2022 BMW 3 Series vs. 2021 Tesla Model 3

Claim your $1,000 EV Credit
Click Here Now!

For those athletically inclined people out there, a 3-point play in basketball can come from a long-range or via a hoop and some harm. In this particular 3 comparison, we look at BMW and Tesla’s version of each vehicle to determine which one would work better for you and your family.

With less availability of vehicle products, let’s take a virtual walk around to compare the Tesla Model 3 vs the BMW 3 Series and determine which one looks more or less like your 3 point champion!

First up, three random samplings from the popular press.

JD Power ranking lends itself to BMW’s higher standing:

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners survey provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 11 places higher in initial quality than Tesla, which has 65 more problems per 100 vehicles than BMW.

Consumer Reports splits the bill evenly:
Recommend both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Tesla Model 3 for reliability, safety, and performance.

Motor 1.com takes height and then looks into consideration:

the Model 3 and 3 Series stand identically tall at 56.8 inches, but the Tesla's lower beltline and larger glass area makes it look frumpier next to the svelte 330i.

What about the other things that keep you up at night as you build out the next key vehicle in your family’s starting line-up?

Let’s start with Range Anxiety and Fuel Economy. The 330i's maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel is 561.6 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Model 3's range is only 263 to 353 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 15 minutes for only a 50% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. The Tesla may not be the pressure performer you’re looking for when time is of the essence.

Safety Matters: Head-to-Head

The 3 Series Sedan's pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model 3 doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 3 Series Sedan delivers standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Model 3 doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 3 Series Sedan's optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

The 3 Series Sedan's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Model 3 doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

To be fair, both the 3 Series Sedan and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, blind-spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

Let’s take our analogy one step further and let’s look at the starting and stopping aspects of this 3 point vehicle comparison.

Speed

In simplest terms and as tested in Motor Trend the M340i is faster than the Model 3 Standard Plus. The 3 series goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Meanwhile, the Model 3 takes 5.0 seconds. In the quarter-mile, the BMW 3 Series reached 110.4 mph while the Model 3 reached 104.9 mph.

Braking

Speed matters. Yet how quickly you can come to a stop may matter as much or more. As the numbers below will demonstrate, the BMW 3 Series Sedan stops much more quickly than Tesla Model 3, in part due to larger front brake rotors.

Based on the Car and Driver test of 70 mph to 0 mph the BMW 3 Series stopped in 151 feet, meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 took 176 feet. A huge difference in those potentially tight situations.

Servicing the Vehicle

After you purchase the vehicle, maintenance eventually comes to mind. Among other items, a Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the BMW 3 Series Sedan to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and vehicle inspection based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it to last longer. Tesla doesn't offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

In those maintenance situations and in terms of economic advantages insurance will cost less for the 3 Series Sedan owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 3 Series Sedan with a number “3” insurance rate while the Model 3 is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 3 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the 3 Series Sedan than the Model 3, including $135 less for a water pump and $403 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

So, if you’d like to make a BMW 3 Series part of your family’s starting line-up feel free to come in today and check out why the BMW family of vehicles are known as Ultimate Driving Machines.

Come see us today at BMW of Bakersfield to take and make the 3 point shot with the 2022 BMW 3 Series!