How much is the Cheapest Tesla?

One of the most popular automotive brands has quickly risen to the top over the past decade. Tesla is an electric vehicle titan and jumped on top early. Now, every other automaker is attempting to catch up with their new EV lineup. However, those in the market for a Tesla might find that some models are a little expensive. How much is the cheapest 2022 Tesla model, and which one is it?

The cheapest Tesla you can buy right now is the Tesla Model 3. According to their website, you can order a new rear-wheel-drive base Model 3 for a price of $48,190 with destination before any incentives. That's $2,000 more expensive than it was earlier this year following the latest round of Tesla price increases.

Tesla's lineup has grown over the years, and the brand's cheapest model now starts at nearly $50,000. However, changes in electric-car incentives could make the brand's popular EVs less affordable. Here's what we found if you're looking to buy the cheapest Tesla model in 2022 amid a growing field of electric vehicles.

As the base model of a four-car lineup, the Model 3 is the cheapest Tesla, may be an affordable option for some, and it's the only Tesla that comes in under the $50,000 mark. If you're looking for simplicity and a comfy ride in an eco-conscious package, this may be the Tesla for you.

Many EVs on the market right now qualify for deals and rebates for clean energy drivers. Unfortunately, Tesla models are no longer eligible for the Federal EV tax credit, which used to save buyers up to $7,500 but, depending on where you live, you may be eligible for state-level rebates, such as $750 in California Clean Fuel Reward.

This price, like many things about Tesla vehicles, can fluctuate throughout the year. Tesla tends to roll out upgrades and trim level changes that can affect the price of a model with some regularity. This means the price of a given car can vary depending on what has gone into production. This shirking of traditional model year changes is just one thing that makes Tesla, unlike other auto manufacturers.

The cheapest Tesla Model 3, is an EV sedan with a sleek interior and a comfortable ride. The 2022 model sits on a new lithium-ion-phosphate battery and a 113.2-inch wheelbase. It provides a spacious interior dominated by the car's central control panel. 47.2 inches of legroom provide comfort upfront, though passengers in the back are maybe a bit cramped.

The base trim RWD Tesla 3 comes with heated front seats, navigation, Bluetooth, and USB ports as standard, but you won't find AM radio, Sirius satellite, Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay compatibility. To mitigate boredom, though, the central display provides a surprising number of entertainment options for a vehicle.

When it comes to battery life and performance, some trims are peppier than others, but they all get to 60 mph quickly. The all-electric car gets an estimated 262 miles (estimated) of range per charge on the base trim. Bumping up to the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Model 3 in Long Range bumps you up to 334 miles of range, but also bumps your purchase price over $50K.

For comparison, the next cheapest Tesla you can purchase, the Model Y now goes for over $64,000. If you have your sights set on a Tesla, the Model Y gives you more range and more power, plus AWD, but opting for the Model 3 is by far the least expensive. You may be able t

o find a standard range Model Y for less than advertised on the Telsa website, but you may have to contact a dealer and order off-menu – just another one of Tesla's quirks.

What you need to know about the Cheapest Tesla

•Tesla is one of the world's most popular car manufacturers and one of the largest auto companies by market value.

Models 3 and Y are the most popular Teslas on the market.

•A standard Model 3 and Model Y with no upgrades is fairly comparable to some of its gas-powered and electric counterparts.

•Teslas do not require trips to the gas station or regular maintenance like oil changes.

Some Tesla owners can take advantage of electric vehicle tax breaks to offset the cost of ownership.

How much cheaper is the Model 3 than other 2022 Tesla models?

According to Inside EVs, for the 2022 model year, every Tesla got a little more expensive. However, the cheapest model in the lineup stayed that way and is significantly more affordable than other options. The Model 3 Long Range AWD got a little more expensive in the last week. Thankfully, that’s the mid-range version of the sedan, so the base model is just as affordable. Additionally, the top-trim Performance model did not see a price increase.

The 2022 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus base model starts at $46,490. While it isn’t as affordable as the base model of a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry, there’s a lot to like about the Model 3. On top of equipment and technology, every Tesla model is sleek and sporty. Not to mention, performance is at the forefront of this electric vehicle. Higher trim levels, of course, perform even better.

