The 2022 Tesla Model 3 delivers an overall enjoyable driving experience. It's nimble and quick, and its minimalistic interior design looks modern and upscale. Plenty of range and ease-of-charging are also high points. Build quality can be a bit of a dice roll, but ultimately there's a lot of upside to the Model 3 for the price.
12-volt lithium-ion battery instead of the previous lead-acid battery
Sound-reducing rear windows
Quicker processor for the infotainment system
Part of the first Model 3 generation introduced for 2017
What is the Model 3?
The Model 3 is Tesla's entry-level vehicle and the most popular EV in terms of worldwide sales. It's also our favorite in its class, earning Edmunds Top Rated status. The Standard Range Plus base model has an estimated range of 263 miles, while the Long Range version offers an impressive 353 miles. It's important to note, though, that real-world range has fallen short of these figures in Edmunds' testing.
For 2021, the Model 3 received several updates, including improved range, more exterior aesthetic choices, a power trunklid, improved interior materials and sound insulation. It's not yet clear what we can expect for the 2022 model year, but the legion of internet prophets are predicting everything from a carryover of this year's model to a full redesign.
Edmunds says
In the absence of any legitimate information on the 2022 Tesla Model 3, we'd recommend picking up a 2021 model since it seems unlikely we'll see a full redesign. And in many cases, Tesla keeps its vehicles fresh with over-the-air software updates. Keep checking this page for all the latest information.
246 milesThe range for a used 2022 Tesla Model 3 is estimated to be 246 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.
EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 246 miles.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.
Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Indio, California. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.
NACSNorth American Charging Standard (NACS). Supports Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging.
Plug Type
10.4 hrs
240V Home ChargingEstimated total charging time when using a 240V outlet. This is either a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet used for appliances, for example a clothes dryer.
EV batteries should be kept at 30-80% charged to extend battery life.
8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.
According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.
Estimated battery warranty remaining is 5 years or 58,000 miles for this car.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
$22,600
Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.
Restrictions:
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Replace Your Ride program offers income qualified residents a standard grant of $10,000, or a total of $12,000 (for residency in a disadvantaged community census tract). Offer is for scrapping a qualifying model year 2010 or older vehicle and replacing it with the purchase of a battery electric vehicle. Residents under the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD cannot participate in the Clean Cars 4 All program offered through the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP). To qualify:
Income eligible applicant must currently reside within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD.
Application approval and authorization letter required prior to purchase of a 2018 or newer vehicle with less than 100,000 miles (but not to exceed the scrapped vehicle mileage) from an authorized participating dealer.
Max vehicle price: $65,000.
Scrapped vehicle must be owned and operated by applicant in CA for the past 24 months.
Limited to one incentive per person per IRS household for the lifetime of the program. Previous participation in other CARB funded programs may affect eligibility.
Additional information:
For the $10,000, applicant must have an income at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Level as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For the $12,000, must also reside in a disadvantaged community census tract.
Participants may receive up to $2,000 for the installation of a Level 2 charger.
Participants who do not want to replace their old vehicles may obtain a $7,500 credit to be used towards car-sharing options like Zipcar, Turo, or vRide, the purchase of an e-Bike, or a discounted public transit pass.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) offers two pathways for applicants: the Clean Cars 4 All route or Financial Assistance route. The path outlined here is for the Financial Assistance, offering a standard down payment assistance grant of $7,500 towards the purchase or lease of an 8 year old or newer battery electric vehicle. Scrapping and replacing a vehicle is not required. Check with your local Air District for any available programs that may take precedence over the DCAP programs. To qualify:
Income eligible applicant must be a California resident.
Application approval required prior to purchasing or leasing from an authorized participating dealership.
Maximum purchase price of replacement vehicle not to exceed $45,000.
Previous participation in other CARB funded programs may affect eligibility.
Additional information:
For the $7,500, must have an income at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Level as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Participants may qualify for an additional charging grant, choosing between $2,000 for the purchase and install of Level 2 home charging equipment or $2,000 for a public charging card.
