Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The Jaguar I-PACE.
- I've driven the Tesla Model 3 sedan, the Jaguar I-PACE compact crossover, and the Tesla Model X three-row SUV.
- The vehicles vary quite a bit in capabilities, appointments, and price.
- But in the end, I think the Tesla Model 3 is the best car.
This is going to be a slightly unusual comparison, but it isn't my fault.
As I've noted before, Tesla has a segmentation problem. Here at Business Insider, when we want to match up compact crossover SUVs, we can find two similar vehicles from different brands. But when it comes to all-electric cars, it's a different story.
The Tesla Model 3, for example, could take on the Chevy Bolt - and I have compared the vehicles. But the Bolt is currently the only true long-range EV on the market that sells for under $40,000. Tesla isn't yet making the $35,000 version of the Model 3, so you have to point out that the available Model 3 is a premium/luxury car, while the Bolt is a mass-market offering.
A larger issue is that because Tesla is only selling three vehicles and has to tweak them in various ways - amenities, self-driving system, total range - to serve buyers at different economic levels, it's challenging to manage good direct comparisons with anybody else's cars.
Making matters even trickier is the arrival of a bunch of EVs from luxury automakers over the next few years: the Porsche Taycan, the Audi eTron, the Mercedes EQC, and so on. Everybody is kind of doing their own thing.
The Jaguar I-PACE is a case in point. We sampled it last year. The Tesla vehicle it should match up against is the forthcoming Model Y crossover, but the Model Y isn't yet being produced. Still, the I-PACE is on sale, so if you're shopping electric, chances are you'll give it a look.
So here's the idea: I'll compare the Jag against the Model 3, which is cheaper, and the Model X, which is pricier. I know which vehicle I like best, but I'll try to set it up so you can make the best choice for your needs.
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