2020 Tesla Model 3

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the 2020 Model 3 comes in five variants and is built around a 15.0-inch touchscreen that shows everything from infotainment and navigation to speed and the trip computer. The IIHS gave the car a 2019 Top Safety Pick Plus award for performing well in all categories. U.S. News (opens in a new tab) says the 2020 Model 3 has the highest MPG-equivalent ratings of any electric-only vehicle from that model year and projects five-year costs for gas, insurance, taxes, fees, repairs and maintenance at about $23,750, or $4,750 a year.

One option to weigh: Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) notes that Full Self-Driving Capability cost $7,000 on a new Model 3 and includes the existing Autopilot features. On a used car the software may or may not transfer, so ask the seller in writing what the car actually includes.

NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns for the 2020 model year. Several matter more than the rest for a used buyer. 21V00D covers all 2017 to 2020 Model 3s because the rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, cutting off the camera image. 21V387 says brake caliper bolts may be loose enough for a caliper to separate. 21V389 says one or both fasteners securing the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached. 21V835 covers front suspension lateral link fasteners that may loosen and let the link separate. 21V834 says a side curtain air bag may not have been properly secured to the roof rail. Two software recalls cover the audible chime that may not activate when the vehicle starts (22V045) and the 'rolling stop' function offered with the driver-assist software (22V037), and 21V846 covers a forward-collision sensing communication error in one software build. Each of these applies to a range of build dates, so the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls is what settles whether a specific car was affected.

Owners have filed 451 complaints with NHTSA on the 2020 Model 3. Forward collision avoidance dominates with 156, followed by unclassified problems at 81, vehicle speed control 69, service brakes 48, steering 46 and suspension 46. VinSpectorAI (opens in a new tab) counts 424 complaints and 50 crash-related complaints and names automatic emergency braking as the top issue, and ProblemsByVin (opens in a new tab) quotes owners describing a 'Safety Restraint System issue' message and a rear-camera recall notice that said the car was waiting for parts. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) rates the 2020 Model 3 less reliable than other cars from the same model year.

Forward collision avoidance is where the complaints cluster, so on a test drive use the automatic braking on an ordinary road and confirm every recall above shows as completed.

CarBuzz (opens in a new tab) puts the average used 2020 Model 3 at $20,996 across 73 listings, and Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) lists $21,500 as its Fair Purchase Price for the cheapest variant, the Standard Range sedan. KBB's depreciation page (opens in a new tab) says a 2020 Model 3 has lost an average of about $2,987 a year over the last three years. At the EPA's numbers of $550 to $650 a year in electricity, the running cost is a fraction of a gas sedan's, which is why the used price is the number to negotiate.

The Model 3's 113 to 141 MPGe combined and $550 to $650 a year on fueleconomy.gov (opens in a new tab) compares with 104 to 111 MPGe and $700 to $750 for the 2020 Nissan Leaf and 46 to 56 mpg and $1,100 to $1,350 for the 2020 Toyota Prius. The Model 3 is the cheapest of the three to run and the Prius the most expensive. The Leaf is the other electric choice, so the trade is the Model 3's efficiency and range against Tesla's recall and complaint record above. The Prius is the choice if you want no charging plan at all.