Compare the2024 Toyota PriusVS 2024 Tesla Model 3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Prius are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Prius Limited offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prius’ standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Prius has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Prius and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Toyota Prius has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Model 3 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Prius for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model 3.

There are over 6 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Prius’ warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Prius’ reliability 37 points higher than the Model 3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Tesla is ranked 14th.

The Prius stops shorter than the Model 3:

The Prius Limited AWD-e handles at .86 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Prius LE’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (34.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The Prius XLE/Limited’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Toyota Prius may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

The Prius is 4.7 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Prius easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Prius is 5.9 inches narrower than the Model 3, making the Prius easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Prius has .5 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room and .3 inches more rear legroom than the Model 3.

The Prius’ standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Prius has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Prius as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2024 issue and the Toyota Prius Limited won out over the Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive.

The Prius/Prius Prime was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 1 more times in the last 21 years. The Model 3 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius as their 2024 Car of the Year. The Model 3 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Model 3 has never been chosen.