Key Takeaways
- Tesla has been instrumental in fueling the boom in electrification, making mass-market electric cars a reality.
- Tesla offers a variety of EV models ranging from premium sedans to compact SUVs, with varying price points and features.
- The Cybertruck, Tesla’s unique angular pickup truck, pushes the envelope in innovation, despite facing production challenges.
Whatever the future may hold for electric vehicles, you can thank Tesla for its large contribution to EV’s progress in the 21st century. The electric car company has been credited with fueling the boom in electrification, making mass-market electric cars a reality for millions of drivers, and spurring the rest of the industry into action. It’s been a huge success, and the number of Teslas you see on the road is testament to that. But that success is now rivaled by increasing competition and more options on the market.
What started as a conversation about the Tesla Model S — and its feel-it-to-believe-it acceleration — has evolved into a full roster of vehicles for consumers to choose from. So how do these Tesla models compare?
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A quick status update on Tesla
Not just an EV manufacturer
To say that Tesla is an electric vehicle brand is almost too severe a simplification. Today, Tesla has investments and projects in renewable energy, battery technology, AI, robotics, and even serves as a utility provider in select markets. Now headquartered just outside of Austin, Texas, Tesla produces its vehicles and other products in plants across North America, Europe, and Asia. Its goal, at least in its automobile division, is to produce electric cars that are either premium or affordable for everyday consumers — with an expanding portfolio of models. Elon Musk, one of five original founders of the company, holds the position of CEO.
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Which Tesla model is right for you?
You have a variety of options
Michael Fortsch / Unsplash
As it stands, Tesla produces five distinct EV models currently in active production that consumers can order online. The lineup currently consists of the Model S, a premium sedan; Model X, a premium SUV; and the Model 3 and Model Y, which are their more affordable sedan and SUV offerings, respectively. Tesla now also offers its latest vehicle, the Cybertruck, as it attempts to gain ground in the crowded but huge pickup truck market. All prices listed here are before tax incentives, which vary widely depending on current legislation and municipality.
All models offer Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) as standard, which brings a range of driver assistance features. Buyers can add the “(Supervised) Full-Self Driving” package to any model for $8,000, which includes auto lane change, navigation on Autopilot, Autopark, Smart Summon, as well as traffic light and stop sign recognition for use off the highway. This package also comes with the promise that one day your vehicle will be fully autonomous, though that remains to be seen.
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Tesla Model S
A premium sports sedan with a good reputation
Tesla
- All-Wheel Drive: $72,990, 402 miles, 0-60 in 3.1s
- Plaid: $87,990, 359 miles, 0-60 in 1.99s
The Tesla Model S is the company’s longest-running model and is in its third generation since launching in 2012 as a premium sports sedan. The Tesla Model S helped put Tesla on the map as an automaker back when no one had heard about supercharging, and EV skepticism was at its absolute highest. Currently, the Model S is offered in two variants, sold as either “All-Wheel Drive” or “Plaid,” with the latter being what happens when talented engineers design a car that can do 0-60 mph in under two seconds. Both versions operate with all-wheel drive, powered by two motors and three motors, respectively.
The Tesla Model S helped put Tesla on the map as an automaker back when no one had heard about supercharging.
The Model S is clearly intended as a luxury offering, and while Tesla has not used any animal leathers since 2019, the vinyl seats and wood trims are certainly aiming for a higher-end finish. The interior also boasts a 22-speaker, 960-watt sound system for pumping your tunes while leaving some 99% of vehicles in the dust (please drive safely). Drivers control practically all aspects of the car from a gorgeous 17-inch screen that can tilt left and right for easier use by either the driver or passenger. A rear 8-inch screen placed at the back of the center console provides your back-seat passengers with the option to control their own A/C and seat heaters, access streaming apps, and play music.
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Tesla Model 3
A more affordable alternative
Tesla
- Rear-Wheel Drive: $38,990, 272 miles, 0-60 in 5.8s
- Long Range All-Wheel Drive $47,740, 341 miles, 0-60 in 4.2s
- Performance All-Wheel Drive $53,990, 296 miles, 0-60 in 2.9s
The Tesla Model 3 launched in the US in 2016 as the affordable alternative to the Model S. In 2024, the second-generation Model 3 was launched with interior design and material tweaks, and exterior styling changes to make it more aerodynamic, serving as a fairly substantial upgrade from the original. Most recently, Tesla launched the newest Performance trim of the second-generation Model 3, extracting the highest potential from the new Model 3 form factor without cannibalizing market share from the Model S.
The Model 3 is a reliable and sporty sedan.
While it serves as the more affordable sedan option from Tesla, the Model 3 is still a very sporty ride and a blast to drive, even more so now in its newest iteration. The Model 3 has a 15″ screen at the center of the vehicle, from which drivers control all aspects of the vehicle, including gear changes. The newest Model 3 somewhat controversially removed the gear stalks from behind the steering wheel. The Model 3 now also features the same smaller rear screen as seen in the Model S.
