YouTuber and Cars & Bids owner Doug DeMuro.
Doug DeMuro
YouTuber Doug DeMuro chatted with Insider about electric cars and what cars he recommends.
The Tesla Model 3 and Y are some of his top picks, even though tons of new rivals have hit the map.
He said Tesla was so far ahead of the competition that other automakers are only just catching up.
Don’t count out Tesla just yet. Despite intensifying competition from big-name brands, Elon Musk’s carmaker still makes some of the best electric vehicles out there, according to one of the internet’s biggest car reviewers.
Doug DeMuro, whose YouTube channel has racked up 4.7 million subscribers, told Insider that Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y are some of his go-to recommendations for EV-curious car buyers. That’s despite the fact that Tesla hasn’t meaningfully updated the sedan or SUV in years and that new rivals are popping up by the day.
Tesla was so far ahead that others are just catching up
“I would still consider one because, at the end of the day, they were so innovative when they first came out that the other automakers are only just starting to catch up to them now,” DeMuro said. “They’re still great cars even though competitors have arrived.”
Tesla still beats many rivals when it comes to driving range, perhaps the most important stat to consider when buying an EV. The Model 3 sedan offers up to 333 miles of range, per the EPA, while the Model Y SUV provides up to 330 miles. Only a handful of EVs on sale today crack 300 miles. They’re also efficient and charge quickly.
In reviews of Teslas, DeMuro calls out their punchy performance, technology (each Tesla has an iPad-like screen with lots of quirks and features), minimalist interiors, and front trunks. Tesla pioneered the use of big, flashy touchscreens and the ability to update car software with new features, just like a smartphone.
The Supercharger advantage
Plus, he said buying a Tesla still gains buyers access to the company’s Supercharger network, which is hailed as being more convenient, widespread, and reliable than other networks of fast-charging stations.
“There’s still a lot of great Tesla benefits, including the Supercharger network, which I guess is becoming less of a benefit as they expand it to more brands,” he said. “But for now it’s still mainly a Tesla benefit.”
Tesla is opening up its formerly exclusive Supercharger network to owners of other EVs, but only a portion of it. And at least for now, Tesla owners still get special perks like built-in navigation that suggests Superchargers stops along a route.
Bang for your buck
“They provide a pretty good value — dollars per horsepower, per mile of range kind of value,” said DeMuro, who also started the car-auction website Cars & Bids.
Tesla has slashed is prices this year and buyers are now able to take advantage of a revamped federal tax credit for EV purchases. It means Teslas are cheaper than they’ve been in years. A Model 3 starts at $32,740 after the tax credit. It’s $40,240 for the Model Y. In June, the average EV sold for $53,438, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Other great EVs
DeMuro said he thinks “the legacy automakers are going to start pushing past Tesla and creating even better vehicles.” But for now, Tesla remains one of the top choices.
Some of his other favorites for the mass-market consumer: The Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.