Both the Tesla Model 3 and the Model Y are enjoying tremendous success right now, taking the first two spots on the top 10 best-sold EVs list. So, if you are thinking of buying one of the two models but can't decide which one to get, there are a few things that you should know. The two models are almost identical in terms of power and performance, but each of them has its own advantages.

For example, with the Model 3, you will get a little bit of extra range, but the Model Y will give you more interior room and additional cargo space. The Model 3 will provide a sportier ride, while the Model Y sits higher and gives you more of an SUV feel. Also, the Model Y can be equipped to carry up to seven passengers, so it is more suitable for bigger families, but these aren't the only things that set them apart.

One of the most significant differences, in fact, is the looks. The shapes and curves may be the same, but the Model Y is an SUV with a hatchback. The Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, is a sedan that will handle curvy roads more readily because it does sit a little lower to the ground. Let's dig deeper into the differences between the Model 3 and Model Y so you know what sets them apart, which will help you make an informed decision when purchasing one.

Updated on September 4, 2023: Tesla is arguably one of the most well-known names when talking about anything EV. Just like the classic vehicles of the past, each model is a little different, so we have decided to refresh this piece to keep you updated with all the new information!

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9 Performance Comparison: Tesla Model 3 vs.Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model 3 is one step closer to the goal that Elon Musk and Tesla as a whole have set out to achieve: to offer an affordable EV that any level of social class can get into. Along with that, the engineers have also ensured that the current entry-level option, even though it starts out with a standard one electric engine rather than two, still offers plenty of power and torque.

Otherwise, an entry-level Tesla would not be worth the money. As you can see from the table below, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have almost the same amount of power. When you get up into the performance models, you are looking at a sedan that, despite falling a little short of the Model Y in power and torque, can accelerate faster and perform better simply because it is a sedan.

Towing Between The Model 3 And Model Y Is Like Black And White

As you can imagine, if you plan to tow things around, you need the Model Y. On the North American market - depending on the number of passengers and the tires the Model Y is equipped with, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds. You can also equip the electric crossover with a tow package with a 2 x 2-inch square hitch receiver designed to support vertical loads of up to 160 pounds. This means you can easily carry around bicycles, skis, or other items you may want for a fun day out. Also, Tesla recommends that when towing a loaded trailer that weighs more than 1,650 pounds to have it equipped with its own brake system adequate for the weight of the trailer. On the other hand, the Model 3 is not rated for towing on the U.S. market.

Entry Level Models: Tesla Model Y Has More Power

When looking at the Tesla website, you may have noticed that the entry-level Model Y does not match what is listed below because there is no standard range option. The thing is that even though it is not listed, you can order one if you want, but since the range was not where Elon Musk wanted it, he had the option removed from sight. So, if you do not want to deal with ordering a choice that is not officially for sale, the two entry-level models have a substantial performance difference, with the Model Y giving you up to 113 more horses and cutting the 0 to 60 MPH time by 1.4 seconds. All that is just for clicking one box over the other.

Tesla Model 3 vs. Tesla Model Y

8 Range And Charging For The Tesla Model 3 And Tesla Model Y

One thing that holds a central portion of buyers back from going with an EV is range. They simply don't want to stop every couple of hundred miles to hook up a charging cord for an hour or so just to gain a few more hundred miles to do it all over again. That is, if they can even find a place to plug in and fast charge, otherwise they may have to park for 10 to 12 hours before being able to hit the road again. So, one of the first performance statistics you will look at when comparing the Model S and Model Y will be the range and charging times. Thankfully, you will find that the two are not much different in either area.

Range For The Tesla Model 3 And Tesla Model Y

As expected, being Tesla models, the two EVs offer a very similar range, but the Model 3 gains a few points in this regard. Of course, when discussing range, there are many variables, such as the outside temperature and the weight you have in or behind the vehicle. For example, if you tow a small camper behind your Tesla Model Y, the range will drop because you will need more power to pull, just like if you were towing in an ICE-powered SUV (losing fuel mileage.) Overall, though, the Tesla Model 3 sedan is lower to the ground, making it less air-resistant as it goes down the road. That, by itself, allows the Model 3 to have a slightly better range because it has somewhat less wind resistance.

