Lower priced Model 3 and Y

[jghall00]

They're all VERY different vehicles. For reference. I have a 2025 Equinox EV RS FWD and a 2025 Model 3 RWD.

I actually drove the Equinox three times before going with the Blazer RWD. The Equinox felt slow to me. At first I thought it was the FWD, but the AWD felt slow too. Then I thought it was the low charge level because they were all under 20%. But even when I had the dealership fully charge it was less than satisfactory. I had the same experience with the Blazer AWD when it first released, which is why it was off my radar for awhile.

But now that you mention the stronger motor being in the front, it makes sense. GM is ramping the torque delivery more gradually on those powertrains. My Focus was the same. Couldn't get leak power until after 20 mph.

If you want a tech-forward zoomy car with a great mobile app and FSD, the Model 3 is awesome. Personally I don't think I'll ever have a car without FSD again. I use it every day.

I don't think I could ever trust it and would not want to become lax. But I did ride in a Waymo recently and the experience was very impressive. So at least one company has solved self driving.

 

[alarmguy]

1. First time I saw a car offered without a radio. Deleted from the less expensive Model Y and the Model 3.
I guess doesnt matter much anymore but well, the radio is in their more expensive line up. Also half the amount of speakers and no subwoofer

2. Less expensive suspension system

3. Glass instead of panoramic sunroof

4. No autosteer, no adaptive headlights, no power folding or auto dimming side mirrors

5. No ventilated front seats, no heated rear seats, no wrap around lighting, no power adjust steering wheel

6. 0 to 60 time is slower (Model Y 6.8 seconds) - (Model 3 is 5.8 seconds) possibly due to the smaller battery.

7. Interior materials are cheaper

8. No second row touch screen

To me, much of the above deleted stuff in the less expensive models wouldnt bother me much at all except no center console storage and the cheaper interior which one would have to see to make a judgement. Much of this information came from Tesla.com and some from the source below.

Oops, wait yeah, it would bother me, the front and rear of the Model 3 and Model Y are completely different, different lighting. Very noticeable that you are driving the cheaper version.

Source - https://electrek.co/2025/10/07/tesla-releases-new-more-affordable-model-y-3-2k-more-than-last-week/

 

[dogememe]

I’ve never used the radio in any of my cars in at least the last 5 years…

 

[alarmguy]

I’ve never used the radio in any of my cars in at least the last 5 years…

I agree except in times of desperation. I prefer my iPhone/Apple Music and at times XM ... though the sound quality of XM leaves a lot to be desired. Worth noting though, the radio is included on their higher cost cars. However the lack of a radio is the least of the list in cost cutting. It's also a statement to cutting the amount of speakers by 50% and amps as well most likely.

 

[JeffKeryk]

So Tesla reacts to declining sales with a less expensive but still desirable Model 3?
Seems like a sound way of responding to the market and helping sales.
Hate to say it, but for all of the cars' flaws, to most of us Tesla remains the gold standard in EVs.

Tesla rumors surrounding cheaper EVs have been around for years. The "Model 2" was just around the corner... The "smaller Model Y" spy shots...

One thing Tesla does well is part reuse instead of new stuff. There are very few options to select making Bills of Material and procurement simpler. This all contributes to manufacturing efficiency. Of course there are many who want to pick and choose; Teslas are not for them.

I think the Model 3 Standard makes a lotta sense, the Model Y Standard not so much. Having said that, regarding the Model 3 Standard, you are getting a worse riding suspension. If you want the bigger wheels (and lose range) and/or non-free paint, you should probably get the Model 3 Premium. The $5500 gets cut in half....
Let's see what happens.

 

[jghall00]

I think the Model 3 Standard makes a lotta sense, the Model Y Standard not so much. Having said that, regarding the Model 3 Standard, you are getting a worse riding suspension. If you want the bigger wheels (and lose range) and/or non-free paint, you should probably get the Model 3 Premium. The $5500 gets cut in half....
Let's see what happens.

Or, just get a lightly used long-range Model 3. I could never understand why someone would rather buy a stripped-down version of a new car, rather than getting a used two or three-year-old model that is much nicer and that still has a lot of life left.

 

[97prizm]

Tesla released the Model Y "Standard" today and surprised the market with the Model 3 "Standard".
The Y takes a lot away and reduces the price by $5K. Not sure if this cuts it, at least IMO.
The 3 takes less away and reduces the price by $5500. This is the way to go... It is lighter with a smaller battery but more efficient so it is still rated at 321 range and sub 6 second 0-60. The biggest flaw by far, IMO, is the screen controlled seat adjustment.

Plenty of videos out there if you want detail. And Tesla pricing is, apt to change, to put it one way.
The Model Y Std is a huge seller and I don't think the strippie is worth saving the $5K. No thank you, Elon.
The 3 Std, IMO, is the best EV deal out there, if a sedan fits your use case.

