TopSpeed’s Best Electric Car Of The Year Is The Tesla Model 3

Tesla is still a hard player to beat in the electric vehicle (EV) space. Even while facing serious competition, its technology and, more importantly, its Supercharger network of public fast chargers allow it to reign supreme in the EV space. Since its appearance in 2017, the Model 3 has embodied these qualities in a package people can actually afford.

I always liked the Model 3 for its driving dynamics, performance, range, charging speeds and downright excentric conception. It’s just a car that does things differently. But I’ve also said that if Tesla could improve its build quality, suspension damping and enhance its premium promise, then it would be the perfect electric car. Well, with the recently updated Model 3, that may just be the case.

Updated for the 2024 model year, the Model 3 received significant changes that allowed it to rank higher than other electric cars. Completely overhauled suspension geometry improved ride and handling. Cabin insulation and build quality is now on par with the best the Germans sell these days, and Tesla’s in-house infotainment system remains hands down one of the best in the business.

Combined with class-competitive specifications and range, the use of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries on some versions that completely eliminate their dependency on cobalt, as well as a price ladder that actually didn’t increase in a world of heavy inflation, it was hard for our team to not put the Model 3 at the top of our list.

Tesla Model 3 Specifications

The Model 3 rides smoothly, and its suspension damping no longer beats you up on beaten roads. Tesla also significantly improved the cabin’s sound deadening; you no longer hear the road debris being thrown around the wheel wells when driving through a winter storm, for instance. Cabin materials have been overhauled to look and feel better, upping the Model 3’s premium promise. And the seats are more comfortable than they’ve ever been. The added rear screen, with video streaming capability, should keep the kids happy during long trips.

The Tesla Model 3 Won Because Of Its Complete Package

The Model 3 didn’t win due to a single quality, but rather the overall package. The fact that the Supercharger network of fast-chargers will instantly detect your Model 3 upon arrival is the sort of convenience you want when on the road with your EV. And the network itself is so well laid out across the U.S. and Canada, that roadtripping with a Model 3 is easy and non-dramatic. Sure, the entire industry will soon shift to Tesla’s network, but Tesla owners remain prioritized by being granted access to more chargers.

The car is also a ton of fun to drive, especially when opting for the Performance model, which will give the BMW M3 Competition a serious run for its money, even on a closed circuit. Sure, almost all carmakers now offer over-the-air updates, but Tesla invented it, and still dominates the technology by giving (or selling) to owners significant upgrades such as range and performance. This allows the Model 3 to resist better to the sands of time. And it’s all available at a frankly solid $42,490 starting price.

Would we have preferred physical blinker and wiper stalks in the updated Model 3? Of course. Our team also found that the position of the PRND controls inside the infotainment screen, or on the ceiling to be a bit weird. We also unanimously agreed that the car needs a heads-up-display for basic road information like speed and navigation. Having to look at the screen each time can be distracting.

But as far as electric cars go, it doesn’t really get any better than the Model 3, proving once more that Tesla masters the art of building good EVs at an attainable price point. We’re excited to see what’s coming next from this carmaker. We hear the upcoming Model Q will be just as good, but even more affordable.

The Runner-Up: 2025 Fiat 500e

The Fiat 500e was our runner-up electric car of the year for completely different reasons than the Model 3. For starters, it’s cute, fun and instantly recognizable. The Fiat 500 is back! But more importantly, it proves that EVs don’t need to be big, brash and heavy to make sense.

Rather, what Fiat tells us with the 500e, is that by building smaller-sized EVs, you require fewer resources. This allows the auto industry to be more sustainable in its methods of building cars. You can build two or even three Fiat 500es with the same resources needed to build, say, a GMC Hummer EV. A smaller, lighter EV also requires smaller wheels, brakes and suspension components, further reducing its reliance on crucial resources.

The 500e may only offer 149 miles of range from its 42-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, but it also only costs $32,500 (starting MSRP). As a secondary vehicle destined for urban use, its small size, zippy acceleration, nimble handling and charming looks allow it to be one of the most refreshing EVs we’ve driven this year.