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Tesla Model 3 dubbed best electric car by noted auto reviewer in 3-way evaluation
Noted auto reviewer Matthew DeBord has a lot of experience driving Tesla’s electric cars, lauding the Model 3 Performance as his personal favorite among the company’s vehicles in a review last month. His conclusions were appreciated by Elon Musk, who shared the veteran reviewer’s article on Twitter. Recently, DeBord raised the stakes for the Model 3, comparing it against two other premium electric cars he has driven in the past — the Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla’s own Model X — to see which EV is the best in the market today.
For purposes of his recent review, DeBord opted to use the Model 3’s Long Range RWD version, which cost $57,500 when it was acquired last year. The electric sedan was compared against the Jaguar I-PACE EV400 HSE, which costs a total of $86,720 with options and fees. The final vehicle in the triple threat evaluation — a fully-loaded Tesla Model X P100D — came at a premium price of $150,000.
In his analysis, DeBord noted that the Jaguar I-PACE is poised, powerful, and sleek, and it has a killer interior accented with premium materials such as brushed metal, carbon fiber, and wood. That said, the Jaguar does fall short in some areas such as its frunk, which is too small for any practical use. Its charging system, which relies on ChargePoint’s stations, also left much to be desired. Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pr infotainment system is “too complex” and “not attractively designed” as well.
On the other hand, DeBord admits that the Tesla Model X P100D is a showstopper with its tech and features like its Falcon Wing Doors. Being the largest of the three vehicles, the Model X is a champion of storage with almost 90 cubic feet of available cargo space. Coupled with the Supercharger Network and its Ludicrous Mode, the Model X is an excellent vehicle. That said, the premium SUV also carries a very premium price.
Ultimately, DeBord opted to give the crown to the Tesla Model 3 as the best electric car among the three vehicles he evaluated. The Model 3 strikes a great balance for price and features, with its 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds and its access to the Supercharger Network. The auto reviewer also lauds the vehicle for its intuitive touchscreen and steering wheel trackball-based controls, which “provides a serene driving experience” after a small learning curve. Reiterating his observations in his initial review of the electric sedan, DeBord noted that there is simply nothing better among electric cars available in the market today, especially considering its price.
“There is no better vehicle of this type at this price that I believe I could currently buy. What’s really so hypnotically and addictively compelling about the Model 3 is how many great ideas have been crammed into one automobile. This is a car that’s absolutely bursting with thought, about the present and the future — and the distant future. Those ideas are overwhelmingly optimistic.”
What’s impressive is that the Tesla Model 3 which DeBord based his recent conclusion from is a rather early version of the electric sedan. Since the initial production of the electric car, Tesla has achieved a notable reduction on Model 3 costs, as evidenced by the $49,900 starting price of the Dual Motor AWD Model 3 today. Other improvements have also been rolled out by Tesla since DeBord’s initial review of the vehicle, such as Navigate on Autopilot.
Matthew DeBord is not alone in his conclusions with regards to the Model 3. Auto veteran and longtime gearhead Henry Payne of The Detroit News, for one, even dubbed the Tesla Model 3 as the publication’s 2018 Car of the Year. The vehicle has also been a commercial success for Tesla, selling more than 145,000 units over 2018, allowing it to become the year’s best-selling luxury car.
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Tesla Model Y dominated China’s NEV sales in December 2025
As per sales data from China, the all-electric crossover finished first among the country’s best-selling EVs and plug-in hybrids.
The Tesla Model Y ranked as China’s top-selling new energy vehicle in December, leading an intensely competitive market packed with strong domestic brands.
As per sales data from China, the all-electric crossover finished first among the country’s best-selling EVs and plug-in hybrids. The Model 3 also placed within the country’s top ten vehicles.
Model Y leads China’s NEV rankings
The graphic, shared on X and sourced from Chinese auto industry data aggregator Yiche, listed the top 20 best-selling new energy vehicles in China for December. Tesla’s Model Y claimed the No. 1 position with roughly 65,874 units sold, finishing well ahead of a field dominated by domestic manufacturers such as BYD, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and Xiaomi.
The chart also showed strong performances from other high-volume models, including BYD’s Qin Plus, which sold 46,837 units during the month. Tesla’s Model 3 ranked eighth overall, with just under 28,000 units sold, placing it ahead of numerous locally produced competitors despite its rather premium price.
