Which Tesla Model 3 Trim Is Best? Here’s Our Guide

Read around our site a bit, and it'll be obvious we're fans of the Tesla Model 3 sedan. Not only does it hold the top spot in our rankings of electric luxury compact cars, but the Model 3 is also our favorite compact luxury sedan (as of this writing), rated above the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. It's the cheapest Tesla you can buy, and it still delivers generous range, strong safety ratings, and impressive performance.

But even if you've decided you want a Model 3 over a Model Y or a BMW i4, there's still one more decision to make. Tesla offers three trim levels for the Model 3: base rear-wheel drive, Long Range, and Performance. Each variant provides strengths and weaknesses in terms of cost, range, and athleticism; stick around while we spell out the pros and cons of each Model 3 and which trim we think is best. Not much has changed recently with the Model 3, save that it's switching from Intel Atom to AMD Ryzen processing chips to help upgrade its infotainment touchscreen and other digital interfaces.

If you're in the market for Tesla's most affordable EV, it may be worth holding out for its rumored refresh. We'll keep that page updated as we learn more.

This is the entry-level Model 3—the cheapest Tesla you can currently buy. The rear-drive model was priced as high as $48,190 as of March 2022, but Tesla has undone some of those increases, dropping the out-the-door MSRP to $40,240. With the new $1,390 destination charge and a mandatory $250 order fee, the least expensive Model 3 is now priced at $41,880. This is the only single-motor variant of the Model 3, and its electric power and torque are routed through only the rear wheels. Tesla claims the entry-level Model 3 will scoot from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 mph. Plus, even this base model is EPA-rated at 272 miles of electric range.

The entry-level Model 3 variant comes well equipped, too, with all the same standard feature content you'll get on more expensive models. There's a colossal 15.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system at the center of the interior. Basic Autopilot—which includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring—is standard.

The central difference between the standard and Long Range versions of the Model 3 is the latter's second electric motor. In addition to the rear motor, Long Range and Performance versions of the Model 3 include a front motor for dual-motor all-wheel drive.

The Model 3 Long Range is pricier than the standard range model before paint and interior options, but there are notable benefits—in addition to AWD traction—to spending the extra dough. First off, range jumps by more than 30 percent to 358 miles. The Long Range is quicker than its little sibling, too, hustling to 60 mph in a claimed 4.2 seconds. Autobahners and speedoholics will also be pleased to know the Model 3 Long Range tops out at 145 mph. It had started at $59,190, a big leap from its current price of $48,880.

The Model 3 Performance is Tesla's equivalent to a BMW M3 or a Mercedes-AMG C63. One of our staffers has spent a year with a Model 3 Performance, and when we tested that car, it launched to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. That's quicker than either of the aforementioned German competitors, not to mention our former long-term C8 Corvette.

A Model 3 Performance isn't cheap, though. It's now priced at $54,880 with destination—significantly cheaper than the $64,190 Tesla had been charging for one. That said, dropping the extra cash yields superior acceleration and a claimed top speed of 162 mph, plus standard 20-inch wheels, lowered suspension, performance brakes, and a carbon-fiber rear spoiler. The Model 3 Performance is also the only variant to offer a Track mode with improved cooling and regenerative braking, torque vectoring, and relaxed stability control. Those prone to range anxiety may be better suited to the Long Range, as the Model 3 Performance is EPA-rated at 315 miles on a full charge.

Each of these models have their merits, but our money would go to the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive Model 3. Few other electric cars come close to what the Model 3 offers in terms of the performance and driving experience, and 272 miles of range with RWD should be plenty for folks who live in places with decent charging infrastructure and temperate weather. That said, the Long Range is perfect for drivers who want more traction and more time between charges, and the Performance variant is a riot if you can swing the sticker price.