Edmunds names the 2026 Tesla Model 3 Long Range its Best Electric Car, with an expert rating of 8.4 out of 10, an MSRP range starting at $36,990 and a tested range of 338 miles. As of October 2026, that makes the sedan the benchmark Edmunds points to for shoppers who want one electric car that does most things well.
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The label comes with fine print, because Edmunds splits its electric lineup into categories and one car in the table scores higher. Reading the page closely shows what the 8.4 means, what the 338 miles measures and where the Tesla sits against its closest rivals.
What Edmunds rates in the Model 3
On its electric car rankings page, Edmunds lists the 2026 Model 3 Long Range at 8.4 out of 10 with an MSRP span of $36,990 to $54,990 and an Edmunds range of 338 miles. The dedicated 2026 Model 3 review page says Edmunds renamed its Long Range trims Premium for 2026, so the data applies to that version. Its sub-scores read driving 9.3, storage and cargo 9, range, efficiency and charging 8.7, value 8.4, comfort 8.1, in-cabin tech 7.6 and an X factor of 7.
The write-up says the Model 3 offers “an enticing combination of performance, comfort and range” and that its price “continues to undercut the competition.” Edmunds lists excellent range, performance and handling, comfortable seats with ample space and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network among the strengths. The cons are a touchscreen that controls nearly everything and can distract, and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Owners are less uniform than the editors. The Model 3 page shows an overall owner rating of 3.6 out of 5 from 33 reviews, and its automated summary describes sentiment as mixed, citing build problems, software glitches and trouble with service and public charging. One five-star owner of the Premium all-wheel-drive version wrote that after owning cars for 60 years, the Model 3 is the one they enjoy driving the most, while also asking for better door handles and more range. By comparison, the Ioniq 6 page shows 4.7 out of 5 across 40 owner reviews.
Where the 338 miles comes from
Edmunds’ range figure is a result from its own test, not the EPA estimate. The review page shows that the rear-wheel-drive Premium carries an EPA estimate of 363 miles and covered 393 miles in Edmunds’ test, while the all-wheel-drive Premium carries an EPA estimate of 346 miles and covered 338 miles. The 338 on the rankings page therefore matches the all-wheel-drive car. Efficiency came in at 21.7 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles for the rear-drive car and 25.3 for the all-wheel-drive one, and the rear-drive car added 100 miles of range in about 12 minutes of charging.
Pricing needs the same care. The $36,990 figure is the base MSRP of the cheapest, Standard trim, and Edmunds suggests about $38,380 once destination is included for an Ohio buyer. The page’s own prices for the Premium rear-drive trim vary between $43,880 and $42,490 depending on where on the page they appear, and the all-wheel-drive Premium is listed at $47,490. Used 2026 Model 3s start near $38,700, according to the page’s buying tips.
The cars that score close behind
The Model 3 shares its 8.4 with the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, which Edmunds calls its Best Midsize Electric SUV at $58,955 to $76,490 and 366 miles of tested range. The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD follows at 8.3 as Best Small Electric SUV, and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA also scores 8.3 as Best Luxury Electric Car, with a tested 434 miles starting at $47,250.
The one number that sits above the Tesla is the 2027 Audi S6 Sportback e-tron, rated 8.6 as Edmunds’ Best Performance EV at $79,600 to $83,300 with a tested 361 miles. That is why the Model 3 is best described as Edmunds’ Best Electric Car pick, rather than the highest number in the table: it wins the general-purpose category, while the Audi wins the performance one at roughly double the price.
The page’s FAQ adds a wrinkle by calling the Tesla Model S the top-rated mainstream electric car, which conflicts with the category ranking that puts the Model 3 first. The category rankings are the more specific source, and they are the basis used here.
The Ioniq 6 as the closest value rival
Among cars priced like the Tesla, the nearest comparison is the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, which Edmunds scores 7.8 with an MSRP of $37,850 to $54,600 and a tested 303 miles. Edmunds says it “looks like nothing else on the road and has plenty of range,” and names tight rear headroom and cargo space as drawbacks. On the Ioniq 6 page, Edmunds notes its Model 3 Long Range test covered 341 miles, a few miles off the 338 on the rankings table.
That small difference is a good reminder of how to use a ratings table. Edmunds’ scores combine driving, range, value, comfort and technology into one number, and different trims, test conditions and page updates move the digits. The Model 3’s 8.4 is a solid placement for a sedan that starts under $37,000, though the price and range a shopper actually sees depend on trim.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Morning Overview editors prior to publication.
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