Tesla Model 3:

RWD: up  to$2,000 (or 4.4%) from $44,990 to $46,990

Long Range AWD: up  to$2,500 (or 4.8%) from $51,990 to $54,490

Performance: up  to$3,000 (or 5.1%) from $58,990 to $61,990

Tesla Model S:

Long Range AWD: up  to$5,000 (or 5.3%) from $94,990 to $99,990

Performance: up  to$6,000 (or 4.6%) from $129,990 to $135,990

Tesla Model X:

Long Range AWD: up  to$10,000 (or 9.5%) from $104,990 to $114,990

Performance: up  to$12,500 (or 9.9%) from $126,490 to $138,990

Tesla Model Y:

Long Range AWD: up  to$3,000 (or 5.0%) from $59,990 to $62,990

Performance: up  to$3,000 (or 4.6%) from $64,990 to $67,990

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk noted a few days ago significant inflation pressure. The question is whether it means that soon even the entry-level Model 3 will be above $50,000.

Tesla hasn't appeared to have suffered from its price hikes over the years, as the Model 3 was the world's best-selling electric vehicle in 2021, with about 540,000 units sold. Since introducing the Model 3, Tesla became the world's most valuable automaker, only years after facing questions of whether it would survive as a business.

But the price difference for what is considered to be the entry-level Model 3 appears to be a deviation from Tesla's original plans. (Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.)

Musk said in a 2013 CNBC interview that the automaker would create a car that priced "on the order of $35,000." Tesla unveiled the Model 3 in April 2016, with Musk saying that "In terms of price, well, of course, it will be $35,000

Tesla began Model 3 deliveries in July 2017 with more than half a million reservations for the $35,000 vehicle. But Tesla did not deliver its first Model 3s at the $35,000 price until April 2019.

The hardware of the $35,000 Model 3 matched a $39,500 version of the vehicle, but Tesla used software to limit the battery's range and disable the seat warmers. The $35,000 Model 3 also shipped without Autopilot, Tesla's driver-assist software, which is standard on the cheapest Model 3 today. Now, the most affordable Model 3 has 52 more miles of range and a slightly higher top speed, 140 mph vs. 130 mph. Aside from price, the only apparent disadvantage of today's most affordable Tesla is a slightly slower 0-60 mph time, 5.8 seconds vs. 5.6 seconds. The $35,000 vehicle couldn't be purchased online either, which seemed to nudge customers toward buying a more expensive vehicle.

"It's like slightly more inconvenient to buy, you just have to make a phone call or visit a store," Musk said in a 2019 call with investors.

Musk described as early as 2006 that Tesla planned to first build a sports car, then an "affordable car," and then an "even more affordable car."

Musk recalled the plan at Tesla's battery day in 2020. He described the Model 3 and Model Y as having become "mass-market premium vehicles."

While no $35,000 Model 3 could be bought then, Tesla promised even lower pricing.

"It was always our goal to try to make an affordable electric car," Musk said. "I think probably like about three years from now we're confident we can make a very compelling $25,000 electric vehicle."

Musk said in January 2022 that Tesla wasn't currently working on a $25,000 car.

"At some point, we will," Musk said. "But we have enough on our plate right now."

How much does it cost to charge the cheapest Tesla?

It will cost around $7.65 to charge a Tesla Model 3. Depending on the variant, this is between 3 and 4 cents per mile. If you own a Tesla Model S, you can expect to pay about 3.7 per mile. A full charge will cost $15.29 in total.

Why you need to buy the cheapest Tesla

Buying a Tesla Model 3 or Y without any extras is fairly reasonable when you consider the cost of some of the comparable gas engine vehicles, notably:

No More Stopping for Gas

Tesla owners are bound to notice the biggest savings come from never having to fill a gas tank. Model 3 owners can travel 353 miles on a single charge while the estimated range for the Model Y is 326 miles.1011 The Model 3 comes with a 54 kWh battery, while the Model Y has a 75 kWh battery. The average cost to fully charge a Model 3 is under $8. The Model Y, on the other hand, costs just under $12 to fully charge.

Let's compare that to the most affordable sedan and SUV listed above: the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz GLE. This BMW's 330i model has a combined city/highway fuel efficiency of 30 MPG while the GLE 350's combined fuel efficiency comes in at 22 MPG.1314

Let's say the average cost of gas is $3.27 per gallon. At 15,000 miles per year and 55% of driving done in the city, the BMW 3 Series will cost $1,635 each year while the GLE 350 will cost $2,230. This translates to 10.9 cents per mile compared to 14.9 cents for each, respectively.15

Another benefit of plugging in a Tesla instead of fueling up is the peace of mind that comes from knowing each morning that the vehicle is ready to go. No more planning to stop at the gas station, no more standing in the cold or smelling gasoline fumes—just plug in at night, unplug in the morning and the battery is full.

Maintenance Savings

The maintenance projected for Telsa vehicles is far less compared to gas-powered vehicles because their electric engines have far fewer moving parts than regular internal combustion engines. Batteries are guaranteed for eight years.