Tesla Model 3 RWD / Standard

Why #8

• Arguably the most EV per dollar sold in America: 300+ miles and ~24 kWh/100 mi.
• Strongest on efficiency (100) and market proof (sales) (90); weakest on practicality (36).
• Sits below #7 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD mainly on charging (73 vs 52).
• Beats #9 Lucid Gravity Touring on value (86 vs 39).

Score breakdown

Weights: range 20%, value 20%, efficiency/charging/practicality/market 15% each. Arizona columns below are not in the score.

Full specs

Starting MSRP

$36,990

EPA range

321 miEPA ✓

AZ summer est.

265 mi (~100°F)

Efficiency

24.3 kWh/100 mi (~139 MPGe)

Usable battery

79 kWh EVDB

DC fast peak

170 kW

Charge port

NACS · Supercharger access

0–60 mph

5.8 s (mfr)

Drivetrain

RWD

Seats

5

Cargo

Trunk + frunk, ~24 cu ft total

Arizona ownership (energy only)

Arizona 5-year energy cost assumes 12,000 mi/yr, mostly home charging on APS R-EV overnight (11pm–5am weekdays) at $0.0847/kWh (APS R-EV tariff), ~10% charging losses, and compares energy only to a 28 MPG gas car at $3.50/gal. Insurance, maintenance, purchase price and resale are excluded. Arizona summer range = EPA range × 82.5% (Recurrent Auto ~17–18% loss at 100°F; AAA found 8.5% at 95°F). Neither figure enters the overall score. APS tariff · Recurrent · Run your own numbers

US sales

106,9622026 YTD (through Q3)

Jan–Sep 2026 US estimate vs Jan–Sep 2025, model-level (all trims combined). 2026 demand is down ~30% market-wide after the $7,500 federal credit ended Sept 30, 2025. · KBB/Cox Q3 2026 EV Sales Report (estimates as of 10/13/26)

Sources

• FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD (vehicle id 50251)
• Tesla official Model 3 page (MSRP/specs)
• KBB/Cox Q3 2026 EV Sales Report (estimates as of 10/13/26)