Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model Y?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Tesla Model 3 is about $3,875 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model Y?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model Y?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the Tesla Model 3 better than the Tesla Model Y?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	Tesla Model 3	Tesla Model Y
MotiveGrid Score	79	75
Cost of Ownership	76	67
Powertrain	71	71
Driver Assistance	30	30
Livability	57	43
Safety	93	100
5-Year Cost to Own	$48,889	$52,764
Depreciation (5-yr)	$23,045	$25,034
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$3,034	$2,863
Insurance (5-yr)	$12,590	$14,260
Maintenance (5-yr)	$1,125	$1,125
Tires (5-yr)	$1,875	$1,750
Financing (5-yr)	$5,565	$6,017
Registration (5-yr)	$1,655	$1,715
Starting Price	$36,990	$39,990
Horsepower	271 hp	295 hp
Electric range	321 mi	321 mi
Cargo volume	16.6 cu ft	76 cu ft
Seating	5	5
Towing capacity	—	3,500 lbs
Drivetrain	RWD	RWD

Tesla Model 3 vs Tesla Model Y

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Tesla Model 3 vs Tesla Model Y

Tesla Model 3 vs. Tesla Model Y

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