Tesla cars represent the biggest paradigm shift in the auto industry since the Model T. The sudden realization that EVs may be the new normal has reset consumer expectations.
We are coming up on a decade since the launch of the Model S. In that time, Tesla has launched two crossovers, the Model X and Model Y, as well as a smaller sedan, the Model 3.
If you’ve made the decision you want a sedan, you now have to decide between two. It may not be as easy as you think to decide which is the best Tesla car.
The term “game-changer” has become an overused cliché. However, there isn’t a better term for the Tesla Model S. When the all-electric vehicle debuted in 2012, it put the rest of the automotive industry on notice. In fact, when the car debuted, Motor Trend named it 2013’s Car of the Year.
The Tesla Model S
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines a sedan as “large” if its total passenger and cargo volume is equal to or greater than 120 cubic feet. Competitors in the category include luxury sedans like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes S-Class.
Unlike those traditional sedans, the Tesla’s sloping rear window is actually a hatchback, which not only allows for easier cargo loading but is also the only Large Sedan that has rear-facing third-row seats.
For some, the ability to carry seven passengers, albeit two of them being small passengers, can cement their decision to buy a Model S. For others, the choice of an S comes down to range or performance.
The term “range anxiety” has been synonymous with all-electric cars, no matter how far they could travel on a single charge. The 2013 Model S launched with ratings of 140, 200, and 265-mile range options.
The latest Model S variants are rated at either 390 or 412 miles of range, meaning on road trips, your battery will likely outlast your bladder.
Another myth about electric cars that Tesla blew out of the water was a lack of performance. The first Model S Performance models were capable of 0-60 MPH times right around four seconds. For reference, in 2013, it was quicker in a straight line than a Porsche 911. The Model S has just gotten more powerful since then.
The latest of Tesla’s flagship sedan is available with a powertrain capable of 1,020 horsepower. The Model S Plaid will get you to 60 MPH in under two seconds and through the quarter-mile in under 10 seconds. Those are serious numbers that some modern hypercars can’t match.
Obviously, the Model S is fast, but hopefully, you aren’t looking at a Tesla to fulfill your Fast & Furious street-racing fantasies. Electric drivelines are also the pinnacle of luxury.
If you think a Mercedes S600 is quiet, a Model S is like being in a library, alone. Ride quality is also top-notch; an electric car with a floor full of batteries has physics on its side. With such a low center of gravity, engineers don’t have to devote as much spring rate to stopping body roll in corners.
Performance models do have a decent amount of tire noise, partly because it’s more noticeable without drive train noise covering it up. But, to get those shocking performance numbers, Tesla has to employ wide, high-performance tires; which by nature, are loud.
The Model S is receiving a styling update this year. It will look more like the Model 3 with an even more sparse dashboard consisting of a large center-mounted touch screen, an instrument pod in front of the driver. The steering “wheel” will be a flat-bottom, and topless yoke, similar to an airplane. The jury is still out on how functional this will be in the real world.
Tesla Model 3
Even with the enormous popularity of the Model S, it was obvious that for Tesla to be a mass-market success, it needed a more affordable model.
The Model S was nearly $60,000 to start, and most customers were spending far more than that to get models with higher range and better performance.
In 2016, Elon Musk announced the new Model 3 would eventually have an entry-level version with a base price of just $35,000.
The $35,000 entry-level car never materialized, but you can buy a Standard Range Plus for $40,990, which is still less than the current average new car price.
For your money, you get 263 miles of range, a 5.3 second 0-60 MPH time, and a total interior volume of 112 cubic feet. A $48,490 Long Range model gets you all-wheel drive, 353 miles of range, and a 4.2 second 0-60 MPH time.
Opt all the way up to the $57,990 Performance model for a 3.1 second 0-60 MPH time, 315-mile range, and sport suspension.
The Model 3 is nearly a foot shorter than the Model S at 184.8 inches compared to 196.0 inches. The only place it really gives up that space however is in storage. Both cars have nearly identical rear-seat legroom, 35.2 inches in the 3 and 35.4 inches in the S.
The Model 3 has 2.2 inches more headroom at 37.7 inches compared to the Model S at 35.3 inches. The trunk matters with 15 cubic feet in the Model 3 compared to a cavernous 28.4 cubic feet in the S.
The Model 3 is still a great car to drive. Roughly the same size as a BMW 3 Series, it feels much smaller thanks to better dynamics. Like the Model S, there is no substitution for a low center of gravity and centralized weight.
The Model 3, even the base model, changes direction faster than the BMW could ever hope.
And, since steering feel is a thing of the past even on sport sedans and most companies are insisting on pumping fake engine noise through stereo speakers, you don’t really feel like you’re giving up anything by going electric – unless you’re a big fan of visiting gas stations.
Which is the Best Tesla Car for You?
For most buyers, the choice between a Model S and Model 3 will come down to a couple of very simple questions. How much do I want to spend? Do I need to carry more than four passengers? The Model S starts at $79,990. Even we consider the money you will save on gas and maintenance, that is a big chunk of change.
However, if five seats just aren’t enough, you will need a Model S or look for another brand of car.
For most people, the extra range of the Model S won’t make a huge difference in the real world. The Long Range Model 3 will do over 300 miles on a charge.
If you’re curious, that will get you from the Santa Monica Pier in California to the valet of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas on one charge. For you East Coasters, that will get you from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. all the way for a hot slice at Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn, New York.
Probably less important in the real world is the straight-line performance. The slowest Model 3 does 0-60 MPH in around five seconds; that’s quick enough for any use case. The temptation to get a Model S Plaid, one of the fastest cars for sale today is strong; but is that why you’re buying an electric car?
For most people, the best choice of Tesla cars is going to be a Model 3 and probably the Long Range instead of the Performance.
It will be as fast and as high-tech as just about any other sedan on the market. Test drive a few internal combustion-powered competitors, then test the Model 3, it will feel like the future.
Photos: Tesla