Tesla Model 3 and Model Y: base price rises, but so does range
The new 100% federal surtax on Chinese-made electric vehicles, in force since October 1, was bound to force Tesla's hand. Gone, then, are the Model 3s and Model Ys imported into Canada from China. From now on, all models will come from the USA.
In the process, the entry-level rear-wheel drive and standard range versions of these two vehicles have been discontinued. They have now been replaced by a new long-range, rear-wheel-drive version.
In the case of the Model 3 sedan, drivers will be able to cover up to 584 km according to Natural Resources Canada (NRC), instead of just 438 km with the previous rear-wheel drive Model 3, which used a lithium-iron-phosphate battery from Chinese giant CATL. This is a colossal difference - and more range than the Hyundai IONIQ 6 - which also comes with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time reduced from 6.1 to 5.2 seconds.
This basic version just got a whole lot more interesting. But, as you might expect, the price goes up too. The minimum MSRP is no longer $49,990 but rather $54,990, just below the limit to qualify for the $5,000 federal subsidy.
The long-range, all-wheel drive Model 3 remains at $59,990, with a range of up to 550 km, according to RNC. The Performance version (from $69,990, 478 km range) is the only one not eligible for the $5,000 rebate, nor for the $7,000 Quebec rebate (up to and including December 31, 2024).
As for the Model Y crossover, the new long-range rear-wheel-drive version boasts 525 km, again a substantial gain over the 394 km of the Chinese import. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time remains at 6.9 seconds. As for the price, it has just climbed from $53,990 to $59,990, but also remains below the limit to qualify for the $5,000 federal subsidy.
The Model Y with all-wheel drive and long range (497 km) remains at $63,990, while the Performance version still costs $68,990, although its range has been revised from 459 to 446 km. Clearly, all Model Ys are eligible for the $5,000 federal rebate, only the first two for the provincial subsidy.
Now that the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y sold in Canada come from the USA, it will be interesting to see whether Tesla will take advantage of this to improve its manufacturing quality, as its Shanghai factory has demonstrated superiority in this respect, as detailed in our road test of the Model 3 2024.