Tesla China’s strong December
Tesla China had a stellar December 2025. During the month, Tesla sold 97,171 vehicles wholesale in China, as per data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The result marked Tesla China’s second-highest monthly total on record, trailing only November 2022’s peak of 100,291 units.
December’s wholesale figure represented a 3.63% increase from the same month a year earlier and a 12.08% jump from November. Industry watchers have suggested that part of the surge was driven by Tesla pulling deliveries forward to allow customers to benefit from more favorable purchase tax policies before year-end.
Despite this, December’s results suggest that Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 remain highly competitive offerings in China, which is extremely impressive considering the competition from domestic players and their still premium price.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s net worth is nearing $800 billion, and it’s no small part due to xAI
A newly confirmed $20 billion xAI funding round valued the business at $250 billion, adding an estimated $62 billion to Musk’s fortune.
Elon Musk moved within reach of an unprecedented $800 billion net worth after private investors sharply increased the valuation of xAI Holdings, his artificial intelligence and social media company.
A newly confirmed $20 billion funding round valued the business at $250 billion, adding an estimated $62 billion to Musk’s fortune and widening his lead as the world’s wealthiest individual.
xAI’s valuation jump
Forbes confirmed that xAI Holdings was valued at $250 billion following its $20 billion funding round. That’s more than double the $113 billion valuation Musk cited when he merged his AI startup xAI with social media platform X last year. Musk owned roughly 49% of the combined company, which Forbes estimated was worth about $122 billion after the deal closed.
xAI’s recent valuation increase pushed Musk’s total net worth to approximately $780 billion, as per Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List. The jump represented one of the single largest wealth gains ever recorded in a private funding round.
Interestingly enough, xAI’s funding round also boosted the AI startup’s other billionaire investors. Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud held an estimated 1.6% stake in xAI worth about $4 billion, so the recent funding round boosted his net worth to $19.4 billion. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison each owned roughly 0.8% stakes that are now valued at about $2.1 billion, increasing their net worths to $6 billion and $241 billion, respectively.
The backbone of Musk’s net worth
Despite xAI’s rapid rise, Musk’s net worth is still primarily anchored by SpaceX and Tesla. SpaceX represents Musk’s single most valuable asset, with his 42% stake in the private space company estimated at roughly $336 billion.
Tesla ranks second among Musk’s holdings, as he owns about 12% of the EV maker’s common stock, which is worth approximately $307 billion.
Over the past year, Musk crossed a series of historic milestones, becoming the first person ever worth $500 billion, $600 billion, and $700 billion. He also widened his lead over the world’s second-richest individual, Larry Page, by more than $500 billion.
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Tesla Cybercab sighting confirms one highly requested feature
The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.
A recent sighting of Tesla’s Cybercab prototype in Chicago appears to confirm a long-requested feature for the autonomous two-seater.
The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.
The Cybercab’s camera washer
The Cybercab prototype in question was sighted in Chicago, and its image was shared widely on social media. While the autonomous two-seater itself was visibly dirty, its rear camera area stood out as noticeably cleaner than the rest of the car. Traces of water were also visible on the trunk. This suggested that the Cybercab is equipped with a rear camera washer.
As noted by Model Y owner and industry watcher Sawyer Merritt, a rear camera washer is a feature many Tesla owners have requested for years, particularly in snowy or wet regions where camera obstruction can affect visibility and the performance of systems like Full Self-Driving (FSD).
While only the rear camera washer was clearly visible, the sighting raises the possibility that Tesla may equip the Cybercab’s other external cameras with similar cleaning systems. Given the vehicle’s fully autonomous design, redundant visibility safeguards would be a logical inclusion.
The Cybercab in Tesla’s autonomous world
The Cybercab is Tesla’s first purpose-built autonomous ride-hailing vehicle, and it is expected to enter production later this year. The vehicle was unveiled in October 2024 at the “We, Robot” event in Los Angeles, and it is expected to be a major growth driver for Tesla as it continues its transition toward an AI- and robotics-focused company. The Cybercab will not include a steering wheel or pedals and is intended to carry one or two passengers per trip, a decision Tesla says reflects real-world ride-hailing usage data.
The Cybercab is also expected to feature in-vehicle entertainment through its center touchscreen, wireless charging, and other rider-focused amenities. Musk has also hinted that the vehicle includes far more innovation than is immediately apparent, stating on X that “there is so much to this car that is not obvious on the surface.”
Tesla Model Y dominated China’s NEV sales in December 2025
Elon Musk’s net worth is nearing $800 billion, and it’s no small part due to xAI
