Tesla Model 3: Top European Rivals You Should Consider

The Model 3 remains among the top electric sedans in Europe. However, competitors like BMW, BYD, Polestar, Zeekr, and others provide robust alternatives.

Tesla is going through the most difficult year of its recent existence. Even though its two more affordable models, the Model 3 and Model Y, are still popular, buyers are reconsidering buying one because they don’t like Elon Musk. The Tesla boss’ foray into politics and his support of President Trump is having a profound negative effect on sales that’s especially visible in Europe.

Individuals are currently demonstrating against Elon Musk across numerous European nations, urging potential automobile purchasers to avoid supporting Tesla. In certain regions, this has led to a decline in sales of up to 50%, a trend mirrored in Tesla’s first-quarter sales figures when compared with the previous year.
global sales drop of 13%
in the first quarter.

If you were considering buying the cheapest Tesla, the Model 3, which starts at €39,900 before incentives,
it’s still a great car
One of the top choices. Despite having a compact battery, the Model 3 offers 318 miles (512 km) of range. For an additional cost of €5,000, you can opt for the long-range rear-wheel-drive version of the Model 3, providing enhanced power and increasing the WLTP range up to 436 miles (702 km).

The Model 3 Highland update tackled numerous previous problems, particularly enhancing ride comfort, even though
It doesn’t handle as precisely when driving.
As previously mentioned, Tesla went so far as to make
the Model 3 Performance
It now resembles a genuine high-performance sports sedan (unlike previous versions) due to distinctive styling, sporty bucket seats, and several essential upgrades. The Model 3 Performance has become even more impressive, offering great value at €57,900 in Europe, particularly when you consider its acceleration capabilities.

We understand your hesitation about purchasing a Tesla in Europe and we’ve compiled a list of alternative options for you. This includes some highly capable electric vehicles from China that aren’t sold in the U.S. A few years back, when looking for an equivalent to the Model 3, the main contender was the Polestar 2; however, despite being somewhat larger and a hatchback, it didn’t quite measure up as a true competitor. Now though, there are multiple mid-size electric cars available in Europe with a variety of appealing choices making this market intensely competitive.

Polestar 2

The Polestar 2
It’s a classic in the midsize sedan category, having remained popular for almost half a decade since its release. Despite maintaining its original appearance from around 2020, Polestar has implemented various internal enhancements that aren’t noticeable unless you compare an earlier model directly with the most recent one through side-by-side driving tests.

In 2023, the significant update for the Polestar 2 involved switching the base model from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive. Additionally, it received an increase in power and improved handling. These changes enhanced the driving experience, making it notably more dynamic compared to previous versions.

The battery capacity was boosted from 78 kilowatt-hours to 82 kWh, which extended the single-motor long-range model’s WLTP range to 394 miles (634 kilometers). This configuration features a 299 horsepower engine capable of reaching 60 mph in 5.9 seconds; adding a second motor brings the total output to 421 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time reduced to 4.3 seconds. For those seeking more performance, the optional Performance Package increases power to 476 horsepower and cuts the zero-to-sixty time down to just four seconds, maintaining a claimed range of 367 miles (590 kilometers) according to European testing standards.

You can purchase one in Europe for as little as €50,000, though this price includes the smaller 69 kWh battery, which delivers lower performance at 272 horsepower and offers an estimated WLTP range of 321 miles (516 kilometers). If you opt for the high-end version, expect to pay approximately €66,000; however, prices may vary slightly based on your location within Europe.

BMW i4

Photo by: InsideEVs

BMW sells a lot of EVs around the world, and Europe isn’t an exception. Its i4 is a strong seller, and it offers exactly what you’d expect from an electric 4 Series Gran Coupe. It drives well, it has a top-notch interior that is well built, feels expensive and has decent range too.

The base i4 eDrive35 costs €57.500 and comes with a single rear electric motor that makes 282 hp (286 PS) and can send the car to 62 mph in exactly 6 seconds. Its 70.3 kWh battery, with a usable capacity of 67.1 kWh, gives it a WLTP range of up to 310 miles (500 km).

For those considering the rear-wheel drive option, you should opt for the eDrive40 model. It comes at an additional cost of €30,000 compared to others in its lineup, but this premium includes a bigger 83.9 kWh battery pack that extends driving range up to 372 miles (600 kilometers). Additionally, it delivers marginally higher power output and achieves zero-to-sixty acceleration in just 5.7 seconds. Alternatively, BMW provides another version called the i4 xDrive40 equipped with twin motors offering 395 horsepower (or 401 metric horsepower) capable of reaching sixty miles per hour from standstill in merely 5.1 seconds.

The most powerful i4,
the M50
, priced at €72,100. This model features an enhanced large battery paired with dual motors delivering a impressive combined output of 536 horsepower (544 PS). The vehicle accelerates from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds. Despite these performance figures, it doesn’t handle like a true sports car due to its considerable curb weight of more than 4,800 pounds (2,185 kg), something noticeable during driving.
navigating through a winding road
.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Photo by: Hyundai

Many may not consider
the Hyundai Ioniq 6
As an alternative to the Model 3 due to its distinctive aerodynamic design that elicits mixed reactions. This teardrop-like silhouette isn’t merely aesthetic—it provides the compact car with a drag coefficient as low as 0.21. Recently updated, the latest version might appeal more to your preferences.

Like most Hyundai-Kia group electric vehicles, the Ioniq 6 is built on the E-GMP 800-volt electric platform, which allows it to charge quicker than most vehicles on this list (including the Model 3), and it helps cut its electricity consumption while running.

