Late last night, Tesla unveiled its latest entry into the segment that’s been dominated by the BMW 3 Series for so long, the Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 is sized, priced and equipped similarly to the BMW 3 Series. But the Model 3 is only the newest competitor to the segment, with many new ones are coming along to take down the 3 Series.
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The BMW 3 is facing an incredible amount of competition these days, more so than ever before. It used to just be the two other big Germans, the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C Class, that really threatened the 3 Series but now the list is quite long. The most popular of 3 Series competitors these days is the Cadillac ATS, which is probably the closest car to a 3 Series that isn’t the Bavarian stalwart. But Jaguar just released its new XE, that is seriously good, and Alfa Romeo is working on its Giulia sedan, which could touch on that emotional factor that the 3 Series always did. Now the Tesla Model 3.
So which of these new cars is the 3 Series toughest competitor?
When the Cadillac ATS first jumped on the scene, it took the world by surprise, as no one had thought it would be able to genuinely take the BMW 3 Series head on. But the ATS is a great car to drive, with sharp dynamics and great performance. It lacks a bit in terms of interior quality and luxury, but it’s still an excellent choice for anyone who wants a sport sedan with sharp handling at an affordable price.
More recently, the Jaguar XE came out and did exactly what everyone had expected it to do, provide a sexier alternative to the 3 Series. While the XE isn’t as refined, as well thought-out or as well made, it looks incredible and has driving dynamics that could be at the top of its class. The XE is probably the best athlete in the segment and has a dynamite supercharged V6 engine, but it lacks a bit of the refinement that the 3 Series has and isn’t as good of an all-rounder. If all you care about is looks and driving dynamics, the Jaguar XE is really hard to pass up.
Alfa Romeo recently showed us what its new Giulia sedan will be like and it looks incredibly promising. With class-leading power, incredible technology, such as a carbon fiber driveshaft, and stunning looks, the Giulia could steal away many of the enthusiast buyers in the segment. The Giulia seems to be the car that BMW likely feared that it would be, a car that will play on the emotions of its buyers. While Alfa has never been one to boast quality or innovation, it is a brand that enthusiasts desire because of the intangibles that the brand brings with its cars. It’s a quality that BMW has also been famous for, simply feeling better than the other cars in the segment for reasons that are hard to explain.
But Tesla is the newest and most different member to this highly-contested segment. With its new Model 3, it’s the only brand with a full BEV in the segment. The Model 3 will have by far the lowest range in the class, as the others are gasoline-powered cars, but it makes up for that by using now fuel, having fantastic technology and being incredibly inexpensive. With a price of $35,000, the Model 3 is the cheapest car in its class with its specification levels and can even come down to around $25,000, depending on government incentives. So the Model 3 offers a fresh new approach to a segment of the automotive world that’s changing so quickly. The Model 3 seems like it could be the future of the segment, while the others are still stuck in the past.
So which of these cars will be the toughest competitor to the BMW 3 Series. The new Audi A4 is great, too, but it’s always been around, as has the Mercedes-Benz C Class. But the other cars are all new to the segment and offer a perspective we haven’t yet seen until their arrival. So which of these should the BMW 3 Series be most afraid of?
The C class is the greatest threat, and it’s not even close. The exterior of the XE is quite attractive, but the interior is a let down, in any case, the XE, even if it was the best car in the segment, will not sell in any volume to worry the 3 series. I drove the ATS 3.6 V6 when I was in the market late last year, and I really don’t understand all the praise being heaped on this car. Maybe my expectation was too high after reading all the reviews, but I wasn’t impressed. Yes, the chassis feel quite capable, and the steering was good, but the car just felt so underpowered, not to mention it has the cheapest interior in the segment. The C class is another story, it is the best luxury car of the bunch, and the performance is very competitive, especially the C450
Tesla Model 3 all the way – the rest are the past. I look forward to BMW doing something similar with hopefully better quality, handling and performance.
On the subject of the Model 3’s range, the few specs made available last night were only for the base model, and last nights reveal supposedly was part 1 of 3. But back to the article, I don’t think the 3-Series has much to worry about from any one competitor, but being that the segment is getting crowded I wonder if it could get lost in the shuffle in the coming years.
Tesla being a threat to BMW? Are you serious or is this another disguised marketing ploy by the makers of Tesla?
Has BMW ever had 250,000 reservations in 2 days for any of their cars in their entire history?
Oh you were serious?