Fair financing may be available, capped at $45,000 with an interest rate no more than 8%.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.
For the vehicle to qualify:
Price cannot exceed $25,000.
Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) through the Residential EV Charging Incentive program offers income qualified residents a rebate of up to $500 towards the cost of purchasing an eligible Level 2 (240V) charger. Covers up to $500 or the amount paid for the charger, whichever is lower. To qualify:
Income eligible applicant must currently reside within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD.
Participant must show proof of income eligibility by either showing participation in CARE or FERA utility assistance rates or having a current CalWORKS or TANF membership.
Must be an eligible new Level 2 charger that is wall-mounted, hard-wired and permanently installed by a licensed electrician for use for a minimum of three years.
Limit of one rebate per individual, household, address, and/or vehicle (VIN).
Restrictions: Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Edmunds visitors receive a $100 discount when they contract with Treehouse for their home charger installation. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
EV ownership works best if you can charge at home (240V outlet) This typically means a 240V home installation, or other places your car is parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice.
Adding a home charging system is estimated to cost $1,616 in This is an estimate for your area. Using your address and the answers you provide, Treehouse can provide a more accurate price.
Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Learn moreEdmunds customers receive a 10% installation discount and 4% smart charger discount. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
2022 Tesla Model 3 Performance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD)
I have driven the Model 3 over the last three years.
The Pros: This is my first EV and I have loved driving the vehicle: its fun, responsive and the dual motor, extended range makes highway driving a breeze. While I have the self park, summon and self drive features, I have not used them much. Charging has been fine since I have a 220V connection at home and and overnight charge gives … me a week's worth of city commuting. A few times I have used the Supercharger and it has been efficient. Software updates happen every two to three weeks which are not always trouble free, beware of some glitches that occur .
Cons: TESLA service STINKS! Do not expect any kind of help or assistance from their customer service number since no one answers the phone. When you do get a response, they insist on doing everything via the Tesla app, which in my opinion has a rating of zero. If you are selling a luxury car, at least provide a representative one can talk to! If your car has malfunction or repair issue, you cannot take it to the nearest service center since they will not see you without an appointment (again via the App)
In summary, its a good car. However, Tesla has to drop its hubris if it wants to compete in the EV marketplace. While they had a head start 5 years ago with hardly any competition, BMW, Audi, Ford and even KIA/Hundyai have fully loaded vehicles with all the whizz bang features at competitive prices (and excellent customer relations)
3-year owner of a Model 3
5 out of 5 stars
Tony, 11/22/2023
2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 08/22 (electric DD)
The best car ever. I can't be geared to tell you how happy I am with this car it does have a bit of a learning curve and if you have full self-driving you have to adjust from driving to piloting. That being said I can't understand why everybody doesn't at least have one. I use my car locally hardly ever drive it more than an hour or two away from home I leave every morning with a full … charge I do not have the advance charging system I just use the trickle charger that runs off of 110 it cost me $0.12 for every 5 mi in Florida and it charges at 5 mi per hour My daily drive is 50 miles to and from work so overnight it puts a full charge back on the car.. The fact that I never need to change oil or touch another gas pump or take time out of my day to even stop and get gas over an entire year adds up to be an amount of time I get to use elsewhere. There are so many benefits in having an EV it's hard to understand until you've actually owned one and a factor in the things that you do not have to do now.
Beyond My Expectations
5 out of 5 stars
Jay Johnson, 09/04/2022
2022 Tesla Model 3 4dr Sedan (electric DD)
I previously drove a 2016 Audi A6 which I absolutely love. But, I can honestly say the Tesla is the best car I have owned. Don’t get me wrong, the Audi is a magnificent vehicle but driving the Tesla is so much fun.
After driving an EV, it is hard to imagine going back to a gas propelled vehicle. The Instant power, the regenerative breaking, and the crisp handling was beyond my … expectations.
The seats are extremely comfortable and the interior provides plenty of room for a small vehicle. The technology is very easy to use and I like the one screen controls everything. The plain looking interior feels comfortable, clean and I like the minimalist styling. Although it is minimalistic, it feel luxurious.
