Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid vs Tesla Model 3
Price, range, charging speed and what each costs to run, side by side.
Quick answer
- Lowest price: Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, from $33,775.
- Longest range: Tesla Model 3, up to 363 miles.
- Quickest fast charging: Tesla Model 3: ~185 mi in 15 min (Tesla); 10–80% ~27 min (estimate).
Side by side
| Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $33,775 | $36,990 |
| EPA range | 44 mi electric · 600 mi total | 309–363 miles |
| Winter range (about 20% less) | ~35 miles electric | ~247–290 miles |
| Body style | Compact hatchback | Midsize sedan |
| Battery | 13.6 kWh | 79 kWh |
| Efficiency | 3.8 mi/kWh | 4.1 mi/kWh |
| Running cost | 4.8¢/mile on electricity · 6.5¢/mile on gas | ~$45/month (4.5¢/mile) |
| Level 2 at home | 3.5 kW · ~10 mi/hr | 11.5 kW · ~40 mi/hr |
| DC fast charging | Not available | Up to 250 kW |
| 10–80% fast charge | — | ~185 mi in 15 min (Tesla); 10–80% ~27 min (estimate) |
| Plug | J1772 plug | NACS (Tesla) plug |
| 300-mile road trip | No charging stops — the engine takes over | 1 stop, 8 min charging · ~$16 |
Which one fits you
Pick the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid if…
- ✓ you want the lowest price: from $3,215 less
- ✓ you cannot always plug in: the engine covers the miles the battery does not
- ✓ you want a compact hatchback: the only one here
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if…
- ✓ range matters most: up to 319 more miles on a charge
- ✓ you want Tesla Superchargers without an adapter
- ✓ you want a midsize sedan: the only one here
Which one fits how you actually drive?
Specs don’t say whether a car works with your charging and your week. Answer 5 quick questions and see which electric cars match your driving, what they’d cost you to charge, and how often you’d need a fast charger.
Check your EV readiness →Charging cost where you live
The figures above use the U.S. average electricity rate. Each car’s page links to its cost in your state:
Other comparisons
Base MSRP before incentives. Ranges are EPA estimates across each model’s trims. Running costs assume 1,000 miles a month at the U.S. average of 18.4¢/kWh. The road trip uses each model’s longest-range version on the highway in summer, leaving home full, charging 10–80% at $0.50/kWh. Fast-charging times are the makers’ claims or estimates noted on each model page. For a plug-in hybrid the range shown is how far it goes on the battery alone, and its running cost is given per mile rather than per month, because how much of your month runs on electricity depends on how far you drive.