Easiest way to tell a Y from a 3 if they are not next to each other?

[Alexgd]

If a Y and a 3 are next to each other it is easy to spot the differences. But how do I easily distinguish a Y from a 3 when the car is not next to another Tesla? We have a 3.

 

[Johnny Vector]

For me: A Y looks shorter in length. It's not, but the added height of the hatch makes it look small unless someone is standing near it.

 

[Uncle Paul]

3 has a trunk. Y has a hatch.

Y looks like a 3 that played dig dug...

 

[Jmeitz]

Rear doors are bigger on the Y

 

[greenrider]

For whatever reason, I find it easiest to look at the rear.

* In a Model 3, the license plate is right up against the trunk opening. The rear glass also "stops" well above the trunk
* In a Model Y, the license plate has a bunch of room underneath it. The rear glass stretches much further back, since it's a hatch not a trunk

 

[mackgriggs]

Most model 3s are older....I usually can tell right away by chrome trim and no rear window tinting.

 

[JBT66]

It’s a big chungus model 3.

 

[Darmie]

I have a problem at a glance confusing the Y to a model X. Especially a black or red color. To me, the best giveaway to any tesla is the rims. Once I spot the rims, I can tell what model it is.

 

[Alexgd]

For whatever reason, I find it easiest to look at the rear.

* In a Model 3, the license plate is right up against the trunk opening. The rear glass also "stops" well above the trunk
* In a Model Y, the license plate has a bunch of room underneath it. The rear glass stretches much further back, since it's a hatch not a trunk

Thanks for attaching the annotated pix!

 

[jcanoe]

Most Model 3 vehicles have chrome door handles. If the vehicle is parked I check the wheels. Model 3 wheels and aero covers don't look like either the Model Y 20" Induction wheels or the 19" wheels with the Gemini covers.

I've only seen one or two Performance Model Y (PMY) vehicles. The easiest way to spot a PMY is the spoiler. If you can get close enough to see there is a red stripe beneath the Dual Motor badge. At a distance the PMY 21" Uberturbine wheels don't look all that different from the 20" Induction wheels offered as an option on the Long Range Dual Motor Model Y (Standard Range Model Y too.)

 

[LionelHutz]

Y has the height slider moved up 15%.

It's also noticeably wider in the rear quarter panel.

 

[cYnbios]

For whatever reason, I find it easiest to look at the rear.

* In a Model 3, the license plate is right up against the trunk opening. The rear glass also "stops" well above the trunk
* In a Model Y, the license plate has a bunch of room underneath it. The rear glass stretches much further back, since it's a hatch not a trunk

This is a wonderful annotation but you're missing the most prominent differences; and that is the black hitch trim at the bottom. That's the easiest way to tell both from the rear.

To tell the apart from the sides, Model Y has black trim around the fenders and black trim side skirt.

The front is a bit trickier but the Model Y doesn't have a lower lip that looks like a "front lip spoiler".

Pic below for both of those mentioned above:

 

[JBT66]

I just traded a 3 for a Y and wow it fills the garage more.

 

[Rshephorse]

Does the catfish look pregnant? If so, Y.

 

[Exelion]

From easiest to more difficult:

If it has silver trim, its a 3.

If it has black wheel arches (rocker panels) its a Y

if it has long side mirrors, its a 3,
short, tall side mirrors, its a Y

if it has aero, or sport wheels its a 3.
Gemini (Tesla calls them Apollo) or Induction wheels, its a Y. Hard to tell when in motion though.

If the trunk opening line is low, its a 3
Y has a higher sitting trunk opening line.

 

[empiredown]

Dat azz.
Dat lack of chrome.
Dat height.

In that order while I'm driving and trying to figure out what I am looking at.

SS

 

[ArtK]

When I a driving behind or beside another Tesla, the rear hitch hatch and trim color help me instantly figure out what I'm looking at.

 

[X-Chris]

From behind, the Y has space between the license plate and the bottom of the trunk, the 3 does not:

The S and X can be distinguished from each other the same way.

The S and X can be distinguished from the 3/Y in many ways, but the most obvious to me is the recessed part of the rear trunk/hatch (where the license plate is installed):

 

[iamnid]

Black plastic cladding on the Model Y is the easiest way to differentiate from practically any angle.