Kelley Blue Book® Values and pricing are based in part on transactions in your area. Your ZIP code also helps us find local deals and highlight other available offers.
Kelley Blue Book® Values and pricing are based in part on transactions in your area. Your ZIP code also helps us find local deals and highlight other available offers.
If one motor in a Tesla is good, then two motors should be better, right? If you are considering a Tesla or any other electric vehicle (EV) offering either one or two motors (some, including Tesla, offer even more), you might wonder what the differences are in the motor count. Here, we look into the one-, two-, or three-motor conundrum and provide some answers.
What Is a Dual Motor Tesla?
A Tesla with dual motors means the vehicle features a motor on each axle controlling power to the front and rear wheels. For example, the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y offer the choice of one or dual (two) electric motors. In those with one motor, the single motor is located on the rear axle providing rear-wheel drive. Every new Model S and Model X comes standard with dual motors configured for all-wheel drive. In the case of the Model S, you can upgrade to the Model S Plaid, which expands the rear motor count to two (one for each rear wheel) for a total of three electric motors. Likewise, moving up to the Model X Plaid offers a tri-motor arrangement. You can order a Cybertruck with one, two, or three motors.
What Is the Difference Between One- and Two-Motor Teslas?
No matter the Tesla model, adding another motor results in some combination of increasing range, raising the top speed, and improving acceleration. In the case of the Model 3, Model Y, and the Cybertruck, adding that second motor also gains you all-wheel drive. According to Tesla’s reported specifications, here’s how the Tesla models and trims compare.
2024 Tesla Model 3
AWD
Range
Top Speed
0-60 Time
MSRP*
Model 3 (One Motor)
No
272 miles
125 mph
5.8 sec
$38,990
Model 3 Long Range (Dual Motor)
Yes
341 miles
125 mph
4.2 sec
$45,990
2024 Tesla Model Y
AWD
Range
Top Speed
0-60 Time
MSRP*
Model Y (One Motor)
No
260 miles
135 mph
6.6 sec
$43,990
Model Y Long Range (Dual Motor)
Yes
310 miles
135 mph
4.8 sec
$48,990
Model Y Performance (Dual Motor)
Yes
285 miles
155 mph
3.5 sec
$52,490
2024 Tesla Model S
AWD
Range
Top Speed
0-60 Time
MSRP*
Model S (Dual Motor)
Yes
405 miles
130 mph
3.1 sec
$74,990
Model S Plaid (Tri-Motor)
Yes
359 miles
200 mph
1.99 sec
$89,990
2024 Tesla Model X
AWD
Range
Top Speed
0-60 Time
MSRP*
Model X (Dual Motor)
Yes
335 miles
149 mph
3.8 sec
$79,990
Model X Plaid (Tri-Motor)
Yes
326 miles
149 mph
2.5 sec
$94,990
2025 Tesla Cybertruck
AWD
Range
Top Speed
0-60 Time
MSRP
Cybertruck (One Motor)
No
250 miles (estimated)
TBD
6.5 sec
$60,990 (estimated)
Cybertruck (Dual Motor)
Yes
340 miles (estimated)
112 mph
4.1 sec
$79,990 (estimated)
Cyberbeast (Tri-Motor)
Yes
320 miles (estimated)
130 mph
2.6 sec
$99,990 (estimated)
*Manufacturer’s suggested retail price as of 1/25/2024.
Russ Heaps has produced automotive content for newspapers, magazines, and websites since 1987. Knight-Ridder recognized his contributions in founding and supplying content for the stand-alone auto section in the Boca Raton News with a Knight-Ridder Excellence award nomination in 1990. He began contributing advice and other automotive-related content to Cox Automotive as a contractor in 2010. Cox Automotive brought Russ on board as Senior Editor, Advice for Kelley Blue Book in 2022. Previously, he contributed financial and automotive content for Bankrate.com. He was also managing editor for Auto World and NOPI Street Performance Compact magazines for four years. His work has appeared in the Washington Times, the Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post, and a host of other newspapers on a syndicated basis.
Russ also has a deep background in travel as the supervising producer for the syndicated television series Discover America where he also wrote scripts and field-produced episodes. Additionally, he authored travel stories for AAA of the Carolinas Magazine.
He graduated Wittenberg University with a degree in Political Science. His passions are friends, cars, bourbon, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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