Apparently the turn signal stalks are coming back to all the Model 3s. Tesla caught a lotta flak for this one; undoubtedly lost some sales. It was only a matter of time.

Alot of magazines even the big ev ones that really push the ev agenda seem to think this will be a rental spec and not popular, who knows. Did removing the unibrow headlamps truly save that much? Both side view mirrors are now manual adjustment. The one back and forth thing I've read is that some publications are saying it dropped the glass roof others have said the roof is now cloth with glass. I know that if a manufacturer changes a major component a full recertification at 1 million a test is required. That's my big gripe with Tesla, they try so hard to be different "just because. " Check out a few of the Model Y "L" reviews. It's sad when a Chinese car manufacturer can churn out a vehicle with better fit and finish, offers more interior and exterior colors at a lower price. Tesla stopped importing the model X and S into China last year.

 

[97prizm]

I actually drove the Equinox three times before going with the Blazer RWD. The Equinox felt slow to me. At first I thought it was the FWD, but the AWD felt slow too. Then I thought it was the low charge level because they were all under 20%. But even when I had the dealership fully charge it was less than satisfactory. I had the same experience with the Blazer AWD when it first released, which is why it was off my radar for awhile.

But now that you mention the stronger motor being in the front, it makes sense. GM is ramping the torque delivery more gradually on those powertrains. My Focus was the same. Couldn't get leak power until after 20 mph.

I don't think I could ever trust it and would not want to become lax. But I did ride in a Waymo recently and the experience was very impressive. So at least one company has solved self driving.

Tesla's head of autonomous driving has stated that Tesla is at least two years behind Waymo.

 

[dogememe]

Tesla's head of autonomous driving has stated that Tesla is at least two years behind Waymo.

I've been in Waymo several times and use FSD in my Tesla every day. They are fundamentally different... one is a taxi service that operates in a very narrow variety of places and relies on pre-mapped roads. Tesla FSD works literally anywhere and everywhere at any time on a cheap (ish) car that (almost) anyone can have in their driveway.

 

[PandaBear]

The biggest flaw by far, IMO, is the screen controlled seat adjustment.

Follow the airline and see what else they can cut to reduce price. I'm not sure I like the direction things are going.

 

[PandaBear]

I sometimes wonder if the designers at Tesla are even "car guys". I assume they're young people and lots of young people today don't drive, don't have a license, don't know how to drive, and don't care.

Tesla's valuation is mostly an AI (self driving) and robotics company first, and the "car" part of the company is only 40% if not even less by now in the total value.

Most of their R&Ds are in the FSD and robots these days.

 

[PandaBear]

I've been in Waymo several times and use FSD in my Tesla every day. They are fundamentally different... one is a taxi service that operates in a very narrow variety of places and relies on pre-mapped roads. Tesla FSD works literally anywhere and everywhere at any time on a cheap (ish) car that (almost) anyone can have in their driveway.

Waymo is held liable when poop hits the fan but Tesla in personal ownership using FSD is still owner's responsibility in accident. This is seen in how they choose routes in a San Francisco test I watched and whether they are being aggressive or not.

Until both of them get into a major accident each we won't know how "safe" they are relative to each other. They are likely going to be both safer than the average human driver for sure though. We would have to wait for the judge in an inevitable class action lawsuit (welcome to America) to know.

I still won't trust Tesla's confidence in going almost anywhere more than Waymo, seeing Waymo on the streets in SF way earlier and way more common for a couple of years earlier than Tesla.

 

[PandaBear]

Or, just get a lightly used long-range Model 3. I could never understand why someone would rather buy a stripped-down version of a new car, rather than getting a used two or three-year-old model that is much nicer and that still has a lot of life left.

I buy stripped down new cars over used cars with more feature all the time.

However, in the case of a longer ranged used EV that has slightly deteriorated, vs a new shorter ranged EV that ended up with the same range, I am not sure the new vs used cases would be that clear. We are not talking about having 2-3 years of lifespan used up when buying used for the same price, we are talking about the same battery lifespan in theory (because the cutoff is likely going to be the same number of miles before owners deem an EV used up).

 

[alarmguy]

Tesla rumors surrounding cheaper EVs have been around for years. The "Model 2" was just around the corner... The "smaller Model Y" spy shots...

...

They weren't rumors. It was fact.
5years ago, Sept 20th 2020 =
"Tesla today announced an upcoming $25,000 electric car enabled by its new battery cell and coming within the next three years ...
Musk also added that the new $25,000 electric car is going to come to market in about three years, when Tesla has ramped up production of its new battery cell."

Source - https://electrek.co/2020/09/22/tesla-electric-car-cheap/

This guy is a genius and con-artist at the same time.

