Comparison
Ford F-150 Lightning vs Tesla Model 3
4WD ER1 vs Premium RWD: range, price, charging, running costs and road-trip stops.
Best range Tesla Model 3 363 mi vs 320 mi
Best value Tesla Model 3 $42,490 vs $63,245
Faster charging Tesla Model 3 36 min vs 49 min
5-yr energy Tesla Model 3 $7,400 vs $3,850
Winner by category
6 categories comparedRange winner
Tesla Model 3
363 mi vs 320 mi
Value winner
Tesla Model 3
$117/mi vs $198/mi
Charging winner
Tesla Model 3
36 min vs 49 min
Efficiency winner
Tesla Model 3
250 Wh/mi vs 479 Wh/mi
Utility/family winner
Ford F-150 Lightning
Ahead on seats, cargo, and tow capacity
Performance winner
Ford F-150 Lightning
4.5 s vs 4.9 s
Side-by-side comparison
Featured trims| Spec | Ford F-150 Lightning | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Trim used | 4WD ER1 | Premium RWD |
| MSRP (USD) | $63,245 | $42,490 (better) |
| Range | 320 mi | 363 mi (better) |
| Efficiency | 479 Wh/mi • 2.09 mi/kWh | 250 Wh/mi • 4 mi/kWh (better) |
| Battery (usable) | 130 kWh (better) | 82 kWh |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | AWD | RWD |
| Body type | Truck | Sedan |
| DC max | 155 kW | 208 kW (better) |
| AC max | 19 kW (better) | 11 kW |
| 10–80% (DC) | 49 min | 36 min (better) |
| Roadtrip score | 53 | 79.1 (better) |
| Miles added (15 min est.) | 58 mi | 96 mi (better) |
| USD per mile of range | 198 $/mi | 117 $/mi (better) |
| 0–60 mph | 4.5 s (better) | 4.9 s |
| Top speed | 112 mph | 125 mph (better) |
| Cargo | 52.8 cu ft (better) | 21 cu ft |
| Tow rating | 10,000 lb (better) | 2,205 lb |
Pick the Ford F-150 Lightning if…
- You haul gear: 52.8 vs 21 cu ft of listed cargo space.
- You tow: rated for 10,000 lb vs 2,205 lb.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if…
- You want the lower price: $42,490 vs $63,245 to start, $20,755 less.
- You drive long days: 363 vs 320 miles of rated range.
- You fast-charge often: 10-80% in 36 vs 49 minutes.
- You want lower running costs: about $3,850 vs $7,400 in energy over 5 years.
- You want to use Tesla Superchargers without an adapter: it has a native NACS port.
Availability: Ford F-150 Lightning production has ended, so you'd be buying leftover or used stock.
5-year energy cost: Ford F-150 Lightning vs Tesla Model 3
| Charging mix | Ford F-150 Lightning | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 479 Wh/mi | 250 Wh/mi |
| All home charging | $5,450 | $2,850 |
| 80% home, 20% public DC | $7,400 | $3,850 |
| All public DC fast charging | $15,350 | $8,000 |
60,000 miles (12,000 a year) at rated efficiency, $0.17/kWh at home, $0.48/kWh at public fast chargers, plus 10% charging loss. A 30 mpg gas car at $3.20/gal would spend about $6,400 on fuel over the same miles. Use your own rates.
500-mile road trip: charging stops
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| First leg (90% to 10%) | 218 mi | 247 mi |
| Each leg after a 10-80% stop | 190 mi | 216 mi |
| Fast-charge stops | 2 | 2 |
| Time spent charging | about 100 min | about 70 min |
| DC port | CCS1 | NACS |
Highway range taken as 85% of rated range. Each stop is counted as a full 10-80% session at the listed time, so the last stop is often shorter in practice. Cold weather and high speeds add stops. Charging time calculator.
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