In our Bucharest to Budapest EV duel, the Tesla Model 3 Performance beats the Tesla Model S 2023 by 40 minutes, completing the 821km route in 9h 8min. The key advantage? Faster charging speeds. Route calculated on September 15, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
Despite costing 37,430 less, the Tesla Model 3 Performance beats the Tesla Model S 2023 by 40 minutes on this route.
The Tesla Model S 2023's 505km range doesn't beat the Tesla Model 3 Performance's 424km here - charging speed and efficiency matter more.
Winner
Tesla Model 3 Performance
- Total time: 9h 8min (40 min faster)
- Charging stops: 2
- Charging time: 29min
- Energy: ~145 kWh
- Distance: 821km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Tesla Model 3 Performance |
Tesla Model S 2023 |
| Travel time |
9h 8min |
9h 48min |
| Charging time: |
29min |
1h 7min |
| Charging stops: |
2 |
2 |
| Energy used |
~148 kWh |
~148 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Tesla Model 3 Performance Route
- Start: Bucharest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului dreapta (11 min, 32% → 66%)
-
Stop 2:
OMV DN69 (18 min, 10% → 70%)
- Arrival: Budapest
Tesla Model S 2023 Route
- Start: Bucharest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului dreapta (18 min, 35% → 68%)
-
Stop 2:
Spatiu Servicii A1 Pecica Sens Nadlac (49 min, 10% → 62%)
- Arrival: Budapest
Why the Tesla Model 3 Performance Won
The Tesla Model 3 Performance achieved a 40-minute advantage over Tesla Model S 2023 on this 821km route. Key factors:
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 29min vs 1h 7min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~145 kWh vs ~154 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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