Charging Times For The Tesla Model 3 And Tesla Model Y

Both models benefit from Tesla's latest V3 250 kW Supercharging network, with the Model 3 adding 175 miles in just 15 minutes of charging, while the Model Y only gets 162 miles in the same amount of time. If you charge for 27 minutes, the Model 3 will add 250 miles, and the Model Y around 230 miles. If you have a basic 3-pin plug-in at home, work, or even at the motel room you are staying in, the Tesla Model 3 could take up to 32 hours to obtain a full charge. On the other hand, with the same type of plug, the Tesla Model Y can take up to 36 hours, which is an excellent reason to spend the extra money on a faster charging system unless you drive very seldom.

Ranges For 2023

7 Interior Design And Technology

The interior design of the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y are very similar, with only a few things making it apparent that they are different vehicles. Each of them is designed with the most modern technology available, all wrapped into a 10-inch touchscreen that is the one stand-out object within the cockpit. Almost everything you do as a driver will go through that little 10-inch screen, but you may be amazed at everything you can find within that screen. The obvious would be the navigation and stereo system, but you will also find the added safety features inside, as well as the connectivity advancements that will be needed for any updates that the car will need in the future.

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Technology In The Tesla Model 3 And Tesla Model Y

On the inside, the two models are almost identical. The cabin is very minimalist, with matching seats - 12-way power-adjustable heated front ones, steering wheel, center console, and the same single, large touchscreen placed in the middle of the dashboard that controls everything about the car. The only difference is in the back, where the passengers will get both more of a higher ride and a little bit of extra headroom and legroom. In terms of technology, the two models will get the same standard features you would expect in a Tesla: Autopilot with basic autonomous steering, acceleration, and braking, Sentry mode, glass roof, and mobile app support. The Model Y also has a standard wireless charging pad, and it is the first Tesla model to offer USB-C ports: one up front and two in the rear.

Related: 10 Reasonable Expectations To Have When Buying A Tesla

The Tesla Model Y Gives You More Interior Space

If you opt for the Model Y, you can get interior space for up to seven people. Of course, adding a third row will sacrifice the cargo room a little, but it will give you a chance to drive around with a bigger family. As for the interior space, it was to be expected for the Model Y to be a little bit roomier, with the only exception being the front legroom, where the Model 3 wins by 0.9 inches. However, the Model Y has an extra 5.3 inches of legroom in the rear, so it still wins the battle in the end.

As for the cargo space, the Model 3 has 19.8 cubic feet of rear cargo room, which can be expanded to 43.6 cubic feet with the seats down. There is an extra 3.1 cubic feet in the frunk. The Model Y can carry a lot more groceries, as was to be expected: 30.2 cubic feet with the seats up or 76.2 cubic feet with the seats down. If you opt for the seven-seat version, the numbers decrease to 26.6 and 72.0 cubic feet, respectively.

Cargo Space Comparison

6 Tesla Model Y Is Taller; Model 3 Feels Sportier

When choosing between the Model Y and the Model 3, it pretty much depends on the type of driving experience you desire. The Model Y is more of a crossover, so it is taller with a higher ground clearance (an extra 1.1 inches), while the Model 3 is more compact, with a sportier ride. The two models are built on the same 113.2-inch wheelbase, but the Model Y is longer (187 vs. 184.8 inches), wider (75.6 vs. 72.8 inches), and taller (64 vs. 56.8 inches).

According to MotorTrend, the only time you will feel the difference between the two models is on curvy roads, when the extra weight on the Model Y will make "the driver can feel the lean and swing slightly more." Any other time, "you get the same instantaneous Tesla experience in day-to-day driving."

Exterior Dimension Comparison

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5 Safety Of The Tesla Model 3 And Tesla Model Y

Safety is perhaps one of the most important aspects of any vehicle, regardless of what you want it for. The one thing you can be sure of with any Tesla is having the best technology available, including safety tech that helps you stay safe while on the roads. Some of the standard safety features included in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are:

• Automatic braking
• Brake assist
• Back-up camera
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Traction control
• Alarm
• Stability control
• Pedestrian alert
• Around-view camera
• Knee-level airbags

Plus, you cannot forget about the sentry mode that kicks on when someone touches your vehicle when you have it activated. Because of some unprofessional actions by Tesla workers, the system will no longer arm itself and take photos without your authorization, so a message will be sent to your mobile device before any actions are taken by the sentry mode.

