Tesla’s electric cars may have revolutionized electric car ownership in North America, granted. However, the starting prices of Tesla model offerings are far from those of the cheapest electric cars on the market. In fact, the cheapest mass-production EV is over $10,000 less than the most affordable vehicle in the California automaker’s lineup.

With a starting price above $40,000, the Tesla Model 3 is far from the affordability of the Nissan LEAF or Hyundai Kona Electric

The “Highland” Tesla Model 3 got a welcome redesign for 2024. Fortunately, the Model 3’s starting price didn’t rise much (not at all) from the 2023 model year to 2024. However, even with a consistent starting price, the Model 3 is far from the cheapest electric car on the market.

Specifically, the 2024 Tesla Model 3 starts at $40,630 for the entry-level Standard Range RWD model. What’s more, pricing can easily eclipse $55,000 for an optioned dual-motor Performance trim. Consequently, the base model EV snags the No. 8 spot among the cheapest electric cars on the market, well behind the top five contenders.

Incidentally, the cheapest EV on the market, the Nissan LEAF undercuts the starting price of the Model 3 by over $10,000. And at $29,280, the LEAF S is the only new EV under the $30,000 mark. Budget-minded EV shoppers can opt for the retro-cool styling of the MINI Cooper Electric or FIAT 500e, but those options fail to match the LEAF’s range or starting price.

However, the Tesla Model 3 fails to make the top five by nearly $5,000. Moreover, the Model Y, the Model 3’s larger EV SUV sibling, adds another $4,000 to the mix.