat models, while 7-seat versions have 67.9 cubic feet of cargo room.
2023 Tesla Model S: Long-range luxury electric car dominance
The 2023 Tesla Model S isn’t the cheapest Tesla car, but the pricing fits in the luxury electric vehicle class. Only the Lucid Air brings a longer driving range than the Model S, which includes a maximum of 405 miles of EV driving on a single full charge. Only two versions of the Model S exist, the Standard, which starts at $88,490, and the high-performance Plaid model, which costs $108,490.
When a performance EV is on the menu, the Tesla Model S Plaid is extremely quick, rocketing you to 60 mph in only 2.0 seconds, which is staggeringly fast. The Model S has interesting qualities, including the option of a regular steering wheel over the new Tesla yoke-style system. When you want a luxury EV with the highest level of tech, the Model S is what you’ll want to drive.
2023 Tesla Model X: Fast and futuristic Tesla fun
Although far from the cheapest Tesla model, the Model X is an impressive luxury electric SUV that captures the hearts and minds of those in its presence. The Model X brings luxurious comfort and a minimalistic cabin with three rows of comfortable seats to be a fantastic family SUV. The Tesla Model X, similar to the Model S, has two trims. The Standard trim starts at $98,490, while the Plaid trim costs $108,490.
In addition to the luxury qualities, the Tesla Model X is the longest-range electric SUV on the road today, with up to 348 miles of electric driving range on a single charge. This Tesla SUV, along with the other models, can recharge at any of the many Tesla Supercharging stations located throughout the country. Although the price of the Tesla Model X isn’t low, it could be worth every penny you spend on it.
Currently, these four Tesla models make up the entire vehicle lineup. The new Tesla Cybertruck is on the way, which will give this electric car brand five great EV models to choose from.
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