The Model S and the Model Y sit on opposite ends of Tesla’s lineup. One is a low sedan built for speed and range. The other is a crossover built to haul people and cargo, and it outsells every other Tesla combined. Here is how they actually compare if you are choosing between them.
The price gap is not close
The Model Y starts at $39,990 for the rear-wheel-drive base trim, or $41,630 once you add Tesla’s destination and order fees. Move up to the Premium trim and you are at $45,990 to start, and the Performance trim runs $57,990, or $59,630 with fees, according to a July 2026 pricing breakdown.
The Model S starts around $70,000 higher. Tesla ended Model S production in early 2026 and, days after announcing it, raised the price on every remaining unit by about $15,000. As of April 2026, the base all-wheel-drive Model S runs $109,990, or $111,380 with destination, and the Plaid trim runs up to $124,990, or roughly $126,380 with destination, according to CarsDirect. Those prices include Tesla’s mandatory Luxe package, which bundles Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Premium Connectivity, and Supercharging into every remaining car.
That means you are no longer buying a new Model S in the normal sense. You are buying from a shrinking pool of leftover inventory, and Tesla is pricing it accordingly.
Range and speed favor the Model S, on paper
The base Model S is EPA-rated at 410 miles of range, and the Plaid trim is rated at 368 miles with a 1.99-second 0-60 time, per CarsDirect’s review. The base rear-wheel-drive Model Y is rated at 321 miles, and the Model Y Performance is quicker than it used to be but still slower than a Plaid, hitting 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, InsideEVs reported after driving it. If straight-line speed and maximum range are what you are paying for, the Model S still wins. But you are paying six figures for that edge, and the Model Y is not far behind on range for a fraction of the cost.
The Model Y fits more people
The Model S seats five, full stop. The Model Y now offers more flexibility. Tesla brought back a third-row option on the standard Model Y, adding two child-sized seats for $2,500, though it is only available if you order the Premium all-wheel-drive Long Range trim, Electrek reported in January 2026. If you need a real third row, Tesla now sells the Model Y L, a stretched, six-seat version with captain’s chairs, starting at $61,990. It is rated for 325 miles of range and a 4.4-second 0-60, InsideEVs confirmed at launch in July 2026.
Which one actually fits you
Buy the Model S if you want the fastest, longest-range car Tesla builds, you do not need a third row, and price is not the deciding factor. Just know you are buying into a discontinued lineup with dwindling supply, not an ongoing model. Buy the Model Y if you want a Tesla you can actually load up with people or gear, at a price that starts under $42,000, and you are fine trading some top-end speed for a car Tesla is still building and improving every year. For most buyers cross-shopping these two, the Model Y is the practical answer. The Model S is for people who have already decided they want a sedan and can afford the final-year premium.
Photo by HRK Gallery.