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Tesla buying guide 2021: Here's how every Model, Roadster and Cybertruck compare

Tesla's four vehicles have different range, performance, features and prices

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Tesla's streamlined product portfolio makes it easier than most manufacturers to directly compare its vehicles.

There are far fewer complicated trim options and extra technology, performance and safety packages to wade through, and just four different types of vehicle to pick from. Even the color palette is limited to just a handful of options, keeping things simple when it comes to making your purchase.

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We've lined up every car Tesla currently sells, ranging from the entry-level Model 3, right up to the new 'Plaid+' version of Model S, which is available for pre-order ahead of deliveries beginning at the end of 2021.

We have decided to include the cash price before incentives for every vehicle, as the incentives available vary by location.

Many features are the same across the Tesla product range, including much of the interior with its heated, power-adjustable seats, giant touchscreen with apps and games, and wireless phone charging. However, in January 2021 the Model S and X received a major update, featuring a new touch screen, yoke-style steering wheel, secondary display for rear passengers who want to play games, a 22-speaker sound system and more. We have gone into greater detail on these changes here.

Autopilot is also included with all new Teslas, enabling them to steer, accelerate and brake automatically on certain roads. This is an advanced driver assistance system, but is not yet designed to function without the driver paying full attention.

An additional package called Full Self-Driving Capability costs $10,000 (up from $8,000 in 2020). This includes a feature that lets the car follow the navigation system when on the highway, dealing with on and off ramps, interchanges and the overtaking of slower vehicles. It also includes automated parallel and perpendicular parking, the Summon feature where the car will drive itself to its owner (on private land only, like a parking lot). Tesla says automatic steering on city streets is coming later in 2021.

Full Self-Driving Capability can be bought after the car is purchased, via a software update, but Tesla says prices "are likely to increase over time with new future releases." It also says the current features "require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous."

Tesla Model 3 range, performance, colors, options and price

Tesla Model 3Tesla Model 3Tesla

The Model 3 is Tesla's smallest car, and is intended to compete against the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 in the compact premium sedan segment (although the Model 3 is technically a hatchback).

All versions of Model 3 come with a central storage console, four USB-C ports and two smartphones wireless charging points. They also all come with a tinted glass roof, power folding, auto-dimming and heated side mirrors, Bluetooth and the ability to add a custom profile for each driver.

Only the white paint option is free with the Model 3, with paid-for options being black, silver, blue and red. These all cost $1,000, apart from red which is $2,000.

All versions of Model 3 come with a black interior with wooden dashboard as standard. An option with white seats and door panels, and a silver dashboard, costs an additional $1,000. The Standard Range Plus and Long Range versions of Model 3 come with two wheel options, the free 18-inch Aero Wheels, and the $1,500 19-inch Sport Wheels. The Performance version is only offered with the free 20-inch Uberturbine wheels.



  • Standard Range Plus – From $36,990

The entry-level Model 3 has a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. It has an estimated range of 263 miles, a top speed of 140 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.

Tesla says the car has a "partial premium interior," which includes 12-way power adjustable heated front seats and free access to the Premium Connectivity pack for 30 days. This includes satellite maps and live traffic data, internet streaming for music and media, video streaming, a karaoke app and an internet browser. After the 30-day free trial this package costs $10 a month if the owner wants to keep using it.

  • Long Range – From $46,990

The mid-range Model 3 is called the Long Range and it has two electric motors delivering all-wheel-drive. It has an estimated range of 263 miles (again, Tesla is waiting on the EPA figures), a top speed of 140 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.

Inside, the Long Range gets Tesla's premium interior, which is the same as mentioned above but includes a year's free access to Premium Connectivity (which is $10 after that), plus LED fog lamps, heated rear seats (as well as front) and floor mats fitted as standard.

Color and wheel options (and prices) are the same as the Standard Range Plus.

  • Performance – From $55,990

The flagship of the Model 3 line is the Performance, which is also all-wheel-drive, has an EPA estimated range of 315 miles, a top speed of 162 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds.