Ten years in a row as best selling premium brand says it all… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/183b4f221f077eb5b025da2a7fe1d6ecdb3abca04631e62df635e26ea20e4de7.png
In California, Tesla P series outsells MB S series, A8 series, and BMW 7 Series combined.
Nice, uh?
Nice how you limited it to the state to bend the numbers to your argument. Anybody can bend numbers into a stat. In my city those three cars individually are more popular than all electric cars combined. See how that works?
If you look at the US market those cars combined are almost doubled in sales of Model S’ and the S-class outsells the P85 (since you picked the “P series” by itself in your comparison) and is right next to the Model S in general.. Granted this cars real competitors are the A7, CLS, and 6er if you ask me.
In Germany and everywhere else in the world, it is the opposite. Perhaps in California, Tesla finds it easier to tease the car buying public so to encourage you to comment like this.
The answer is a big yes. In fact many car manufactures have the same rush of reservations initially when they launch a new car. I am sorry to disappoint you but, in the car industry, we do not get excited with reservations. We get excited by overall sales globally. Tesla’ s marketing department will no doubt not tell you this.
Bullshit dude.
Name one other case of a car requiring a $1,000 reservation leading to 250,000 signing up IN THREE DAYS.
Ha ha, that is funny. It appears that you are a Tesla marketing fanatic. Sorry to spoil it for you but a refundable monetary disposit, even if it is actually true that they, or perhaps you, have had 250,000 reservations does not equal actual sales.
So let’s be a little sensible here “dude”!
Look at those goal posts move!
Still waiting on your citation btw.
In the meantime, here’s the car industry getting *quite* excited about this “unprecedented” event:
“We’ve never seen anything quite like this in the auto industry,” said Jessica Caldwell, a senior analyst at Edmunds.com. “It is unprecedented.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/04/04/the-car-industry-has-never-witnessed-what-tesla-is-about-to-go-through/
The Model 3 is definitely very appealing, but I tried the Model S, and the built quality is less good than my 3-series ! Kind of worrying for a 70 000 $ car …
So my guess is that the interior will be far from BMW, but if cheaper, why not ?
Tesla is mirred with QC problems- their present solution is to replace everything- but the higher problem is that Tesla has no reserve liquidity. It is hanging by one hair thread away from bankruptcy. Model 3 is too far from production to bring in revenue and, as if not enough, the 7000$ tax incentives should be over in the US.
Even though QC is far below BMW- and the S proved it, the real story is that anything electric is a threat to anything non electric. Was myself thinking “What if were I to buy a Model 3?” S0 BMW needs to get in on it. Over the life of my car, the track ready top of the line 3 series will likely burn 30,000$ in fuel. Tesla, maybe a few hundred bucks- if the car lasts that long.
It is a crowded segment in constant evolution. I think Audi and Mercedes are the real competitors- not in terms of feel, but in their power to get new customers, as well as former BMW customers to buy them.
Jag also looks terrific, but reliability is un-proven. However, some design issues are also silly on the jag- if you are tall, your frontal view is blocked by the ill placed rear view mirror, and a few other quirks.
Where BMW can regain the crown, undisputedly, is mass introduction of carbon and 3d printed frame technology, delivering incredible frame properties for similar cost.
Bmw 330e is here to shake things up in this segment.
With 20 miles of range?
25 miles actually, which is adequate for most work commuting. Then it switches to the petrol motor.
25 miles is not enough. The Volt had that 4 years ago and the *number one* request those owners had was more range!
Alfa.
Faster. Sexier. More fun.
And Italian quality is now very competitive.
The Tesla will be interesting, tho. I’ve driven an S, and it’s impressive.
I like Tesla’s ideas but the final product of Model 3 is a disappointment by the aspects of design, it’s ugly as hell and has a TV stuck in the middle console.
maybe in the future.
Where’s the i5???
*crickets*
BMW has a problem and the executive knows it … and they know sticking their heads in the sand will be a really bad idea on this one! The world spoke rather clearly this weekend … they said they want fast, sexy, clean, electric cars … and BMW doesn’t have one … and hybrids don’t cut it btw. I own both a BMW Z4 and a Model S. I have lost all interest in the Z4 … it is slow, smelly, noisly, dirty, it shakes, and is unresponsive in comparison. The thought of buying another ICE age car (to me) is as absurd as the idea of buying a gas powered refrigerator.
You mean 20 miles electric isn’t going to do it for you anymore? ;)