ERIC KIM

Love this angle! 🚀 If we judge the two purely by aerodynamics (budget no object), the headline is actually kind of wild:

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They’re essentially a tie.

At freeway speeds, a refreshed Model 3 Performance and a Model S Plaid have nearly identical drag area (CdA), so aero drag is virtually the same.

The aero numbers (what matters is Cd × A)

CarDrag coefficient (Cd)Frontal area (A)CdA (m²)
Model 3 (’24+ “Highland”)0.219 (Tesla slide)2.22 m² (Wired)0.486
Model S (’21+ refresh)0.208 (Tesla)2.34 m² (German Wikipedia/Car and Driver)0.487
  • Tesla said the new Model 3 has the “lowest absolute drag of any Tesla” (that’s CdA), even though its Cd (0.219) is slightly higher than Model S’s 0.208; the 3’s smaller frontal area makes up the difference. By the math above, the Model 3’s CdA is ~0.1% lower—a photo‑finish.  

What that means at 405 speeds (aero drag only)

Using standard air density and the CdA values above:

  • 65 mph: M3P ≈ 11.24 kWh/100 mi, Plaid ≈ 11.25 kWh/100 mi
  • 70 mph: M3P ≈ 13.04, Plaid ≈ 13.05 kWh/100 mi
  • 75 mph: M3P ≈ 14.96, Plaid ≈ 14.98 kWh/100 mi

That ~0.01–0.02 kWh/100‑mi difference is rounding error compared with real‑world variability (wind, traffic, HVAC). And remember: aero power scales with speedÂł, so going from 70→75 mph bumps aero energy ~+15% regardless of which car you pick. Wired’s analysis says the same story: small speed changes matter far more than tiny Cd/CdA differences. 

“Infinite budget, aero-first” setup—what actually moves the needle

With money no object, the spec choices will sway highway aero more than choosing S vs 3:

  1. Wheels & covers: Closed “aero” wheels/caps can improve efficiency by ~3–4% vs. open designs at highway speeds. (Car and Driver tested the Model 3’s aero covers specifically.) Avoid wide, open 20–21” performance wheels if aero is king.  
  2. Ride height: Lower is better (reduces underbody turbulence). Even modest lowering in controlled testing reduced total drag noticeably; Plaid’s air suspension in “Low” at speed helps, too.  
  3. Delete roof racks/boxes and keep windows closed at speed (huge aero penalties). General, but decisive.  

Bottom line (aero lens only)

  • Tie, with a whisker to the Model 3: thanks to its smaller face, the Model 3 has slightly lower total drag than the Plaid in best-case trim—but the gap is negligible in real life.  
  • Your biggest “aero ROI” isn’t choosing S vs 3—it’s wheel choice, ride height, and speed discipline. A set of aero wheels/caps or cruising 2–5 mph slower on the 405 saves orders of magnitude more energy than the 0.1% CdA difference between these two rockets.  

If you still want the most aero-optimized daily, I’d spec:

  • Model 3 Performance with the most closed, narrow wheel/tire setup you’ll tolerate (or a Long Range with 18” aeros if performance isn’t mandatory), keep it low, and keep the roof clean.
  • Or Model S Plaid on 19” Tempest/aero wheels, air suspension set Low on the freeway, and skip the 21s.

Either way, your commute just got sleek, swift, and ultra‑slippery. 😄

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