What Are the Differences Between the 2023 Tesla Model 3 and the 2023 Tesla Model Y?

Are you interested in purchasing a Tesla? You don’t know if you want a crossover or a sedan, do you? You, the reader, are the target audience for this comparison. If you are having trouble deciding between the more compact Model 3 and the Model Y, we have the official numbers that can help you choose the model that is going to serve your requirements the best.

There are still some significant distinctions between the 3 and the Y, despite the fact that the two models are relatively comparable to one another, especially when aesthetics are taken into consideration. Let’s have a look at how they compare to one another and how they differ from one another.

The dimensions as well as the capacities

The fact that the Model Y SUV is somewhat larger than the Model 3 it mimics certainly won’t shatter your concept of reality all that much, but the fact that the two aren’t really that separated from each other is still important to note.

The length of the Model Y, which measures 187.0 inches, is only a few of inches longer than the Model 3, which is 184.8 inches. On the subject of the wheelbase, they are even more comparable, with the Model Y’s 113.8-inch span being just 0.6 inches longer than that of the Model 3. Additionally, the Model Y is wider by 1.6 inches and has a ground clearance that is 1.3 inches higher than the Model X.

Again, the Model Y has the advantage when it comes to the interior proportions, but not always. Although the front and back headroom of the Model 3 and the Model Y are within an inch of each other, the former is superior to the latter. It’s interesting to note that the Model 3 has 0.9 inches more front legroom than the Model Y, and the sedan also has 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the hatchback. The Model Y continues to reign supreme when it comes to back legroom, with 40.5 inches of space to stretch out compared to the Model 3’s 35.2 inches.

When comparing cargo space, there is a significant gap. When there are five occupants in the vehicle, the Model 3 has a cargo capacity of 22.9 cubic feet. This is significantly less than the Model Y, which has a volume of 34.3 cubic feet. However, if you were to squeeze seven passengers into the Model Y, the available space would be reduced to only 17 cubic feet. Having said that, there is no way seven adults can fit inside of a Model 3.

Horsepower

This section presents a few challenges. Only performance parameters are made public by Tesla; the company does not provide any numbers relating to horsepower or torque. Nevertheless, the documents that the company submitted to the EPA reveal several horsepower ratings that were not publicly disclosed.

According to the documentation, the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) has a single rear motor that can produce 257 horsepower. The two motors that come standard on the Model 3 Long Range combine to produce a total of 393 horsepower, while the Model 3 Performance comes standard with 430 horsepower. When it comes to the Model Y, the base model, the Long Range model, and the Performance model all produce 390 horsepower, although the Performance model only produces 418 horsepower total.

Acceleration, as well as Maximum Speed

As of the time of this writing (Tesla is fond of shaking up their lineup), the Model 3 is available in three different trim levels: The rear-wheel drive system is standard on the base model; however, both the Long Range and Performance variants include a second motor and all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive needs 5.8 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour and can reach a maximum speed of 140 miles per hour. The Model 3 Long Range reduces the time needed to reach 60 miles per hour to 4.2 seconds and increases the maximum speed to 145 miles per hour. The Model 3 Performance comes in first place, with acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph.

On the Model Y side of things, the dual-motor all-wheel drive system is standard on all three trim levels: basic, Long Range, and Performance. The base model and the Long Range version both have top speeds of 135 miles per hour, however the base model’s acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour takes only 5.0 seconds, which is only two-tenths of a second slower than the Long Range model. When equipped with the Performance package, the vehicle’s acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour is reduced to 3.5 seconds, and its top speed is increased to 155 miles per hour.

The EPA estimates that the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive has the shortest range of any of the variants that have been discussed in this comparison. However, increasing the output on the Performance model incurs a range penalty, settling at a still-good 315 miles as a result. This can be avoided by upgrading to the Model 3 Long Range, which improves the figure to an amazing 333 miles and is the best of this lot.