2022 Tesla Model 3 Base Powertrain: Problems, Specs, and Features

If you are a Tesla fan, you are probably considering one of the freshest Tesla models for your purchase. Are you sure about the trim you want to buy? Are you sure about the price of a certain trim with certain add-ons? Are you sure about the model that suits your needs best? We've spent months online analyzing and comparing different Tesla vehicles to write a set of articles about them.

Today, we'll be looking exclusively at the cheapest Tesla Model 3 Base trim: what kind of motor and battery pack does it come with? Is it actually good to buy? What kind of mile range can it deliver? We will dig deep and tell you if you actually need this vehicle for the money Tesla wants to get for it.

What exactly will we discuss in this article? Let's see:

• What will the Base Tesla Model 3 offer?
• How much will you need to add to get a better trim?
• What do buyers say about the Telsa Model 3 Base trim?
• How long will the Tesla Model 3 Base last?
• How fast will the Tesla Model 3 Base battery deteriorate?

Let's get started!

What does the Tesla Model 3 offer in its Base trim?

So, the Base trim for the Model 3 is the cheapest option. It comes now, at the end of 2022, for slightly more than $48,000. Be careful when you plan your budget, you will obviously want some addons that will cost some money. Including all the accessories and features you will want to add, the price of $50K seems more than fair.

OK, so what will you get for your hard-earned fifty thousand dollars? This appears to be a very hard question because what Tesla says and what actual buyers say can be very different. We'll try to be fair with you.

Here's what you are offered:

• the estimated range of the Base Model 3 is about 272 miles - not a little, but could be better;
• standard charging is at 7.6 kW while supercharging is at 170 kW;
• to charge the vehicle at home, you will need over 10 hours of time;
• rear-wheel drive is the solution for you, AWD comes with more expensive trims only;
• the 283-horsepower engine seems to be very powerful for this car, even too powerful;
• 302 lb-ft of torque also seems excessive but provides you with fun driving;
• the battery capacity is bigger than you may expect, but the latest version also increased the electricity consumption;
• so, now, you will spend about 25 kW for 100 miles of driving and it's not that little we would say;
• every mile in your Tesla Model 3 base will cost you 2.5 kW of electricity and that's an average of 0.40 USD - doesn't seem that cheap.

Well, yeah, EPA still provides some cosmic figures of the so-called MPGe. They say that the Tesla Model 3 Base will deliver about 130 MPGe. This is a feature that only EPA engineers may understand. For us, this is a ridiculous comparison of how much you would spend for petrol if your Tesla would have an internal combustion engine inside. Don't ask us to explain how they count it up.

So, the Base version is not that bad. It can go 272 miles, offers great acceleration of 5.3 seconds (0 to 60 mph), and can be charged for 10 hours from your home socket and for 20 minutes from a supercharger. Not bad at all if you don't compare it with other cars for the same price.

Why is the Base Model 3 not the most popular trim?

It's surprising that the Model 3 Base is not the most popular trim in the US. People prefer the Long Range trim that is almost $60K and is 10 thousand more expensive than the Base. Ten thousand, man! That's almost another Fiesta for you.

The thing is that most Tesla Model 3 EVs are bought with the help of loans or leasing programs. And you don't need to pay that $10,000 of additional money right away. You may just increase the monthly payment by one hundred and get a much better vehicle for yourself.

At least that is what you think when you buy one. Do you really need a longer range than 272 miles? We doubt it. If you often do interstate rides, you will not buy an electric car because it limits you. But if you just drive in or around your city, you don't need any bigger range than 272 miles. So, these 10K bucks may be spent on something else, in our opinion.

Is the Base trim that good, according to the buyers?

Well, no. Surprisingly, the Model 3 gets bad reviews from buyers and experts. About half of respondents always say they are satisfied and happy with what their new Tesla gives them. But another half of the Model 3 Base owners say that the vehicle hasn't met their expectations.

The worst thing is the contact with dealers. Once you go to any dealership, you should open your pocket and allow your money to flow to Tesla's account. They love money and don't like repairing their EVs. That's why the Model 3 gets so bad reviews.

Also, people say that the range is far from 272 miles. Most drivers say that it's about 180-200 miles if you listen to music or drive at night a lot. This is frustrating because this changes everything and probably makes you think about the more expensive Long Range version of the vehicle.

We've heard some people complaining about their Tesla dealers because every single step in the dealership will cost you money. And this is one of the most frustrating facts about Tesla currently. Yes, it doesn't matter whether you buy a Base or a Long Range model, you will still have these problems.

How long will Tesla Model 3 Base trim survive?

When it comes to lifespan, not a lot of EVs may compete with Teslas. They have optimal batteries that withstand nearly all kinds of weather. They have very reliable electric motors and other parts and units of their vehicles. This means you can rely on this vehicle even after you pass the 300,000-mile mark.

We've seen an old Model 3 with 600,000 miles on its odometer. And this is impressive. Yes, you will need to replace the battery, but nearly all the other parts in this car are very long-lasting.

Here are some things that may influence longevity:

• the battery life - after 7 years or 200,000 miles, you will probably need to replace the battery which is the most expensive unit in your Model 3;
• the body rust - unfortunately, some Tesla Model 3 are prone to rust and this will shorten the estimated lifespan of the vehicle a lot;
• water damages - any water damage may be fatal for the Model 3 because repairing its wiring after broken connections is almost impossible;
• software glitches - while your Model 3 is new and totally supported by Tesla, everything will be fine, but old cars can be a problem, you can get into trouble in 8 or 10 years.

Well, if you compare the list of possible problems with a common list for the ICE vehicle, Tesla Model 3 Base seems like a good purchase. These cars really love long lives and don't require that much maintenance.

But Tesla will try to squeeze as much money out of your wallet as possible once your vehicle is out of the warranty period. Even being under warranty doesn't mean you will have protection and no expenses. Regular maintenance will still throw some surprises at you.

2022 Tesla Model 3 Base battery deterioration

We know that the Model 3 Base uses a smaller battery than the Long Range or the Performance version of the vehicle. It means you will need to charge this battery more often. This is bad for your battery as its lifespan depends highly on the number of charge cycles. Yes, the mileage and age also affect the battery cells, but the number of cycles is vitally important.

We can also say that Tesla batteries usually live longer than the batteries in other EVs. But comparing the Base and the Long Range, the latter will live longer just because it has a bigger battery capacity and will require charging not as often as the Base model.

You can still prolong the life of the battery by following these tips:

• try not to discharge the battery less than 10%;
• don't charge up until 100%, stop charging the battery when it's 95% full;
• just stop and turn off the vehicle if it shows 3% of the battery charge, and never drive it further;
• avoid keeping your vehicle outside in winter when the temperatures are freezing cold;
• better charge your Tesla at home because superchargers will kill the battery faster.

Final words

We wouldn't buy the Model 3 Base because it doesn't seem to provide you with all it has to provide you with for almost $50K. Also, we wouldn't be the better Long Range version because of the price difference. When Tesla managed to keep the price of this vehicle under $40,000, it was a good option. Now, it's too expensive to compete with other wonderful EVs available on the market.

But that's just our opinion and we anyway recommend choosing an EV as your next vehicle.