Head-to-head
2023 Tesla Model 3 vs 2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The Tesla Model 3 wins clearly, 86.1 to 76.4, on fuel & range. The Toyota Prius Prime is ahead on safety.
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2023 Tesla Model 3
The 2023 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Long Range AWD, …
vs
C2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius Prime S…
Verdict · default weights
2023 Tesla Model 3
Clear winThe Tesla Model 3 wins clearly, 86.1 to 76.4, on fuel & range. The Toyota Prius Prime is ahead on safety.
Fuel & range 2023 Tesla Model 3 leads by 58.7
Safety 2023 Toyota Prius Prime leads by 22.2
| Category · weight | 2023 Toyota Prius Primeoverall 76.4 | 2023 Tesla Model 3overall 86.1 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 41.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 91 | 68.8 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 76.4 | 86.1 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 3 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Tesla Model 3
Toyota Prius Prime: base trim SE FWD · Tesla Model 3: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2023 Tesla Model 3 wins
- It is rated 132 combined against 52 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,300).
Where the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 427 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 79 against 60).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
44 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,987 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0-Liter 4-cylinder Aluminum DOHC 16-Valve with VVT-i (Atkinson cycle) | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 150 hp | — |
| Torque | 139 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 53 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 52 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 51 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.6 in | — |
| Overall height | 55.9 in | — |
| Overall length | 181 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.2 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 26.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 20.3 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 91.2 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 36.4 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.2 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 34.8 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,461 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,461 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with rear stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.4 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Automatic Electric Parking Brake | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 279 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/60R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Connected Services | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 120 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.3 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 52.8 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
59 features · differences first, then sharedSafety19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Integrated backup camera display | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | — |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | — |
| Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PA w/AB) | opt | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | — |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCT), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | std | — |
| Engine immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Wi-Fi Connect - includes AT&T WiFi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music and Amazon Music) compatibility. 1-month trial subscription for music services. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatible, SiriusXM® with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription | std | — |
| Drive Connect - includes Cloud Navigation with Google points-of-interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey Toyota, and Destination Assist. | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Service Connect - Receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Six USB-c charge ports * — two front/ two center console/ two rear | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key System on front driver door with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock and panic functions | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Single zone climate control system with dust and pollen filter | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 6-way adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 6-way adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
Interior7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Center console with armrest and storage compartment | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Rear dome light and cargo area light | std | — |
| Top-mount Multi-Information Display (MID) with indicators and 7-in. LCD display with speedometer, drive mode indicators, instrumentation and customizable settings, odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temperature, rear passenger seatbelt indicators, fuel economy information, trip timer, and warning messages | std | — |
| Two front cup holders; two front and two rear bottle holders | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
Exterior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams (AHB) and auto on/off | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| 17-in. alloy wheels with wheel covers and 195/60R17 tires | std | — |
| Active grille shutter | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| LED taillights and stop lights | std | — |
| Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | std | — |
Powertrain1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Net System Horsepower: 220 horsepower (164 kW) | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Prius Prime
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 6 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (3), Power Train (2), Exterior Lighting (1)
Top recalls
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V049000 · 141,286 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 24V274000 · 55,690 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 24V548000 · 33,848 vehicles
Tesla Model 3
Safety Signal 60 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 12
Owner complaints 427 · 72 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (243), Steering (87), Vehicle Speed Control (69)
Top recalls
- high Exterior Lighting 26V507000 · 20,349 vehicles
- high Steering 25V092000 · 376,241 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 24V554000 · 1,849,638 vehicles
- high Electrical System 23V434000 · 26 vehicles
- high Steering 23V085000 · 362,758 vehicles
- high Air Bags 21V834000 · 3 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,975 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $32,975 – $39,670 3 trims | — |
| Powertrains | PHEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Prius Prime SE | Model 3 RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 52 | 132 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,300 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 272 mi |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
The Tesla Model 3 wins clearly, 86.1 to 76.4, on fuel & range. The Toyota Prius Prime is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2023 Tesla Model 3 scores 86.1 and the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime 76.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
2023 Toyota Prius Prime: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 2023 Tesla Model 3: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 12 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime and the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
Where the 2023 Tesla Model 3 wins: it is rated 132 combined against 52 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,300). Where the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 427 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 79 against 60). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.