Great MT comparo on Leaf vs. Bolt vs. (gasp) Model 3

[Laconian]

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/tesla/model-3/2017/the-automobile-2-0-chevrolet-bolt-ev-premier-vs-nissan-leaf-sl-vs-tesla-model-3-long-range/


0–60: The Model 3 buries the other two. It takes 4.8 seconds to hit 60 mph versus the Bolt's 6.3 and the Leaf's 7.5. As for entering a long freeway on-ramp, the Tesla's quarter-mile time was 13.4 seconds at 104.9 mph, whereas the Bolt's was 14.9 at 92.9, and the Leaf's was 15.8 at 87.6 mph.

...

In terms of handling, it's a blowout. At Hyundai's winding track handling venue, the Bolt was pointy and nimble, but the Leaf felt softer, less powerful, and nose-heavy. The Model 3? It handled like a four-door Porsche Cayman (albeit loaded with luggage).

"I thought the Model 3's handling felt terrific, and its rear-wheel drive was noticeable by its lack of steering drama on hard acceleration," Brooks said. Added Hong: "The Leaf understeered heavily on the track, and its chassis felt dated."

...

The Bolt appared to win the comparo, but MT's site is such an ad-infested POS that I literally couldn't scroll to the end of the conclusions because the site crashed while loading its 99th autoplaying video ad, and bad site PTSD has kept me from reloading the site.

[2o6]

But you can't buy a Model 3.

[2o6]

I mean, the Model 3 looks ok, but it looks more like driving an aerodynamics test mule versus an actual car. The Leaf and Bolt are real cars made in factories, I get the gist the Model 3 is a more like body-in-white prototype.

I mean, most Tesla stores don't even have a Model 3 on display to see.

[giant_mtb]

But you can't buy a Model 3.

Zing!

[GoCougs]

Model 3 wins:

Taking all these factors into consideration, our finishing order in this first-ever comparison test of affordable long-range electric vehicles: Tesla Model 3 first, then the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf. True, this is a $60,500 Model 3—but some say magic is priceless. Hey, Tesla fans, are your hands still up?

Not written all well IMO particularly in how they arrived at the winner. One guy liked the Bolt because of better regen/throttle function, the other the Leaf for styling, and a third the Model 3 for (pseudo) autopilot and Supercharger network. Of course buck down the Model 3 to Bolt/Leaf pricing and it loses range, (pseudo) autopilot and acceleration, which makes the Bolt the winner, as I had predicted some time ago.

[CaminoRacer]

Judging by MT's Facebook page, they're receiving some hefty bags of cash from Tesla.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Model 3 wins:

Taking all these factors into consideration, our finishing order in this first-ever comparison test of affordable long-range electric vehicles: Tesla Model 3 first, then the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf. True, this is a $60,500 Model 3—but some say magic is priceless. Hey, Tesla fans, are your hands still up?

Not written all well IMO particularly in how they arrived at the winner. One guy liked the Bolt because of better regen/throttle function, the other the Leaf for styling, and a third the Model 3 for (pseudo) autopilot and Supercharger network. Of course buck down the Model 3 to Bolt/Leaf pricing and it loses range, (pseudo) autopilot and acceleration, which makes the Bolt the winner, as I had predicted some time ago.

60K???? Weren't these things suppose to be in the 30k range?

[MX793]

60K???? Weren't these things suppose to be in the 30k range?

With the government subsidy (which is going away... wonder how many pre-orders will be cancelled after that), with the smaller and shorter range battery pack, without the auto-pilot... yeah, I think they came out to like $35K.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

With the government subsidy (which is going away... wonder how many pre-orders will be cancelled after that), with the smaller and shorter range battery pack, without the auto-pilot... yeah, I think they came out to like $35K.

GOTCHA....

[MrH]

So the $35k Model 3 actually costs $60k, likely isn't financially viable to produce, and isn't available to purchase. Why is this even in a comparison test?

[CaminoRacer]

So the $35k Model 3 actually costs $60k, likely isn't financially viable to produce, and isn't available to purchase. Why is this even in a comparison test?

they're receiving some hefty bags of cash from Tesla.

[r0tor]

Love the haters

[CaminoRacer]

Love the haters

Maybe you should take a home equity loan out on a Tesla Semi.

