This Tesla Electric Car Snuck Onto the List of Best-Selling Cars for 2023
It’s no surprise that the lineup of Tesla electric cars on the market today is a hot commodity. The high-voltage marque has already sold over a quarter of a million of its budget-friendly SUV, the Model Y. As a result, the Model Y is one of the best-selling vehicles in America. However, the high-riding Y isn’t the only Tesla EV with bragging rights; the Tesla Model 3 made the 2023 short list of the best-selling sedans and hatchbacks of the year so far.
The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling electric car of 2023, but it didn’t outsell its SUV sibling
The Tesla Model 3, the California EV marque’s most affordable nameplate, dethroned the Toyota Corolla for the No. 2 spot among the best-selling cars of 2023 so far. Of course, popular SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Tesla Model Y still outsold the Model 3.
| Car make and model | 2023 sales YTD (units) | 2022 sales (units) |
| Toyota Camry | 217,975 | 295,201 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 173,501 | 195,698 |
| Toyota Corolla | 165,693 | 222,216 |
| Honda Accord | 152,202 | 154,612 |
| Honda Civic | 146,881 | 133,932 |
Still, the Model 3’s sales successes put it on track to outsell its previous model year by a wide margin. Should the baby Tesla continue its hot streak, it will likely sell over 210,000 units by the year’s end. However, the Model 3 has a long way to go to catch up to popular SUVs, trucks, and the current best-selling car on the market, the Toyota Camry.
What is the best-selling all-electric car?
While it’s not a car by the strictest definition, the 2023 Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle nationwide. Tesla has sold an estimated 284,498 Model Y SUVs in 2023 so far, per GoodCarBadCar. Regarding electric cars, the Model Y’s diminutive sibling, the Model 3, takes the cake.
| Model | 2023 sales YTD (units) | 2022 sales (units) |
| Tesla Model Y | 284,498 | 225,799 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 173,501 | 195,698 |
| Tesla Model S | 22,500 | 90,473 |
| Tesla Model X | 17,501 | 24,099 |
How much is the cheapest electric car from Tesla?
Tesla’s cheapest electric car is the 2023 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, a single-motor base model for the nameplate. The Rear-Wheel Drive trim starts at $28,490 after a tax credit. However, fans can push those figures above $40,000 with the whimsically thrust-happy Performance trim.
What is the average cost of a Tesla electric car?
On average, a new Tesla Model 3 starts at $28,490 in 2023. However, Tesla points out that the sub $30,000 price tag on the Model 3 reflects the value after the $7,500 federal tax credit, an incentive that applies to certain electric vehicles.
| Model | Starting price (new) | KBB value (3-year-old model) |
| Tesla Model Y | $32,890 | $33,761 |
| Tesla Model 3 | $28,490 | $28,909 |
| Tesla Model S | $71,090 | $49,929 |
| Tesla Model X | $68,590 | $47,714 |
Due largely to the models’ popularity, Tesla models from the last few years hold their value well. For instance, the post-tax credit price of a new Model 3 is almost $400 less than the average Kelley Blue Book (KBB) value for a personal vehicle in “Good” condition.
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