The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 are both sold in several versions, and the U.S. fuel economy figures for each one differ more than the model names suggest. This guide puts the 2026 figures that the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA publish at fueleconomy.gov side by side. It compares energy efficiency only. It does not decide which car is better overall, and it does not cover price, size, charging speed or driving range, because the pages we read do not show them.
How efficient are the 2026 Tesla Model Y and Model 3?
The table lists every 2026 version shown on the fueleconomy.gov pages for each model. MPGe is miles per gallon-equivalent, so a higher number means more efficient. kWh/100 mi is the electricity used per 100 miles, so a lower number means more efficient.
Tesla Model Y 2026
| Version | Combined MPGe | City MPGe | Highway MPGe | kWh/100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard RWD (18in wheels) | 138 | 148 | 129 | 24 |
| Long Range RWD | 134 | 144 | 123 | 25 |
| Standard RWD (19in wheels) | 131 | 142 | 120 | 26 |
| Standard AWD | 127 | 133 | 120 | 26 |
| Long Range AWD | 123 | 130 | 115 | 27 |
| Performance AWD | 105 | 111 | 100 | 32 |
Tesla Model 3 2026
| Version | Combined MPGe | City MPGe | Highway MPGe | kWh/100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard RWD | 139 | 147 | 130 | 24 |
| Premium RWD | 137 | 145 | 128 | 25 |
| Premium AWD | 128 | 133 | 122 | 26 |
| Performance | 114 | 120 | 107 | 30 |
| Performance AWD | 111 | 117 | 106 | 30 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov, “Gas Mileage of 2026 Tesla Model Y” and “Gas Mileage of 2026 Tesla Model 3” (pages read on 10 November 2026). The site is administered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. The pages show no date of last update, so check the live pages if you are reading this later.
What stands out when you compare the two?
- The most efficient versions of both cars are close. The Model 3 Standard RWD and the Model Y Standard RWD with 18-inch wheels are both listed at 24 kWh/100 mi, at 139 and 138 combined MPGe.
- Rear-wheel drive is listed as more efficient than all-wheel drive within each model. For the Model 3, the Premium RWD is 137 combined MPGe against 128 for the Premium AWD. For the Model Y, the Long Range RWD is 134 against 123 for the Long Range AWD. The pages do not say what else differs between those versions, so the gap should not be put down to the drive layout alone.
- The Performance versions use the most energy. They are listed at 30 kWh/100 mi (Model 3) and 32 kWh/100 mi (Model Y).
- The Model Y’s two Standard RWD versions differ in name only by wheel size. The 18-inch version is listed at 24 kWh/100 mi and the 19-inch version at 26. The page does not say why, so treat it as a listed difference, not an explanation.
Version names do not line up one to one between the two cars (for example, Long Range on the Model Y and Premium on the Model 3), and we found no source we could read that says which versions are equivalent. Compare versions by their listed figures rather than by name.
What do those numbers cost to drive?
kWh/100 mi turns directly into electricity cost. Multiply it by what you pay per kWh and divide by 100 miles. As an illustration only, at an example rate of $0.15 per kWh, 24 kWh/100 mi works out to $3.60 per 100 miles and 32 kWh/100 mi to $4.80. Your own rate, where you charge and how you drive will change the result, so use your electricity bill for the real figure.
Why might your results differ from the EPA figures?
The figures on fueleconomy.gov come from the EPA’s fuel economy tests; the pages we read do not describe the method, and the site links to a “Fuel Economy Tests” page that we did not read. As with any label figure, how you drive, the weather and the tires you use can move your own results. For the effect of tires on electric cars, see all-season tires for the Tesla Model 3 and why EV tires wear out faster.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tesla Model Y or the Model 3 more efficient?
On the 2026 fueleconomy.gov figures, the most efficient versions are almost the same: 24 kWh/100 mi for the Model 3 Standard RWD and the Model Y Standard RWD (18in). Across the rest of the range, the version you choose matters more than the model.
What does MPGe mean?
MPGe is miles per gallon-equivalent. It expresses how far a vehicle goes on the amount of electricity that holds the same energy as a gallon of gasoline, so you can compare electric and gasoline vehicles. Higher is more efficient.
Does this tell me the driving range?
No. The pages we read give MPGe and kWh/100 mi but not EPA range, so we do not state a range here. Check the page for your exact version on fueleconomy.gov.
