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You’ll see a lot of consumer sites that rate vehicles. And other sites, like MotorBiscuit, will use information about certain cars from those sites for determining things like reliability, quality, comfort, and more. But it’s rare to find one brand or vehicle that rates at the top of each site’s list of whatever. But we found six consumer sites that have all deemed the Tesla Model 3 as being the brand with the highest owner satisfaction rating. 

There is a driver’s education site that amalgamated ratings that is called Zutobi. In doing research, it discovered that for owner satisfaction in both Europe and the U.S., Tesla scored the highest on four different consumer sites. Those sites are Autotrader, Edmunds, HonestJohns, and Parkers. It did this for its annual “The Global Happy Motorist Index.” 

How did the Tesla Model 3 score on these sites?

Consumer Reports least reliable SUVs for 2022 include the Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y electric SUV and Model 3 electric vehicles in line | Getty

These are the scores garnered by the Tesla Model 3; AutoTrader average rating of 4.5 out of 5, Edmunds average rating of 4 out of 5, HonestJohn average rating of 5 out of 5, and Parkers gave it an average of 4.6 out of 5. But in our research, a fifth and sixth site also scored the Model 3 the highest for its most recent satisfaction ratings. The Model 3 scored 777 points out of 1,000 as compiled by JD Power. The Tesla Model Y came in second at 700 points. 

And Consumer Reports rated the Model 3 in the top position for its Most Satisfying Report. The Model S came in third, and the Model Y was fourth. And the Model X was also in its top ten list. 

While Consumer Reports praised the Model 3, it still found faults. It has never been fond of any of Tesla’s controls. That’s because all of the controls function through the center-mount touchscreen. And nearby cars driving close by are displayed on that same screen, which distracts drivers.

What were some dislikes?

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the safest EVs with great ratings.
Tesla Model 3 EVs at the Shanghai factory | Getty

While it liked the seating and the room in the Model Y, it didn’t like the Model 3’s rear seat. It calls it “too low and uncomfortable.” But looking at the time to charge and range, it exceeds any EV made to date. So the Model 3 is overwhelmingly the vehicle with the highest customer satisfaction ratings. 

Especially if you’re looking for an EV, which most are due to the escalating price of gas, the Model 3 is the one to shoot for. Used ones are popping up in more quantities as leases expire. But between the post-pandemic conditions for new and used cars and gas prices, right now might not be the best time to buy. 

New 2022 base Model 3 sedans cost less than used ones with 15,000 to 40,000 miles. However, Tesla prices went up today across the board, so if you’re thinking about buying new, consider ordering soon as prices so far have increased numerous times in 2022.