The non-updated version of the Ioniq 6 featured a basic 53 kWh battery offering approximately 266 miles (429 km) according to WLTP tests, or alternatively, a larger 78 kWh unit which provided the solo engine configuration with around 381 miles (614 km) of travel distance. For those opting for all-wheel drive, an additional electric motor was added upfront resulting in a total output of 320 horsepower (325 PS), enabling sprint times from zero to sixty in about 5.1 seconds; however, this setup reduced the vehicle’s range marginally down to roughly 362 miles (583 km).

With the facelift, Hyundai will likely introduce new, slightly higher-capacity battery packs as well as a
range-topping Ioniq 6 N
performance variant, which, if the Ioniq 5 N is any indication (and it is), will be quite something to drive and experience.

The base price of an Ioniq 6 in Germany today is €43,900. If you want the long-range battery, it climbs to €54,000. Adding all-wheel drive pushes the price to €61,100. Pricing will likely change once the refreshed model is rolled out.

BYD Seal

Those who have operated both the Model 3 and
the BYD Seal
The latter feels more comfortable internally and offers a slightly higher level of luxury compared to the Tesla, which might have a minimalist approach that doesn’t appeal to everyone. The Seal is attracting numerous Model 3 purchasers in Europe due to its impressive handling and reliable range metrics.

You can purchase a Seal in Europe using one of two LFP battery options; the bigger one offers 84 kWh (with 82.5 kWh available), providing up to 354 miles (or 570 kilometers) underWLTP testing conditions. The base version comes equipped with a solitary 313 horsepower rear motor, whereas the advanced variant boosts this power output to 530 horses, achieving a sprint from zero to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Despite being more potent than a Model 3, the Seal is slightly bulkier, thus unable to keep up with the Tesla’s speed. Additionally, it has a slower recharge rate compared to the Model 3, reaching only 150 kW to go from 0% to 80%, taking about 37 minutes—this makes it the slowest charger among all vehicles listed here. Even with its larger battery pack, it still falls short when comparing driving ranges against both the Tesla and Hyundai models.

The starting price is €46,990; however, opting for all-wheel drive increases this to €50,990—a compelling value proposition prior to applying any national incentives. Additionally, it excels in delivering both an enjoyable driving experience when navigating turns and maintaining comfort across bumpy terrain.

Nio ET5

Nio has been marketing vehicles across multiple European markets starting from 2021, and their cars have become quite commonplace in places like Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Their third offering in Europe following the ES8 and ET7 models is the ET5. This particular car competes directly with Tesla’s Model 3 when considering factors such as dimensions, features, and market presence.

This vehicle boasts the most strikingly sloped roofline among these options, and Nio enhances this feature further by incorporating a dark panel atop the trunk lid to emphasize its sleek fastback appearance. From an angled view out front, it presents beautifully; particularly noteworthy is how the back end mimics the compact elegance reminiscent of a scaled-down Porsche Panamera.

One neat aspect of the ET5 is that it can also be found as
the ET5 Touring
This resembles a compact version of the Panamera Sport Turismo, boosting the trunk capacity from 13.7 cubic feet (387 liters) to 15.9 cubic feet (450 liters). Consequently, this significantly enhances the ET5’s functionality when transporting bigger objects.

A distinctive feature provided by Nio is the ability for customers to rent instead of purchase the car’s battery. This reduces the initial expense but necessitates a monthly fee from the owner. It also provides them with access to Nio’s exclusive battery-swap program, currently the sole such service operating in Europe. The network includes 59 swap stations across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany.

If you order an ET5 by the end of June, Nio will throw in two years of battery-as-a-service (BaaS) free. The standard monthly BaaS fee is €169 for the standard battery or €289 for the larger long-range pack. There’s also a €10 fee for every swap, and Nio is charging customers €0.39 for each kilowatt-hour used.

The starting price for the ET5 sedan equipped with the 75 kWh standard-range battery, which offers an estimated range of 283 miles (410 km) under WLTP testing, is set at €59,500. Adding €2,000 will get you the station wagon version instead. If you upgrade to the extended-range option featuring a larger 100 kWh battery pack, boosting the vehicle’s range up to 367 miles (590 km), the cost rises to €68,500. Choosing Battery as a Service (BaaS) reduces the initial outlay by €12,000 for the model with the standard battery capacity or by €21,000 should you opt for the longer-lasting variant.

Zeekr 001

You can think of the
Zeekr 001
as a more budget-friendly alternative to a Taycan Sport Turismo and, just like the Porsche, it has an 800-volt platform with all the advantages it brings. Zeekr was only founded in 2021, but the Geely-owned brand now has
a dominant stake in Lynk&Co
And its vehicles are crafted in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Despite Zeekr referring to the 001 as a “shooting brake,” it actually resembles a fastback with sloping rear glass and a hatchback-style tailgate. This design exposes a generous storage space of 18.7 cubic feet (530 liters). The vehicle comes equipped with one 100 kWh battery pack, providing an estimated range of 385 miles (620 kilometers) underWLTP standards, or 369 miles (594 kilometers) when using the dual-motor configuration.

The entry-level model with one motor, designated as 001, begins at €54,990 and delivers 268 horsepower, achieving a zero-to-sixty-two miles per hour sprint in 7.1 seconds. For an additional cost of €65,490, opting for a dual-motor setup boosts the output twofold and reduces the acceleration to just 3.8 seconds.

There’s also an insane quad-motor high-performance variant,
the 001 FR
With an aggregate power output of 1,247 horsepower and claimed acceleration from zero to sixty in just 2.02 seconds, this vehicle can reach speeds as high as 173 miles per hour (285 kilometers per hour). This makes it a formidable performer indeed. Nevertheless, it seems improbable that the Plaid-challenging FR model would be brought into European markets due to likely economic constraints; specifically, the tariffs placed on electric vehicles manufactured in China could render importing such a car financially unviable.