2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD is a fully electric vehicle rated at 113 MPGe combined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has an EPA-rated driving range of 315 miles on a full charge.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 225% better combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2021 model year (34.8 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD at 142 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $7,500 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Has an EPA-rated electric driving range of 315 miles, which is above the typical range for new electric vehicles.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 113 MPG |
| City MPG | 118 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 107 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $650 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | — |
| Fuel type | Electricity |
How the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD compares
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD returns 113 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 34.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 225%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD at 142 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2021 model year (across all classes) returns 27.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2021 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for electricity, which is $0.15/kilowatt-hour. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPGe and the reference electricity price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. Charging at home rather than at a public DC fast charger usually lowers the real cost below the EPA's published figure.
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $325 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $650 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $1,083 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD
The EPA has rated the Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD across 6 model years, from 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD through 2026 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 111 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 111 MPG | 2026 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD |
| 2025 | 109 MPG | 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD |
| 2024 | 112 MPG | 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD |
| 2023 | 113 MPG | 2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD |
| 2022 | 113 MPG | 2022 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD |
| 2021 | 113 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2021
If you are cross-shopping the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD leads this group at 142 MPG, 29 MPG ahead of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD.
Specifications
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD is a fully electric vehicle. It is powered by 131 and 190 kw ac 3-phase. The EPA rates its driving range at 315 miles.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Electricity
- Electric motor
- 131 and 190 kW AC 3-Phase
- EV range
- 315 miles
- Annual petroleum use
- 0.1 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD.
-
Is the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD returns 113 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 225%. -
What MPG does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD at 113 combined MPG, 118 MPG in city driving, and 107 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $650 for the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD use gasoline?
No. The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD is fully electric and runs on grid electricity. The MPGe figure on this page converts electricity use into a gasoline-equivalent so you can compare it directly to a regular car. -
Has the Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD, 113 MPG) and most recent (2026 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD, 111 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD emit?
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD produces zero tailpipe emissions because it runs entirely on electricity. The full carbon footprint of charging it depends on how the electricity on your local grid is generated, which varies a lot from one state to another. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD?
City driving returns 118 MPG and highway driving returns 107 MPG. A flat (or city-better) split is the signature of a hybrid or electric drivetrain, where regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost in stop-start city traffic. -
What motor does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD use?
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD uses 131 and 190 kW AC 3-Phase. Electric motors do not have a displacement or cylinder count the way a combustion engine does, so EPA reporting focuses on the motor type and battery system instead. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD have?
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD comes with a automatic (a1) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD at 142 combined MPG. The Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD returns 113 MPG, a gap of 29 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.