Model 3 Width

[Model 3]

My commute is long, so 41Kwh is too small, I'd get lots of range anxiety.

But I would definitely buy that Zoe e-sport, if only it were available!

Ok, I just wanted to make sure you were comparing the right range version
... And yes, that e-sport does looks fun to drive... And they actually managed to do the impossible - make an Zoe looks good

 

[gregincal]

Sure, it is easier to build a car that's similar to an existing model. But when you only sell 3 models, do you really want two of them to be kinda sorta similar in size? Of course there are still a number of differences between Models S and 3, including the fact that Model S is a foot longer. But I have to wonder whether greater differentiation would benefit sales volumes in the long run.

Hard to say, but price is a big differentiator. There are a ton of people who only aren't buying the S because it's too expensive.

 

[TEG]

You don't need to worry about the width because the purchase price entitles you to use 1.5 parking spaces...

 

[SageBrush]

You don't need to worry about the width because the purchase price entitles you to use 1.5 parking spaces...

Is the driver side mirror folded ?

 

[206er]

I dunno - the recent Model 3 pics that have popped up - especially the comparison pics of the 3 parked next to a Bolt at a Whole Foods - suggest that the car might not really be as wide as what Tesla has posted on their own site. Looks far narrower than the S.

 

[phil0909]

I dunno - the recent Model 3 pics that have popped up - especially the comparison pics of the 3 parked next to a Bolt at a Whole Foods - suggest that the car might not really be as wide as what Tesla has posted on their own site. Looks far narrower than the S.

I'd like to believe that, but I think Tesla's numbers are right. Looking at the Bolt, I can easily believe the Model 3 is 6 or 7 inches wider, which is what Tesla says it is. They really should know how big their car is, hard to believe they are continuing to get it wrong.

 

[T34ME]

I'd like to believe that, but I think Tesla's numbers are right. Looking at the Bolt, I can easily believe the Model 3 is 6 or 7 inches wider, which is what Tesla says it is. They really should know how big their car is, hard to believe they are continuing to get it wrong.

I think it may be confusion (at least in my mind) whether the stated width is with or without side mirrors and if with mirrors, folded or not folded.

 

[phil0909]

I think it may be confusion (at least in my mind) whether the stated width is with or without side mirrors and if with mirrors, folded or not folded.

Tesla has cleared up most of this:

With mirrors extended - 82.2"
With mirrors folded - 76.1"

They don't say what the width would be if you removed the mirrors from the car, probably because nobody will remove the mirrors. My guess would be the same 76.1" with no mirrors.

 

[TEG]

The way Tesla mirrors fold, there is that metal looking bracket always sticking out. Some other cars with different types of mirrors can fold more flat against the car.

 

[gregincal]

The way Tesla mirrors fold, there is that metal looking bracket always sticking out. Some other cars with different types of mirrors can fold more flat against the car.

But because of the Tesla design with the wheel wells bulging out forward and back this isn't necessary. The folded mirrors just need to be narrower than the wheel wells.

 

[T34ME]

Tesla has cleared up most of this:

With mirrors extended - 82.2"
With mirrors folded - 76.1"

They don't say what the width would be if you removed the mirrors from the car, probably because nobody will remove the mirrors. My guess would be the same 76.1" with no mirrors.

This width thing has been confounding me. So today, I measured my 2012 Prius. In fact, the official width listed in the Prius manual, 68.7", is with NO mirrors! The other dimensions listed - hip room front and rear, shoulder room front and rear, and track - are all about 2" less than the Model 3. So I am going to speculate that the width of the Model 3 WITHOUT ANY MIRRORS is about ~ 71".

I measured my Prius with the mirrors extended and it was 79.8". So adding the same 2" to that figure would make the Model 3 close to 82" with the mirrors extended. So I think the 82.2" figure stated by Tesla is accurate. And that makes the 76.1" figure with mirrors folded equally believable. That means that the folded mirrors stick out about 2.5" to 3" on each side.

The takeaway for me is that the Model 3 is only slightly larger in width than my Prius. The Prius is hardly a large car but with plenty of interior room and I will be happy with the slightly larger size of a Model 3.

