Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — BMW 3 Series or Tesla Model 3?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Tesla Model 3 is about $17,713 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — BMW 3 Series or Tesla Model 3?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — BMW 3 Series or Tesla Model 3?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the BMW 3 Series better than the Tesla Model 3?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	BMW 3 Series	Tesla Model 3
MotiveGrid Score	68	79
Cost of Ownership	56	76
Powertrain	64	71
Driver Assistance	6	30
Livability	61	57
Safety	95	93
5-Year Cost to Own	$66,602	$48,889
Depreciation (5-yr)	$25,968	$23,045
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$9,942	$3,034
Insurance (5-yr)	$16,580	$12,590
Maintenance (5-yr)	$4,080	$1,125
Tires (5-yr)	$1,550	$1,875
Financing (5-yr)	$7,222	$5,565
Registration (5-yr)	$1,260	$1,655
Starting Price	$48,000	$36,990
Horsepower	255 hp	271 hp
MPG (combined)	35 mpg	—
Electric range	—	321 mi
Cargo volume	16.9 cu ft	16.6 cu ft
Seating	5	5
Towing capacity	3,500 lbs	—
Drivetrain	RWD	RWD

BMW 3 Series vs. Tesla Model 3

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

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