Tesla made a big deal about its Model 3's base price of $35,000. The price makes it attractive to a whole new range of buyers who couldn't afford its more expensive Model S or Model X. While it's certainly true that a Model 3 will be cheapest way to get into a brand-new Tesla, let's be clear that there will be practically zero Model 3s at its base starting price of $35,000. Here's why.
Choosing any color other than black raises the Model 3's price by a grand. If you want an upgraded interior package, that will cost you additional $5,000. To be fair, a package that includes upgraded 12-way power heated seats, open-pore wood trim, a higher-end audio system, and a center console with docking for two smartphones is very attractive at that $5K price point. It's such a good deal, in fact, that we'd be surprised if most Model 3s weren't so equipped, which raises the non-black electric vehicle to $41,000. Another of Tesla's well-publicized features is Autopilot. Read more