The Model 3 Performance comes with only one choice of wheel, the new 20-inch Uberturbines, and paint options (and costs) are the same as mentioned above. The Performance car also gains uprated brakes, lowered suspension, a carbon fiber trunk spoiler, a set of aluminum alloy pedals, and Track Mode, which is a traction and stability control setting designed for use on the racetrack.

Tesla Model Y range, performance, colors, options and price

The Tesla Model Y uses the same chassis as the Model 3Tesla

The Model Y is Tesla's newest car. It uses the same chassis as the Model 3 and features an almost identical interior, but it is taller and offers more space inside. The Model Y lineup is very similar to that of the Model 3, but there are just two versions to pick from.

Paint options are the same across both the Model 3 and Model Y lines, which means white is free, black, silver and blue cost $1,000, and red is $2,000.

Both versions of Model Y have a black, five-seat interior layout as standard. Changing to a seven-seat option, with two seats fold-out seats in the trunk, costs $3,000. This option will be available from 2021. As with the Model 3, the Model Y's black and white interior option costs an additional $1,000.

  • Standard Range – From $39,990

The entry-level Model Y has an EPS-estimated range of 244 miles, a top speed of 135mph and a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds.

  • Long Range – From $49,990

The entry-level Model Y is the Long Range, which is a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive car with an EPA estimated range of 326 miles, a top speed of 135 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds.

Wheel options for the Model Y Long Range are the free 19-inch Gemini Wheels and the 20-inch Induction Wheels, which costs $2,000.

  • Performance – From $60,990

The flagship Model Y Performance has an EPA-estimated range of 303 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. As with the Model 3, the Model Y Performance also gets the new Uberturbine Wheels as standard (up from 20 to 21 inches here), plus uprated brakes, lowered suspension and aluminum alloy pedals.

Tesla Model S range, performance, colors, options and price


New 2021 Tesla Model SNew 2021 Tesla Model STesla

There are three versions of Model S, but while the flagship Plaid+ can be ordered now, Tesla doesn't expect deliveries to begin until late 2021. The newly updated Long Range and Plaid versions of the Model S will be available from March 2021.

All versions of Model S come with white paint for free. Paid-for options of black, silver and blue cost $1,500, while red costs $2,500. All versions come with 19-inch Tempest wheels as standard, or can be configured with the optional (and new for 2021) Arachnid wheels, which cost $4,500. All versions of Model S come with a black interior as standard; with the Long Range having wood trim and the Plaid versions getting carbon fiber details. All three can be switched to black and white or cream for $2,000. Every Model S – indeed, every new Tesla sold in 2021 – is all-wheel-drive.

The all-new interior of the 2021 Tesla Model SThe all-new interior of the 2021 Tesla Model STesla

  • Long Range – From $78,490

The all-new Model S Land Range has an estimated range of 412 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds.

The interior is black with ash wood detailing as standard and comes with heated seats for every passenger, plus heated steering wheel, wiper blade defrosters and washer nozzle heaters, and ventilated seats in the front. The Model S also has an HEPA air filtration system as standard and a year of free access to Premium Connectivity (which costs $10 a month afterwards).

Bluetooth, LED fog lamps, tinted glass roof, auto dimming, power folding and heated side mirrors, and wireless phone chargers also all come as standard, along with a new 22-speaker sound system and second touch screen display for rear passengers to control car systems and play games on.

  • Plaid – From $118,490

The new 2021 Model S Plaid has an estimated range of 390 miles, a top speed of 200 mph and a 0-60 mph time of just 1.9 seconds, thanks to a huge 1,020 horsepower from Tesla's new triple-motor drivetrain with torque vectoring. The Plaid also gets a carbon fiber trunk spoiler and an interior with carbon fiber detailing as standard.

  • Plaid+ – From $138,490

Finally for the Model S, Tesla has opened pre-orders for an even quicker version, called the Plaid+. Due to arrive in late 2021, this car promises an estimated range of over 520 miles, a 200 mph top speed, and a 0-60 mph time of under 1.99 seconds, making it the quickest production car currently on sale. Tesla also claims a quarter-mile sprint time of under nine seconds and a power output of over 1,100 horsepower from the new three-motor configuration.

