2026 Tesla Model 3 vs 2026 Toyota Crown
The Tesla Model 3 edges it, 83.8 to 79.8, on fuel & range, warranty, space & cargo. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
2026 Tesla Model 3
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Premium RWD, is …
2026 Toyota Crown
The 2026 Toyota Crown is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Crown Hybrid AWD, is EPA-ra…
2026 Tesla Model 3
Slight edgeThe Tesla Model 3 edges it, 83.8 to 79.8, on fuel & range, warranty, space & cargo. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Crownoverall 79.8 | 2026 Tesla Model 3overall 83.8 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 89.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 32 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 96.4 | 58.6 | ||||||||||||
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 | 75.5 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 58.1 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantyw 2 | 73.5 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles. | ||||||||||||||
| Overall | 79.8 | 83.8 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Crown: base trim XLE AWD · Tesla Model 3: base trim Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Tesla Model 3 wins
- It is rated 139 combined against 41 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,650).
- It holds 24 cu ft behind the second row against 15.2.
Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 30 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 3.
What they share
- 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.
Specifications side by side
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,440 | $36,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,487 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder | Electric Motor |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 184 hp | — |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 42 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 41 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 41 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) | Single-Speed |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.8 in | 5.4 in |
| Overall height | 60.6 in | 56.7 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 186 in |
| Overall width | 72.4 in | 76.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.2 cu-ft | 24 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.2 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.5 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.1 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 38.9 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,980 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,980 lbs | 3,759 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,020 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) rack parallel-type | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 38 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 328 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | epb | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 318 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/55R19 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 14.5 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Safety Connect / Remote Connect / Drive Connect / Service Connect / Wi-Fi Connect | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 60 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.1 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 55.1 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
98 features · differences first, then sharedSafety32 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Safe Exit Alert | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | — |
| Auto High Beams | std | — |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Brake Hold function | std | — |
| Collision sensors: deactivate high-voltage battery | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening seats | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, and front and rear curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column | std | — |
| Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones | std | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable | — | std |
| Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control | std | — |
| Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane Tracing Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Proactive Driving Assist | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Road Sign Assist | std | — |
| Side-impact door beams | std | — |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and Smart Stop Technology® | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 | std | — |
| Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System | std | — |
| Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System with direct pressure readout and individual tire location alert | std | — |
Infotainment14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription. | std | — |
| 15.4" First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 7 Speaker audio system | — | std |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Five USB-C charge ports — two front/two rear/one in console | std | — |
| Grok voice assistant | — | std |
| Over-the-air software updates | — | std |
| Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with full-charge indicator light | std | — |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | std | std |
Convenience4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key System on all doors and trunk with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic functions and remote illuminated entry | std | — |
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| One 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet in front console | std | — |
| Power window with auto up/down and jam protection | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual zone automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter, and rear-seat vents | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen adjust air vents | — | std |
Seating11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats with adjustable headrest, and center armrest with cup holders | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support | std | — |
| First-row heated and ventilated seats | std | — |
| Second-row heated seats | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Leather-trimmed front seats with seatback pockets | std | — |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
| Vegan leather with textile inserts | — | std |
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats with adjustable headrest, and center armrest with cup holders | std | — |
| First-row heated seats | std | std |
Interior12 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver | std | — |
| 12.3-in. digital gauge cluster with selectable gauges | std | — |
| Center console with extended storage | — | std |
| Covered center console, armrest and storage | std | — |
| Heated, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel, with audio, infotainment and driver-assist controls | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed shift knob | std | — |
| LED front and rear reading lights and cargo area light | std | — |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Overhead console with maplights and Safety Connect® button | std | — |
| Two front and two rear cup holders; two front-door and one rear bottle holder | std | — |
| Dual extendable sun visors and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Dual extendable sun visors and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Heated steering wheel | std | std |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators, puddle lights and power-folding feature | std | — |
| 19-in. multi-spoke machined-finish two-tone alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic noise-reducing windshield and driver and front passenger side windows | std | — |
| Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams and auto on/off | std | — |
| Color-keyed outside door handles with front door touch-sensor lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators, puddle lights and power-folding feature | std | — |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing glass | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | — |
| LED headlights; Auto and adaptive high beams | — | std |
| LED taillights and stop lights | std | — |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Panoramic glass roof | — | std |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wiper | std | — |
| Rear window defogger | std | — |
| Spare Tire/Wheel — Temporary | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Supercharging Max 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Passive shock absorbers | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Crown
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
Tesla Model 3
Top recalls
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,440 (base trim) | $36,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,440 – $54,990 4 trims | $36,990 – $54,990 4 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Crown Hybrid AWD | Model 3 Standard RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 41 | 139 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,650 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
The Tesla Model 3 edges it, 83.8 to 79.8, on fuel & range, warranty, space & cargo. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Tesla Model 3 scores 83.8 and the 2026 Toyota Crown 79.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 starts lower — $36,990 against $41,440, a gap of $4,450 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
2026 Toyota Crown: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Tesla Model 3: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 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 2026 Toyota Crown and the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 wins: it is rated 139 combined against 41 (EPA mpg or MPGe), costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,650), and holds 24 cu ft behind the second row against 15.2. Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 30 filed with NHTSA) and lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 3. What they share: 5 seats.