2024 Tesla Model 3 RWD vs 2024 Tesla Model Y RWD
Fuel economy, annual cost, and emissions compared side by side, based on official EPA data.
Tesla Model 3 is more fuel efficient: 132 MPGe combined versus 120 MPGe for the Tesla Model Y.
Spec comparison
| Spec | 2024 Tesla Model 3 RWD | 2024 Tesla Model Y RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Combined fuel economy | 132 MPGe | 120 MPGe |
| City / highway | 140 / 125 MPGe | 128 / 112 MPGe |
| Annual fuel cost estimate | $550 | $650 |
| CO2 emissions | 0 g/mi | 0 g/mi |
| Tank size | Not applicable. This is a fully electric vehicle with no fuel tank. | Not applicable. This is a fully electric vehicle with no fuel tank. |
How these compare
Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y are both fully electric and get cross shopped directly against each other. At 132 versus 120 MPGe combined, the Tesla Model 3 is rated 10% more efficient, meaning it will travel further on the same amount of electricity. Since both run on electricity at whatever price you pay locally, this efficiency gap translates directly into a lower cost per mile for the Tesla Model 3, unlike a gas versus electric comparison where the two vehicles run on independently priced fuels.
Cost over time
That annual gap compounds the longer you own the vehicle. Over three years of ownership at the same 15,000 miles a year assumption, the fuel cost difference between the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y grows to roughly $300; over five years, it's closer to $500. These figures assume EPA's flat national average fuel price throughout, so treat them as a directional estimate rather than a precise forecast, since real fuel prices rise and fall over any multi-year period.
Emissions over time
At 15,000 miles a year, both vehicles work out to roughly 0.0 metric tons of tailpipe CO2 annually, essentially identical.
Range and refueling
Neither vehicle here uses a conventional fuel tank, so a fill-up range comparison doesn't apply directly to either. Charging or refueling speed and availability matter more for day to day convenience in this case than a simple range figure.
Frequently asked questions
The Tesla Model 3 is, rated at 132 MPGe combined versus 120 MPGe for the Tesla Model Y, a 10% difference.
Not necessarily. Fuel is only one part of ownership cost alongside purchase price, insurance, financing, and maintenance. A meaningfully lower purchase price or insurance premium on the less efficient vehicle can outweigh its higher fuel cost depending on how many miles you drive each year and how long you plan to keep it.
EPA's own estimate, assuming 15,000 miles a year at each vehicle's combined rating and EPA's assumed national average fuel price, puts the Tesla Model 3 at $550 a year and the Tesla Model Y at $650 a year, a gap of roughly $100. Your own annual cost will differ based on your actual mileage and local fuel price.
Both are rated at essentially the same 0 grams of CO2 per mile, since tailpipe CO2 emissions are calculated directly from fuel burned and the two vehicles have matching fuel economy ratings.
Less than a gas-versus-electric comparison would. Since both vehicles run on electricity, they're both equally exposed to whatever your local electricity price is, so the more efficient vehicle's lower cost per mile holds regardless of whether your electricity is cheap or expensive, unlike a comparison against a gasoline vehicle where gas and electricity prices move independently.
It can shift the real comparison. The Tesla Model 3 shows a 15 MPGe spread between its city and highway ratings (140 city, 125 highway), while the Tesla Model Y shows a 16 MPGe spread (128 city, 112 highway). If your driving leans heavily toward one condition rather than a typical mix, comparing the relevant city or highway figure directly can be more useful than the blended combined rating used above.
The percentage efficiency gap between the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y stays the same regardless of mileage, but the dollar amount scales directly with how much you actually drive. A driver covering 25,000 miles a year would see roughly 67% more of the annual cost gap shown above, while someone driving 7,500 miles a year would see about half of it.