Tesla Model X range, performance, colors, options and price

New 2021 Tesla Model XNew 2021 Tesla Model XTesla

The Model X uses the same chassis and motors as the Model S, but is taller, has a larger interior with room for up to seven adults, and includes the unique falcon wing rear doors.

Paint options and colors are the same as the Model S, with only white being free. The Model X comes with a five-seat interior as standard, while adding a pair of extra seats in the trunk costs $3,500, and switching to a six-seat configuration, where the second row has a pair of individual seats, costs $6,500.

Both versions of Model X have 20-inch Cyberstream wheels as standard, while the 22-inch Turbine wheels are a $5,500 option.

New interior of the 2021 Tesla Model X PlaidNew interior of the 2021 Tesla Model X PlaidTesla

  • Long Range – From $94,990

The entry-level Model X has an estimated range of 360 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. While the acceleration is quicker, the range is down slightly on the Long Range Plus from 2020.

As well as the seating options mentioned above, the Model X Long Range comes with a black interior with ash wood details as standard. Switching this to black and white with walnut costs $2,000, as does the option of cream with walnut.

  • Plaid – From $118,490

Finally for the Model X, the Plaid has an estimated range of 340 miles, a top speed of 163 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds. These statistics are almost identical to the 2020 version, called the Model X Performance, with the near-$20,000 price hike being accounted for by the new three-motor drivetrain and revised interior. The Model X Plaid has the same 1,020 horsepower output as the Model S Plaid, along with torque vectoring and carbon-sleeved brake rotors.

As with the Model S Plaid, the Model X Plaid interior gains carbon fiber details on all three interior trim options, replacing the wood of the Long Range.

  • Tesla Roadster – From $200,000

Tesla RoadsterTesla RoadsterTesla

Finally, the Tesla Roadster (which was announced in 2017 and due in 2020 but has been delayed) is available to pre-order. This requires an initial fully-refundable $5,000 credit card payment, plus a $45,000 wire transfer payment no more than 10 days later.

The more exclusive Founders Series Roadster is limited to 1,000 units, costs from $250,000 and requires a $5,000 deposit, followed within 10 days by the remaining balance of $245,000.

Tesla hasn't explained the differences between these two models of Roadster, but has previously said how the car will have a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, a 0-100 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 8.8 seconds. Tesla has also claimed a top speed of over 250 mph and a range of 620 miles.

The Roadster has a removable roof panel and is a 2+2, which means it is predominantly a two-seater, with an additional pair of smaller seats in the back.

Tesla Cybertruck – From $39,900

Tesla CybertruckThe Tesla Cybertruck is expected to enter production in late 2021Tesla

Tesla's most unusual vehicle to date, the Cybertruck was revealed in November 2019 and is now available for pre-order, with the company saying production will begin in late-2021. However, the cheapest version, with its single-motor, rear-wheel-drive configuration, won't enter production until late 2022.

There are to be three versions of the Cybertruck, called the Single Motor RWD, the Dual Motor AWD and the Tri Motor AWD. There isn't an options list for now, other than the addition of 'Full Self-Driving' Autopilot, which as of early 2021 is priced at $10,000. Here is how they stack up, as of January 2021:

  • Single Motor RWD – From $39,900

Tesla says this version of Cybertruck isn't expected to go into production until late-2022. But when it does, it will be the cheapest model of Cybertruck and have an estimated EPA range of over 250 miles. It will also have a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds and a 0-60mph time of under 6.5 seconds.

  • Dual Motor AWD – From $49,900

This version of the Cybertruck is claimed to have a range of more than 300 miles, a towing capacity of over 10,000 pounds, and a 0-60mph time of under 4.5 seconds.

  • Tri Motor AWD – From $69,900

Finally, the range-topping Cybertruck has a three-motor drivetrain. Tesla says the range will be over 500 miles, the towing capacity will be more than 14,000 pounds, and the 0-60mph time will be under 2.9 seconds. All versions of the Cybertruck can be pre-ordered now with a $100 fully refundable deposit.


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