Tesla becomes first American automaker to top the US luxury car market | Hacker News Reader

Tesla becomes first American automaker to top the US luxury car market

electrek.co

20 pointsKoftaBob14 comments

Interesting claim considering Tesla's are often referred to as the California Camry. Why isn't Toyota or Subaru included on the list of Luxury vendors? The ride experience as a passenger is similar.

CEO political struggles aside, Tesla's have some nice features, but the build quality, decor, and creature comforts are basic and not seriously competitive with the likes of BMW or Mercedes.

No offense intended, you're of course free to like what you like and I affirm the validity of your feelings in advance.

I would suppose that luxury in this case refers to the price point not comfort levels.

Agreed. Build quality that no VW owner would accept. Calling the interior design "minimalist" is an insult to IKEA.

California (or silicon valley) Prius is the other moniker I've heard

> Why isn't Toyota or Subaru included on the list of Luxury vendors?

Japanese auto makers have luxury brands like Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti.

I'm aware. Tesla vehicle luxury levels remain comparable to a Toyota, at best. Toyota build quality is probably better on average.

> Why isn't Toyota or Subaru included on the list of Luxury vendors?

Sounds like you should be asking for Tesla to be removed rather than Toyota to be added.

Such a downgrade is probably warranted, and would be both deserved and amusing.

> Why isn't Toyota or Subaru included on the list of Luxury vendors? The ride experience as a passenger is similar.

Because the "luxury" segment is hard to define. The BMW 3 series has a similar problem. The entry level versions have synthetic materials that are a lower grade than some upper trims of Honda Accord or Nissan Altima.

The build and paint quality of Accord are likely better in many cases and the car feels very solid.

But there are other reasons to rank a BMW 3 series as luxury when an Accord doesn't get the same classification.

Similar principles apply.

Tesla’s interiors make me think of bog standard sparse office cubical with monitor. A cold soulless place to me. Luxury is far from my perception of Tesla except for the cost level.

Is Tesla luxury? I was surprised the first time I sat in a Model 3 how "normal" it was. OK, it had a massive screen, but the materials were no where near as nice as my 2019 Lexus and some were downright tacky.

"First?" Cadillac and Lincoln had some good years up until the '80s.

Let me top that, "luxury?" Teslas may be expensive, but that's not what makes a luxury car.

"Luxury?" LOL

The only thing approaching luxury is the price.

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