Finally, one of the best new features in the current generation of the Model 3 is the ventilated seats, which can be turned on remotely from the Tesla app along with the rest of the climate control system. The Model 3 is a reliable and sporty sedan, meant to deliver a fun drive while still being a bit more family and budget-friendly.
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Tesla Model X
A bolder choice
Tesla
- All-Wheel Drive: $63,990, 335 miles, 0-60 in 3.8s
- Plaid: $86,490, 326 miles, 0-60 in 2.5s
The Tesla Model X was an absolute statement when it launched in 2015 with its “falcon-wing” doors. The electric SUV is capable of seating up to seven people and is by far the largest and most spacious model in the Tesla lineup. It should be said that the Model X appears to be the most neglected of the Tesla models, having last received a refresh in 2021, though the company could always surprise us in the near term. As it sells today, the Model X features the same high-end interior styling, a 17″ tiltable screen, and a smaller rear screen as the Model S. It is, for all intents and purposes, a very big Model S, offered in the same All-Wheel Drive and Plaid variants.
While this model was absolutely novel upon its launch, it has yielded some market share in the luxury electric SUV category to a growing chorus of automakers releasing high-end electric SUVs, from BMW and Audi to Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce.
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Tesla Model Y
A best-seller that looks toward the future
Tesla
- Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive: $44,990, 320 miles, 0-60 in 6.5s
- Long Range All-Wheel Drive $47,990, 310 miles, 0-60 in 4.8s
- Performance All-Wheel Drive $51,490, 279 miles, 0-60 in 3.5s
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the world in 2023. If that doesn’t illustrate how far EVs and Tesla have come, then I don’t know what will. The Model Y is a compact SUV that seats five, though it can be a little snug if there are three adults in the back. Crucially, it’s significantly more affordable than Tesla’s other SUV option, the Model X. The compact SUV segment is a hugely competitive market, and the Model Y stands out as a joy to drive, extremely reliable, and unbelievably practical thanks to its generous cargo space between the trunk, under-trunk compartment, and “frunk.” Tesla also sells a 7-seat configuration for the Model Y, but again, it’s a snug fit, and you sacrifice a lot of trunk space to accommodate those two extra seats.
Crucially, it’s significantly more affordable than Tesla’s other SUV option, the Model X.
The interior styling of the Model Y, with its single 15″ center screen and non-ventilated seats, is borrowed from the first generation of the Model 3, save for some small interior tweaks like a refreshed center console added in 2021. The Model Y is still in its first generation, but if recent price reductions and low APR incentives are anything to go by, Tesla seems to be clearing out inventory to make way for a likely refresh.
While the current version may lack the bells and whistles of some recently refreshed models, the Tesla Model Y is, in my opinion, simply the best family car that Tesla currently produces. Potential buyers can either pick one up today at the best pricing in years, or hold out for the newest version, whenever that may be.
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Tesla Cybertruck
A disruption with a futuristic flare
Tesla
- Rear-Wheel Drive: $60,990, 250 miles, 0-60 in 6.5s, available in 2025
- All-Wheel Drive $79,990, 340 miles, 0-60 in 4.1s, delivery in 2025
- Cyberbeast $99,990, 320 miles, 0-60 in 2.6s, delivery in 2025
The Cybertruck was first unveiled in November 2019 — as Tesla shifted its focus to a pickup truck format — and intended to enter one of the most competitive and crucial automobile spaces in North America. The newest model from Tesla launched with a unique angular design, formed with a stainless steel body and shatter-resistant glass. It has a 6-foot by 4-foot bed and offers 11,000 pounds of towing capacity on its All-Wheel Drive and Cyberbeast models.
It’s the first model from Tesla to offer bidirectional charging.
The Cybertruck, in its current form, feels like a proof of concept being sold to the general public. Like most first generation products, Tesla’s new truck has faced hurdles on the way to production and growing pains since its launch, including recalls and reports of the rugged, powerful truck getting stuck in snow and sand. Its gross weight of over three tons might have something to do with that. Admirably, the Cybertruck pushes the envelope in a number of ways, from its innovative 48-volt wiring architecture to its drive-by-wire steering control. It’s also the first model from Tesla to offer bidirectional charging, as the Cybertruck features integrated 120V and 240V outlets in its bed and cabin, capable of providing up to 11.5 KW of power output. This allows the Cybertruck to power any manner of devices, or even provide emergency power to your home in the event of a power outage.
We’re likely a few years from seeing the full potential of the Cybertruck, with a smooth-running production line and more accessible price points, but for now, it serves as an innovative entry in the electric pickup truck category.
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Innovative vehicles from the biggest player in the space
It’s about budget and preferences, but there’s no wrong choice
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You can’t go wrong with any model from Tesla’s original S3XY lineup, and I’m hopeful that the Cybertruck will come into its own given enough time. Tesla has long been at the forefront of the electrification push, and they show no signs of slowing down. The company is sure to remain a central figure in the industry, and whether it be new models, or robotaxis, they are certain to play a significant role in the EV space for years to come.
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