[12,000 RPM]

Love the haters

Have you no shame brah

[Tave]

Tesla doubled its Model 3 production over Oct+Q3 in November (granted not a hard target) and thousands of customers recently received confirmation that delivery is slated for the next 30 days. I doubt they can hit their 5,000/month target but even half that would be significant.

Some of you are walking out onto a beach emptied by a tsunami.

[12,000 RPM]

Thousands of customers received delivery? Oh, confirmations.

[2o6]

Some of you are walking out onto a beach emptied by a tsunami.

Like Deep Impact? That girl died on the beach. 

[Tave]

Thousands of customers received delivery? Oh, confirmations.

Almost a thousand have to date. We can only hypothesize what they'll do in December until after New Year when we have the data in hand. I realize a large part of this is just people taking a gas at them for stumbling over, yet again, another production deadline, but I wouldn't doubt their ability to scale the volume. They produced 20-25K Model S's and Model X's during Q3 when the Model 3 release was laughably floundering; I thought it was apparent from the fact that the first models were employee-only that they weren't finished with the final shakedowns.

[MrH]

They had to grind to even get to that production output with the S and X. Much of their processes are manual. Model 3 has to scale to multiple times that. They just aren't there

[MX793]

Almost a thousand have to date. We can only hypothesize what they'll do in December until after New Year when we have the data in hand. I realize a large part of this is just people taking a gas at them for stumbling over, yet again, another production deadline, but I wouldn't doubt their ability to scale the volume. They produced 20-25K Model S's and Model X's during Q3 when the Model 3 release was laughably floundering; I thought it was apparent from the fact that the first models were employee-only that they weren't finished with the final shakedowns.

Aren't the only "customers" to get Model 3s Tesla employees?  I don't believe a single one has been delivered to the general public.

[Tave]

They had to grind to even get to that production output with the S and X. Much of their processes are manual. Model 3 has to scale to multiple times that. They just aren't there

Right now their target is 5K/month which is right at their S/X output. If they can't "grind" out to get to the latter, I don't see why they couldn't do the former.

[Tave]

Aren't the only "customers" to get Model 3s Tesla employees?  I don't believe a single one has been delivered to the general public.

The initial run through Oct only went to employees. Coincidently we didn't see much substantive 3rd party press. Public deliveries were reported in November and we've seen more footage as a corollary. Now large numbers of customers are receiving correspondence to prepare for delivery. It appears to be happening, 6 months behind schedule.

[MrH]

Right now their target is 5K/month which is right at their S/X output. If they can't "grind" out to get to the latter, I don't see why they couldn't do the former.

Their goal is 500k cars in 2018. 5k/month might be the goal for the next month, but that's long off from where they need to get to.

[r0tor]

Their goal is 500k cars in 2018. 5k/month might be the goal for the next month, but that's long off from where they need to get to.

Hard to reach - absolutely

Not sure how you can hate on it when their established competition can only manage feeble efforts to sell 15k  boring ass econoboxs per year. 

[CaminoRacer]

Because those competitors sell millions of cars each year. EVs are just a side project for them, not their core business (as of right now)

[2o6]

Hard to reach - absolutely

Not sure how you can hate on it when their established competition can only manage feeble efforts to sell 15k  boring ass econoboxs per year.

Selling units isn't the same as scaling up to produce units....

[r0tor]

Selling units isn't the same as scaling up to produce units....

It's only a problem if you have a product people actually want to buy... Unlike the Bolt and Leaf

[r0tor]

Because those competitors sell millions of cars each year. EVs are just a side project for them, not their core business (as of right now)

Are you agreeing then the Model 3 is the only one that is not a half ass attempt of an EV?

[CaminoRacer]

Are you agreeing then the Model 3 is the only one that is not a half ass attempt of an EV?

Nope. Chevy's side project is better than the Model 3. For $35k you can get slightly better range, better build quality, better dealer network, and most importantly - you can drive home with one today.

[r0tor]

Nope. Chevy's side project is better than the Model 3. For $35k you can get slightly better range, better build quality, better dealer network, and most importantly - you can drive home with one today.

You can get one because nobody wants them.

The model 3 and Bolt are roughly the same price when equally equipped.  The 3 just goes faster, handles far better, is rwd, and doesn't have a $14k sibling that looks like it inside and out.