 

[dogememe]

Or, just get a lightly used long-range Model 3. I could never understand why someone would rather buy a stripped-down version of a new car, rather than getting a used two or three-year-old model that is much nicer and that still has a lot of life left.

If you don't care about FSD, definitely a used Tesla can deliver a lot of value. But since the FSD hardware changes every few years, as an almost full-time FSD user, I'm kinda stuck leasing and upgrading every couple years. But, my hope is that in 1.5 years when my lease is up, FSD will be "solved" and HW5 will be out and "good enough" and so I can buy one, not lease, and keep it for a long time.

If it's another EV, let's say a Bolt or Prologue, yes, used is an awesome way to go, as they depreciate like 40% the first year. I have no hesitation with a good used EV with proper battery thermal management... I've had a used Volt and a used Bolt and now my BF has a different used Volt and all the batteries have been in like new condition. Although perhaps my Bolt cheated because the battery was replaced under recall so it was a 2017 car with a 2020? battery. No way I'd get a used Leaf or any other EV with air cooled batteries.

 

[jghall00]

If it's another EV, let's say a Bolt or Prologue, yes, used is an awesome way to go, as they depreciate like 40% the first year. I have no hesitation with a good used EV with proper battery thermal management... I've had a used Volt and a used Bolt and now my BF has a different used Volt and all the batteries have been in like new condition. Although perhaps my Bolt cheated because the battery was replaced under recall so it was a 2017 car with a 2020? battery. No way I'd get a used Leaf or any other EV with air cooled batteries.

Or a Porsche...or a Mercedes...or a Lucid. They all pretty much have horrendous depreciation. It's hard to calculate it correctly because of all the incentives applied to the initial purchase. But even 100K EVs are often available for well under 50K three years later.

I wouldn't buy a used Leaf either, but that's because I drove a lot. For someone doing less than 10,000 miles annually somewhere cooler, like in the Northern U.S., a used Leaf isn't a terrible option if they can get it for the right price. Even the S40 Leaf would have at least 100 miles of range after 50,000 miles driving. If the owner isn't using public chargers they could probably get by.

I drove a Focus Electric with 100 miles of range for three years and put 55,000 miles on it. I actually contemplated buying a Leaf for my daughter, but the Bolt and Niro aren't much more expensive and of course have liquid cooling.

 

[alarmguy]

@dogememe
I know nothing about them but I see the redesigned Kia Niro 2023 priced between $21,000 and $23,000 on Hertz website... they have a ton of them.
Also 2023 Bolts $17,000 by the boatload.

 

[Trav]

1. First time I saw a car offered without a radio. Deleted from the less expensive Model Y and the Model 3.
I guess doesnt matter much anymore but well, the radio is in their more expensive line up. Also half the amount of speakers and no subwoofer

2. Less expensive suspension system

3. Glass instead of panoramic sunroof

4. No autosteer, no adaptive headlights, no power folding or auto dimming side mirrors

5. No ventilated front seats, no heated rear seats, no wrap around lighting, no power adjust steering wheel

6. 0 to 60 time is slower (Model Y 6.8 seconds) - (Model 3 is 5.8 seconds) possibly due to the smaller battery.

7. Interior materials are cheaper

8. No second row touch screen

To me, much of the above deleted stuff in the less expensive models wouldnt bother me much at all except no center console storage and the cheaper interior which one would have to see to make a judgement. Much of this information came from Tesla.com and some from the source below.

Oops, wait yeah, it would bother me, the front and rear of the Model 3 and Model Y are completely different, different lighting. Very noticeable that you are driving the cheaper version.


Source - https://electrek.co/2025/10/07/tesla-releases-new-more-affordable-model-y-3-2k-more-than-last-week/

I would not have believed it possible to put cheaper suspension or cheaper seats in one of these, they are not exactly known for high quality in those areas as it is. Whats next, rubber mats and a bean bag chair.

 

[PandaBear]

They weren't rumors. It was fact.
5years ago, Sept 20th 2020 =
"Tesla today announced an upcoming $25,000 electric car enabled by its new battery cell and coming within the next three years ...
Musk also added that the new $25,000 electric car is going to come to market in about three years, when Tesla has ramped up production of its new battery cell."

Source - https://electrek.co/2020/09/22/tesla-electric-car-cheap/

This guy is a genius and con-artist at the same time.

He did it so often people are used to him overpromising by now. Eventually he did somewhat partially deliver though, a bit late but nonetheless at least partially deliver unlike those other guys.

Having said that, consider how inflation went he wasn't too far off adjusted for inflation based on the price of other commodities like copper, steel, etc. If you compare to other vehicles that people cross shop that isn't too bad either.

The days of a new $16k Corolla is long gone...

 

[JeffKeryk]

Tesla's head of autonomous driving has stated that Tesla is at least two years behind Waymo.

Waymo operates based on maps in a predefined area. Different animal.