The Tesla Model 3 Is A 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+

The Tesla Model won the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for last year, and this year, the car either received a good or excellent designation in all crash categories tested except for one. The section that received marks off, down to an acceptable, were the tether anchors for the child seat restraints. The anchors themselves were found to be too deep within the seat, causing very minor issues during the crash test.

The Tesla Model Y Is A 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+

The Tesla Model Y for 2023 took the title away from its sibling, the Model 3, and received the IIHS award for the 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. When the SUV was put through the battery of tests given to it by IIHS officials, it came out without a scratch, so to speak. It did not receive perfect scores across the board, however. As you probably expected, it received an acceptable in the same section of the seat restraints as the Model 3, with IIHS stating that the child restraint anchors were too deep within the seat. Another mark that the Model Y received an acceptable, instead of good, dealt with the headlights. On a gradual turn left, they found that the lighting was not adequate enough to be safe. So, it is something for Tesla to work on for next year.

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4 The Reliability Of The 2023 Tesla Model 3 And The 2023 Tesla Model Y

If you want to check power and performance, you check places like TopSpeed that take the manufacturers' numbers, compare them to real-world data, and give honest figures for you to see. If you want to see how reliable a vehicle is, you ask other owners, which you can do through sites like Consumer Reports. You will see some very interesting things if you check out the Model 3 and Model Y. Overall, the Model 3 has a higher number, a 78 out of 100, compared to a 73 out of 100 that the Model Y gets for the year, but when you dig a little bit deeper, you can see that reliability numbers are opposite.

The Model 3 received a 3 out of 5, and the Model Y was given a 2 out of 5. The thing is, though, that the issues listed all fall under cosmetic issues for both models. The Model Y has problems related to paint and trim, just like the Model 3 does, but the Tesla Model Y also lists issues with the body hardware and noises caused by the body and frame while driving down the road. Honestly, these are not things that would cause many of you to consider either vehicle a bad investment. However, it is enough to make a difference in the reliability numbers given by one of the most reputable owner-review companies around.

3 The Model Y Is A More Successful Model

The little bit of advantages it has made the Model Y the more successful Tesla. It was launched only in 2020 but instantly became a popular model. For example, the 2022 Tesla Model Y is the fourth bestselling vehicle in the world, with 758,792 copies sold worldwide. Out of this, a total of 252,000 units were sold in the U.S. alone - which gives Tesla hopes that the Model Y will become the world's bestselling vehicle. If you want to do a little bit of comparison, during its first year on the market, the company sold 80,000 Model Y units. The sedan is not doing bad either, with a total of 501,000 2021 Tesla Model 3 units sold worldwide, and a total of 240,266 2022 Tesla Model 3s sold last year in the U.S. alone.

2 The Model 3 Has The Better Depreciation Value And Is Cheaper To Insure

According to current reports, the Tesla Model 3 will depreciate 21 percent after five years, while for the Model Y, the depreciation rate goes up to 39 percent. If you are planning to buy a used Tesla Model Y, you could save up to $10,000 if you opt for a two-year-old model and up to $13,000 when going for a three-year-old Model Y. When buying a used Tesla Model 3, you will save nothing if you go for a two-year-old model, and up to $12,500 when going for a three-year-old Model 3. It also costs less to Insure a Model 3: about $2,267 per year compared to about $3,461 per year for the Model Y.

1 The Tesla Model 3 Is Cheaper

For the 2023 model year, the Tesla Model 3's price will range from $42,990 to $53,990. Customers will get to choose between three trims: the standard RWD model, Long Range, and Performance. On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y is priced slightly higher, from $49,380 to $56,130, and customers can only choose between Long Range and Performance trims. Options for both models are very limited, and aside from the exterior and interior colors, you can also opt for the addition of the Enhanced Autopilot, priced at $6,000, or the Full Self-Driving Capability, priced at $15,000. The Model 3 is also about to receive an update, but it will most likely be offered for the 2024 model year.

Starting MSRP For 2023