Tesla makes Car and Driver Top Ten list

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Any link to the full list?

You have to make it to the end of the article for that.

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“For a car as capable, satisfying, and useful as this Model 3, that's an outstanding deal. And it makes one wonder why most other automakers are losing big money on much more expensive EVs.” Pretty much perfectly sums up the state of Tesla and the rest of the ev industry.

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Model 3 is much more satisfying to drive. Source: own both. The things I hate about Tesla mostly include build quality (seems to be getting slightly better), and the service experience. Also, that their used values plummet (model Y better here).

You don't own a "refreshed Model Y."

If anyone is curious, here is the full list: \* Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing \* Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing \* Chevrolet Corvette Stingray/E-ray \* Honda Accord \* Honda Civic \* Lucid Air Pure/Touring \* Mercedes-Benz E450 \* Porsche 718 Boxter/Cayman \* Subaru BRZ \* Tesla Model 3 Long Range

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What a complete cluster of a collection of cars that have nothing in common apart from the number of wheels.

Valid point. But the height, weight, and power are unlikely to change, and these are the most important determinants for driving character. There’s only so much you can do to combat physics.

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It’s weird half of these specify trims, and half are just models.

I have to add that for families and outdoorsy types the extra space of the Y makes it a perfect Tesla (X too pricey & stupid doors exclude roof racks).

I don’t know what most people prefer. But a model 3 performance is heaps of fun, and handles significantly better than any Y. Even the rear wheel drive model 3s have entertaining handling. The Y is just tall and flat. It gives a strange, disconnected sensation while doing any spirited driving. On a trip? I love the Y. Around town/ daily driving? Model 3, please.

Car & Driver’s about face on the M3 is fairly significant. They also upgraded the Model 3 score to a “10/10” and now say it’s the best EV sedan available. The exact same car has had a lower score (I think it was 8) since the C&D review of the Highland refresh first appeared earlier this year. Unclear why they suddenly changed their mind and their score. I would also say that C&D has been overly critical of the M3 & MY for years. C&D preposterously ranks the Y 8th in its category, behind the Chevy Equinox EV and the Nissan Ariya. Possible explanations for the lack of Tesla love could be 1) Tesla is not a C&D advertiser; 2) Tesla is highly disruptive to traditional auto and thus to C&D’s business model; 3) nostalgia for gas vehicles & legacy auto; and 4) Tesla doesn’t cater to traditional media outlets to the extent that legacy automakers do.

The ones that specify trims are the ones with distinct trim differences. Like the Blackwing is the performance oriented version of both Cadillacs, the Pure is noted probably for its price, and the Model 3 is being noted as not the Performance, probably also because of the price difference

Their "review" appeared earlier this year but it was vastly the same as the pre-highland review with a couple lines tacked on describing the highland changes. I think they hadn't actually gotten to test one and they were just generically updating the review based off of the new details of the car, and the new review reflects them having actually tested it

All new cars plummet in value

updating the review without testing the product first…. ok…. what kind of braindead logic is this

Your... distinction didn't really explain it tho? The Boxster/Cayman are completely different models (albeit on the same chassis/drivetrain) with GT4/GTS models that have entirely different 6 cylinder n/a motors from the base 4 Cylinder Turbo. "Honda Accord" represents a base turbo 1.5L, a 2.0L Hybrid and a PHEV drivetrain all totally different in driving character but they get mentioned as simply Honda Accord. To try and understand I went back to C&D's site to see and their list isn't as exclusive as u/EVOD562 stated. It does not specify the Corvette Stingray/E-Ray (Simply says Corvette), Lucid Air Pure/Touring (simply says Lucid Air). It does still specify the Blackwing Caddy's and the Tesla M3 LR? Which I don't understand because everything they say that makes the Long Range model great also exists in the Performance and Base models... [10Best Cars for 2025](https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a62988657/10best-cars-2025/) I still don't understand why 3 of their 10 specify a trim and the rest are all a model line?

Historically, this has been intentional, and you have to open the articles and read through them to see which specific models they give the award to. For example with the Civic they very intentionally gave it to the entire model line because they state that all of the models are great enough to be on the list. Same with the Accord. The lucid pure is there for value reasons and they've only added the Tesla lr rwd because the other trims aren't as good of a value. The blackwing Cadillacs are a great example of this because their regular versions are deeply unexceptional cars while the blackwings are exceptional.

Yes, they did, they used a privately owned one as they have for all of their Tesla reviews. Tesla does not have a media fleet of vehicles like every other car maker.

Musk probably bought his way in

Sorry, I fell asleep.

Ok, I think this helps a bit. And on their 10-best summary they explain the criteria: >The winners are those that best fulfill their intended mission, deliver value to their buyers, and spark driving joy. So they articulate a specific trim if the other trims don't meet the criteria, or leave it across a model if all trims carry that ethos. That being said, it's still pretty hard to understand, because the Civic line has a HUGE price disparity. The base model starts at $24k while the Type R, which was specifically mentioned in C&D's Civic article, is $46k. Is it really worth DOUBLE the others in the civic line from a "value" perspective? If they make sweeping generalizations about the Civic lineup as a whole, why would the Model 3 performance be left off? Or even the dual motor? They are more expensive but only 30% or 12% more respectively. Why exclude them? Especially considering a majority of the accolades they gave to the M3 LR also apply to the LR AWD and Performance: \- Battery capacity increase \- EPA Range improvements \- Upgraded interior \- Interior space \- Sharp and accurate steering \- Interior noise level reduction

I don’t know what you are responding to

It’s crazy how there are subreddits specifically dedicated to hating Tesla. People really have nothing better to do.

Pretty sure we're going to see much more positive press about Tesla now that Elon has influence on government funding and investigative functions.

The thing is that in the model 3 it is not possible to sit 4 tall adults (like 6ft) while in the model Y it is possible. Also the trunk space is amazing. The model 3 is great, but you loose a lot of practicality.

Ehh. Hit a pothole in a Model 3.

On purpose? I mean I’ve hit a few on accident. So far no dented wheels or ruined tires, even with the 20” low profile rims

Model 3 trunk space is MASSIVE if you include sub trunk and frunk (“froot” for you English types). Much more storage than a BMW 3 series, for example, IMO. Yes I wouldn’t want to have three copies of myself in the model 3 at the same time, but I don’t think it’s ever happened. I do have the Y in case I need more room, but for daily driving, I very much prefer the model 3.

I often take other people with me in the car and I personally would feel bad if they are cramped in the back. I do understand though that it is not important to everyone. While the trunk space is big in the model 3, the actual shape of it limits it much.