A couple of other things I discovered is the Model 3 has about .25" more ground clearance and it is 2" lower in overall height yet the Model 3 has about 1" more headroom front and rear. Finally the Prius has a 0.25 Cd while the TM3 has a 0.23 Cd.

 

[TEG]

Thanks for all that measurement and analysis. It is reassuring.

 

[gregincal]

This width thing has been confounding me. So today, I measured my 2012 Prius. In fact, the official width listed in the Prius manual, 68.7", is with NO mirrors! The other dimensions listed - hip room front and rear, shoulder room front and rear, and track - are all about 2" less than the Model 3. So I am going to speculate that the width of the Model 3 WITHOUT ANY MIRRORS is about ~ 71".

I measured my Prius with the mirrors extended and it was 79.8". So adding the same 2" to that figure would make the Model 3 close to 82" with the mirrors extended. So I think the 82.2" figure stated by Tesla is accurate. And that makes the 76.1" figure with mirrors folded equally believable. That means that the folded mirrors stick out about 2.5" to 3" on each side.

The takeaway for me is that the Model 3 is only slightly larger in width than my Prius. The Prius is hardly a large car but with plenty of interior room and I will be happy with the slightly larger size of a Model 3.

A couple of other things I discovered is the Model 3 has about .25" more ground clearance and it is 2" lower in overall height yet the Model 3 has about 1" more headroom front and rear. Finally the Prius has a 0.25 Cd while the TM3 has a 0.23 Cd.

Generally most quoted width measurements are without mirrors. However, your assumption that the Model 3 mirrors folded width is significantly (or at all) different than the widest part of the car (the wheel wells, and lower down than the mirrors) is almost certainly not true. Your Prius doesn't look like this (and even though this is the S, the Model 3 has the same general shape--who said style was practical):

 

[gambit48]

Sure, it is easier to build a car that's similar to an existing model. But when you only sell 3 models, do you really want two of them to be kinda sorta similar in size? Of course there are still a number of differences between Models S and 3, including the fact that Model S is a foot longer. But I have to wonder whether greater differentiation would benefit sales volumes in the long run.

Look up the size difference between, say, the BMW 3 series and 5 series. A couple of inches can actually make a pretty big difference.

Hard to say, but price is a big differentiator. There are a ton of people who only aren't buying the S because it's too expensive.

Yeah, I'd bet if they cost the same, most would pick the S over the 3. Even a lot who live in crowded cities.

 

[SageBrush]

Generally most quoted width measurements are without mirrors. However, your assumption that the Model 3 mirrors folded width is significantly (or at all) different than the widest part of the car (the wheel wells, and lower down than the mirrors) is almost certainly not true. Your Prius doesn't look like this (and even though this is the S, the Model 3 has the same general shape--who said style was practical):

You may well be right, but it sounds like the interior width of the cabin is ~ Prius dimension.

 

[gregincal]

You may well be right, but it sounds like the interior width of the cabin is ~ Prius dimension.

OK, here's the rear view of a 2012 Prius and a Model 3. The cabin has about the same width, true. Do you imagine the total car width will be about the same? Look at the mirrors on the 3. When folded, do you think they will be wider than the rear?

 

[alexeiw123]

This was seen on facebook. Don't recall where. There may be some image distortion adding to the impression of width.

 

[T34ME]

You may well be right, but it sounds like the interior width of the cabin is ~ Prius dimension.

That is correct, about 4% larger.

 

[T34ME]

Generally most quoted width measurements are without mirrors. However, your assumption that the Model 3 mirrors folded width is significantly (or at all) different than the widest part of the car (the wheel wells, and lower down than the mirrors) is almost certainly not true. Your Prius doesn't look like this (and even though this is the S, the Model 3 has the same general shape--who said style was practical):

My point is that I think Tesla quoted dimensions of 82.2" and 76.1" is accurate and the Model 3 is about 2.4" wider than a Gen 2 Prius.

 

[gregincal]

My point is that I think Tesla quoted dimensions of 82.2" and 76.1" is accurate and the Model 3 is about 2.4" wider than a Gen 2 Prius.

The cabin may be 2.4" wider than a Gen 2 prius. But the widest point of a car is at the wheel wells, and I think you'll find that the Model 3 is a lot wider than the Prius at the wheel wells.