There was once a prison term when Tesla was the new youngster on the block , but these day it ’s starting to age , with other companies like Rivian and Lucid taking that title . Perhaps that ’s most proven by the fact that Tesla is now on its second coevals of its so - call affordable EVs : the Tesla Model Y and the Tesla Model 3 .

The big refresh of the Model 3 , codenamed theTesla Model 3 Highland , was launch early in 2024 , with the Model Y ’s refresh , codenamed the Tesla Model Y Juniper , having now been foretell .

But which of the two cars is actually better ? Or , if neither is full , which is right for your pauperism ? We put the two head - to - forefront . Note , as you might have gathered by now , we ’re comparing the refreshed iterations of these vehicle — however , at the prison term of this writing , the Model Y Juniper was n’t uncommitted just yet in the U.S.

Design

Tesla apply a relatively uniform design language across its lineup of vehicle , and now that the Model Y has been refreshed , it looks a sight more like the current - generation Model 3 . That said , there are some remainder between the two vehicle , even apart from their sizes .

Sizes first though . The Model 3 is a sedan chair - sized vehicle measuring 185.8 inches long , 73 inches wide , and 56.7 inch high-pitched . It has an enclosed trunk like other sedan and is a number lower to the earth than any crossover or SUV . The Model Y Juniper is a little larger than that in jolly much every direction . It evaluate 188.9 inches long , 75.6 inches wide , and 63.9 inches magniloquent . On top of that , it ditch the enclose trunk for a hatchback - style trunk , and it ’s much more of a crossing over - sized vehicle equate to the Model 3 sedan chair .

There are some other design differences , though . With the Highland refresh , Tesla make the Model 3 much slimmer and deceiver headlights , which are n’t quite as bulbous as they were before . That said , Tesla is rent a different approach forthe Model Y Juniper . In place of two distinct headlights , the Model Y now has a retentive Christ Within taproom that ’s split up into three sections , like to that on the antecedently announcedTesla Cybercab .

That trend continues on the back too . The Model 3 Highland has two separated rear lights , and while they have a fresh design compared to the former generation Model 3 , they ’re not as revamp as the Model Y Juniper , which switches out clear-cut tail lights for a long swooning bar on the back . Regardless , both vehicles look pretty good , especially in their new , sleeker , and more modern lineup .

Ultimately , it ’s intemperate to grant one of these a “ win ” in the design category ; it ’s purely a issue of predilection .

Winner : Tie

Interior and tech

The interiors of the cars are also very similar . As you might expect , the Model Y , include the Model Y Juniper , has more interior space than the Model 3 , which read directly to more cargo space . Previous generations of the Model Y have tender another advantage to all that blank space : an option for seven seats . To be clear , the Model Y Juniper has only been announce as a five - seater for now , but we ’re gestate a seven - seater configuration at some decimal point in 2025 , specially as the Model Y nears a U.S. release . In the previous - gen Model Y , that third row was a little cramped — but at least it was big enough to put a few fry .

At the front of both railcar , you ’ll rule a large tablet - style infotainment display , and the experience is the same regardless of the car you get . You ’ll get Tesla ’s sensibly well - designed infotainment organization , which can show feeds from the legion cameras around the automobile , mathematical function info , and more . Neither of the carssupport Android Auto or CarPlay , unfortunately .

Both the Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper have some interior upgrades compare to their old - generation models . Notably , they both extend more ambient inflammation and a more unlined design that conflate the dashboard into the room access panels . They also provide a show for the second row passengers to command climate and even play plot , though it is a smaller showing .

The cars have the same overall midland experience , but the Model Y mark a win here by offering more blank on the inside — plus hopefully at some full stop soon the Model Y Juniper will come as a three - row vehicle .

Winner : Tesla Model Y

Performance

The degree of performance offer by the two vehicles is exchangeable , though there are some details about the Model Y Juniper ’s performance that we do n’t know just yet . The base Model 3 is a rearward - wheel drive vehicle , though there are two all - wheel drive version in the strain of the Model 3 Long Range All - Wheel Drive and the Model 3 Performance All - Wheel Drive . The base Model 3 can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds , while the Model 3 Performance gets up to accelerate in an fabulously telling 2.9 seconds .

The Model Y Juniper will be usable in RWD and AWD variants too . However , only two models have been herald so far . We are expect a Model Y Performance to join the Juniper lineup down the lineage , but we do n’t yet have details of what that might look like or even check that it ’s actually chance .

The numbers racket related to the Model Y performance are also a little off compared to the Model 3 ’s carrying out . This debate how fast it can accelerate to 100 klick per hour , or 62 mph . The base Model Y Juniper can get to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds , while the AWD Model Y Juniper does so in 4.3 secondment .

Things might be a little different once a Model Y Performance is release , but for now , the Tesla Model 3 is a short ready , in all probability due to its light weight .

success : Tesla Model 3

Range and charging

The chain of mountains offer up by the two vehicles is slenderly dissimilar , and we do n’t yet have EPA estimate for the Model Y Juniper .

The mean version of the Model 3 Highland has the in high spirits range , at 363 miles . The all - wheel driveway version offer 346 miles , while the Model 3 Performance has a grasp of 298 mil .

As mentioned , we do n’t yet have exact telephone number for the Model Y when it comes to EPA estimation . Instead , we have numbers as examine by the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle , or CLTC . Typically , CLTC numbers are gamey than Environmental Protection Agency , or EPA , numbers in the U.S. , as the CLTC tests are a little less strict . accord to the CLTC , the Model Y Juniper extend between 368 miles and 447 knot of range , depend on the bombardment size you get . Again , however , once the vehicle launch in the U.S. , cooking stove estimates will likely be lower .

While we ca n’t liken EPA estimates , we can at least equate CLTC estimates . In China , the bag Model 3 has a 634 kilometre ( 394 mile ) mountain range , while the Model 3 Long Range has a 713 km ( 443 mile ) range . In other words , while the recollective - range variants of these two vehicles offer a similar range , the al-Qaeda variants are a little different , with the Model 3 having a better range . Of of course , there ’s no Model Y Performance to equate the Model 3 Performance to yet .

Both fomite institutionalise at 250kW , which is reasonably quick but not the quickest charge velocity you could get properly now , which is 350kW.

Given the fact that the base Model 3 has a better range than the al-Qa’ida Model Y , it ’s the winner here .

Pricing and availability

electrical cars are still relatively expensive , but the Model 3 and Model Y are on the miserable end of electric cars that are actually high - quality . The Model 3 starts at $ 42,490 for the base model , range up to $ 54,990 for the Model 3 Performance . We do n’t yet have prices for the Model Y Juniper in the U.S. , but we ’re expecting it to add up at a similar price to the previous generation Model Y , which is presently usable at a al-Qaida price of $ 44,990 .

Technically , both a Model 3 and a Model Y are available in the U.S. right now , but if you need the Model Y Juniper , you ’ll have to await a little . That said , given that the Model 3 is cheaper than the Model Y , we ’re pass on it the win in this class .

Overall winner: Tesla Model 3

There are a few thing that make the Model 3 better in some way than the Model Y , like the fact that it ’s faster and has a higher compass in the base good example . That said , those differences are relatively minor for most emptor . The fact is that most customers should make their determination based on the size of it of the fomite they want and , if they want a larger one , whether they can afford the high price of the Model Y. In other language , most customers are deciding between smaller and cheaper , or openhanded and more expensive . Unfortunately , that ’s a immanent decision to make .