March 19, 2024 7:15 am EST Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images Buying a new car is not a decision to take lightly. A model chosen in haste that doesn't fit your needs could cost you a lot over time and never reach even a fraction of its potential. Research is the key to ensuring your vehicle is right for you in the long run (should you intend to keep driving it long-term). Advertisement With a Tesla, there's even more to consider, especially if you're new to the emerging world of electric vehicles. The EV movement is continually gaining momentum, with Kelley Blue Book stating they achieved around 1.2 million sales in the U.S. in 2023, according to Cox Automotive. Tesla has long been a force in the EV space, so the company has had to be flexible. Adapting and expanding its range has been a crucial element for Tesla, in its continued attempts to try and cover the different things potential customers might want in such a vehicle. Those beginning to look into Tesla's offerings may wonder what the difference is between the Tesla Model S and Model 3. Let's compare the specs and variations of the two different Teslas. Advertisement The evolution of the Tesla Model 3 and Model S Sjoerd Van Der Wal/Getty Images In late 2020, the Model 3 received some design revisions. These included range boosts (the Long Range reportedly being able to hit 353 miles and the Performance model 315 miles), an updated trim, and a console better equipped to charge devices. The very fact that the Performance Model could hit a range previously reserved for the Long Range Model 3 demonstrates that the vehicle's practicality and performance continue to evolve. Meanwhile, the 2020 Performance Model's $56,190 price point broadens the options for potential drivers and, perhaps, highlights the issue of the differences between the two. The 2023 All Wheel Drive model boasts a speed of up to 162.2 mph, an 82.1 kWh battery, and a 0-60 of 3.1 seconds. Advertisement Late 2014 into 2015 was a transformative time for the Model S. Sophisticated electromechanical brakes, a two-motor 691 hp system, and Tesla Autopilot were added for the 60D to P85D Model S, and by 2023, an additional motor powered the Plaid model to around 1,020 hp, with a range of 373 miles (this being approximate as always). Putting the Plaid through its paces for the first time that year, Top Gear's Tom Ford concluded, "0-62 miles an hour in just over two seconds. Now, that's simply ridiculously fast for a five-seat saloon with heated everything and a big boot." While the Plaid far outperforms the Performance Model 3, there's more to the equation. The choice between the two models Sean Gallup/Getty Images As an entry-level car in the range, the Model 3 is not expected to 'compete' with the Model S. Rather, it's a vehicle that aims to excel among EVs in its price point, just as the Model S does on its own. Though the latter comes at a premium, the justification for this is that not only is it a formidable vehicle, but it's also equipped with certain Tesla features that its cheaper counterpart is not. Advertisement Both are very 'Tesla' in the predominantly digital nature of their controls, but the Type S is a more powerful and larger machine: Approximately 9.8 inches longer and 1.2 inches wider, the size difference may seem insignificant, but it translates to approximately two extra cubic feet of storage in the Model S (a total of around 25 feet versus the Model 3's 23) and more room for occupants compared to the other Tesla five-seater. In contrast, the lighter frame of the Model 3 translates to 119 Wh/km, compared to the Model S's 146 Wh/km. Comparing the two Long Range variants, the Model S's 17-inch screen, 22 speakers, and additional driver display tops that of the Model 3, with 17 speakers, a 15.4-inch screen, and no such display. Advertisement