Tesla Model Y RWD faces off against Model 3 SR+: It’s spacious, but is it really an upgrade?

With the Tesla Model Y crossover now being delivered to drivers across Australia, there has been a massive increase in listings of Model 3 sedans.

As reported by The Driven’s Riz Akhtar, the number of used Model 3 listings have increased ninefold since January in Australia.

Without a doubt, it is clear that a considerable number of Tesla owners are selling their beloved Model 3s. But the question of whether swapping out the 3 for a Model Y can be considered an upgrade has also arisen in forums.

And it’s a fair question: While the Model Y is larger and without a doubt more spacious, its handling is far different and its acceleration slower.

It’s as good a time as any to pull this topic apart. And what better way to do it than compare my early 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus with its replacement, the 2022 Tesla Model Y RWD that I took delivery of in early August.

Firstly, the specs. The 2021 Model 3 SR+ I took delivery of in March 2021 came with a 50kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, a 239kW motor,  and 0-100km/hr acceleration in 5.6 seconds. After 30,000km, it says it has around 405km range (down from 424km).

My Model Y has a 60kWh LFP battery, 220kW motor and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. Charging it to full, it says it has 435km range.

Both have the same connectivity options, including 4 USB ports and wireless smartphone charging.

For a rundown on comparison of size specifications, you can see all the basics here.

Model 3 versus Model Y ride and handling

I handed over my Model 3 to its new owner on Monday with a fair deal of sadness (I loved that car!). It was the first sedan I had owned in donkey’s years, after being seduced by the Performance Model 3 when it first became available in 2019.

The car has really been great. With super snappy handling (I love sport mode for the Model 3 over chill or standard), I also loved the standard but swift acceleration for what is essentially Tesla’s entry-level car.

Standard mode steering is also quite good while chill mode really tends to dial down a bit in terms of responsiveness. But I find the Model 3 is better designed for tight maneuvers and quick turns, hugging tight roundabouts and that sort of thing.

The Model Y by comparison is a very different beast. Although I saw the Model Y in Tesla’s Brisbane showroom as soon as it became available to order I wasn’t able to drive it.

Having owned it now for two weeks, it’s taken me a little while to adjust to the different handling after getting used to the weight and size of the car.

In terms of like driving style, I took the Model Y I immediately off sport steering mode. It feels better suited to standard steering, at least for now. Maybe once I’m more used to it I’ll want some more responsive.And it’s nice to have the choice.

Even though the Y still has a battery underneath the floor, the vehicle itself is quite a bit taller – 181mm to be exact.

It has discernibly more roll on the corners, and I found initially that I was more careful slowing down for roundabouts, although the longer I drive it the less I find the need to slow down that much.

I find that the suspension is quite a bit different, too – although perhaps the opposite to the hard ride that I’ve read about from others’ test drives.

It’s a slightly bouncier drive, and although I can feel road bumps I do think it’s less than in the Model 3. That could be because I have 40psi in the Model Y tyres compared to 45-46psi in the Model 3.

Model 3 versus Model Y space and size

While the Model Y is ostensibly made with 75% of the same parts as the Model 3, it really is a lot bigger and more spacious.

After the Model Y was delivered and we had both vehicles parked in the driveway, I had to laugh because my partner started calling the Model 3 “baby Tesla”.

Because of that we now have to find a name for the Model Y that doesn’t include references to bums – because it’s got such a big rear end that I’ve been calling it the “big mama” – which is really just not as cute!

From the outside, my partner thinks it looks like someone has stuck it in Photoshop and stretched it height-wise. Visually, this seems to hide the fact that the Model Y is in fact almost 13cm wider than the 3.

Inside, the difference is obvious – and for us, this is where the term upgrade begins to win out. There’s more leg room, and although I didn’t find this a big problem in the Model 3’s front row, but it was definitely more of an issue in the back.

One big win for us is that the seats are higher. Thanks to risers underneath the Y seats, this makes getting in and out of the car far easier. The Model 3 seat comes up to my knee compared to the Model Y seat that comes halfway up my thigh (I’m 178cm tall.) This means the seating position is also more upright, which for me is also a win.

For those who find it hard getting up out of the chair for health or age reasons, the Model Y is probably the vehicle of choice. One person suggested that if you are over 60, get a Y.

There’s also a lot more headroom. The back seats feel roomier, and there is also more legroom for back seat passengers.

In the frunk – the storage space under the bonnet – the Model Y also offers a lot more room (117 litres versus 88 litres.) I would say you could easily fit three ice bags in the front storage area as opposed to the Model Y which is really only just big enough for two. (Because we all want to know how many bags of ice we can take down to the beach, right?)

The rear is obviously a big win for me personally. As the designated food gatherer I no longer have to lean down to get bags in and out of the car.

I also have a travel fridge that I bought when I used to own a Santa Fe and I wanted to go camping with the kids. The travel fridge is made by Waeco and is (from memory) a 28 litre fridge. Enough to keep some milk, bacon, cheese and so on cool in the car while travelling.

However, I found can’t get that fridge into the back of the Model 3. Not so with the Y, as it has a large hatch at the back with plenty of entry room.

And in addition to having the hatch, it’s also got levers in the back cargo space area. This means if you are already at the back of the car and you need to put something long in cargo space, you can put the seats down using the lever. Just make sure nobody is in the way on the back seat because they flip down with a bit of force.

I also like that the seats lie flat. They don’t lie flat in the Model 3; I found this was a big trade off between having that sporty car versus something with space and flexibility.

For keen travellers this is a major winning point – just chuck some blankets and a mattress in the back and who needs to put up a tent when you get to your favourite weekend spot!

More comfort, less visibility

There are other comfort features that I really prefer in the Model Y. Like the fact it comes with heated seats in the rear as well as the front, and it also has a heated steering wheel.

Even though I live in the Northern Rivers where it’s warm most of the year – when it is cold, I do tend to get cold hands. Because of this I really like having that heated steering wheel on cold days. And this is a car I will probably grow old with, I know that I’m going really going to appreciate having the heated steering wheel as the years go on as well.

I also find that the seats in the front of the Model Y feel like they hug the body a bit more – matching the whole Model Y aesthetic.

There’s also a coat hook! Big win, although I still miss the presence of corner handles above the door.

Some minor negatives are less visibility out the front and back. The bonnet tends to take up more of the vision space in the Model Y depending on how high you like to have your seat, and there is less visibility out the back. I was surprised by this but because the Model Y has a more sloped rear window, it really only offers a small sliver via the rear vision mirror.

Additionally, the dark window tinting in the rear of the car means it is a lot darker in the back as a whole. It doesn’t bother me too much thanks to Tesla’s rear camera display, but its worth considering for those who appreciate a good head check.

Those who travel in a lot of traffic will appreciate the addition of the “bioweapon-ready” HEPA filter – you can access this by hitting the temperature on the screen.

Lastly, the addition of mudguards, plus a plastic undertray rather than the felt undertray that tends to erode on the Model 3, are a win. It’s not uncommon for those driving or living in areas with dirt or gravel roads for the felt tray to erode at the front, requiring replacement.

In the end it’s always a personal choice, whether you want a snappy and seductive sedan, or a spacious flexible camping companion. The only problem is choosing.