Driving is a blast, even in the standard model the acceleration is instantaneous and quick. The handling is crisp and you feel connected to the road. The instrumentation is easy to read and the technology is intuitive which is impressive. I will admit I was not excited about the table that controls everything but I now find it very ingenious.
As I continue my ownership I will update my review if necessary.
UPDATE REVIEW
I am 5K into my ownership of my Tesla Model 3 Standard. As a realtor, I spend a lot of time behind the wheel. I will start with the Pros
PROS
This car is a blast to drive. I love the combination of comfort, sportiness, and luxury. I wasn’t sure if I would like the simplicity interior but I love it. I personally like one screen operating everything. There is a learning curve but it is pretty quick.
My last car was an Audi A6 and I enjoy driving this car more than my Audi and I loved my Audi. Handling is very crisp and you feel in total control behind the wheel. The ride isn’t as soft as many luxury cars but the combination of speed, handling, and comfort are perfect in my opinion. Acceleration is instantaneous no matter what speed your going. Not having a transmission makes for seem less acceleration.
The technology is fantastic. The controls are easy to use once you get acclimated. The sound system is exceptional even in the base trim. I did add a subwoofer in the trunk since the base model does not come with one. Movies sound like a movie theater. The cruise control is the best I have experienced and the ability to respond to voice commands is very impressive and you don’t have to “train” it to recognize your voice. The navigation system is also the best I have experienced. The range is more than adequate for my driving habits.
Cons
When I approach my vehicle I often have to turn around so the car can read my card in my wallet for it to unlock. For some reason, my phone won’t always open the doors for me. That is a bit annoying but no big deal. Every blue moon when using cruise control it disengages which is annoying It doesn’t happen often but it is something I noticed. Many have complained about the fit and finish and I have noticed a few flaws.
Overall, this is the best vehicle I have owned. I love it. Like most cars it isn’t perfect but it exceptional.
First Impressions Don’t Last
3 out of 5 stars
Bill B, 12/25/2023
2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 08/22 (electric DD)
When I first received this car back in February 2022, I was absolutely in love with it. It was a little rocket ship and was so fun to drive. I ordered my favorite color combination blue with white interior and couldn’t find enough excuses to drive. A mediocre fit and finish was my only complaint, but I thought I could live with that. No more expensive premium fuel and ridiculous German … car service bills!
As time went on, though, my love affair with the car started to wane. I noticed a sore lower back and neck after long drives, something I never had with my previous car, an Audi A4. And the suspension is merely OK, bordering on rough sometimes. Wind and road noise, decent at lower speeds, can become slightly worse than average at highway speeds. I started to notice the poor fit and finish more, especially on the interior, as small creaks and rattles settled in and the windshield never completely defogged correctly. The car’s range has decreased slowly but noticeably over time.
At this point, I merely like the car enough to keep it, mostly because I fear I would not get a good trade-in due to oversupply in my area. I still love the performance and the tech is great (I never had a problem with auto steer but I don’t abuse it). The sound system is pretty decent (though not as good as my old Audi’s Bang and Olfusen set-up). But my back should not feel punished when driving more than 100 miles and I don’t have confidence that the scratchy plastics and seats will hold up well over the long haul. The paint job is subpar, and the car just doesn’t feel premium. I find myself missing my Audi, something I would have never guessed would ever happen when I first got that beautiful, shiny rocket ship.
Would I buy it again if I had to do it all over again? Probably not honestly. I’d opt for a plug in hybrid from a brand that holds its value and feels premium and doesn’t give me a back-up.
The 10 EVs With the Most Range | These Are the Longest Range EVs Available | Top EVs With the Best Range
Got range anxiety? We're here to help! There are many EVs on sale today that have plenty of range — the distance you can travel on a single charge — to alleviate even the most intense range anxiety. We've compiled our top 10 range-leading EVs, based on Edmunds' real-world testing. From affordable to high luxury, Edmunds' Lauren McCay takes you through the top 10 EVs with… the longest range!
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