Tesla’s black interior and their more recent white interior option are both incredibly sleek, and it’s nice to now have an alternative to the original black interior. However, as a new or soon to be Tesla owner, you may be wondering if the black or white interior is better.
Whether the black or white Tesla interior is better largely comes down to personal preference. The white Tesla interior can cost about $2,000 extra, but the spacious and futuristic look, along with the softer seats, make it a very enticing option that is surprisingly easy to clean.
It mostly comes down to personal preference as to which one you should pick, but there are certainly positives and negatives to both interiors. Read on below for a more detailed look at each one and some tips on how to clean the white interior if you do go for it.
Black vs White Tesla Interiors
The standard black interior doesn’t just have differences in color, but also the feel of the seats themselves. While the white interior is incredibly soft, the black interior has a more traditional leather-feeling texture, but both are made from vegan materials. The standard black interior may be more appealing if a truly leather-like experience is important to you.
The black interior also absorbs more sunlight, so it can get uncomfortably hot in summer. The white interior can also create the illusion of a more spacious interior, and it is fairly bright as it reflects sunlight, which also makes for a far cooler car in the summer months.
The Feel Of The Seats
The white interior, rather than being made from the same traditional leather-feeling material, is made from a very soft-to-the-touch material. The white interior attracts more dirt and stains than the black does, but it’s not necessarily harder to clean, it’s just that the dirt is more visible so you may spend longer cleaning the white seats.
Sadly, $1000-$2000 separates the white interior from the black interior depending on which model of Tesla you have or are buying, so you need to pay a fair extra bit for the difference. The Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y cost an extra $1000 with the white interior option, whereas the Model S and X cost an additional $2,000 on top of the retail price of the car itself.
Is The Black Or White Interior Better On A Tesla?
Whether the black or white Tesla interior is best depends on personal preference. The black and white interiors both have pros and cons, but many owners prefer the white interior thanks to the feel of the seats, the brighter color itself, and the fact it keeps the car cooler in hot weather.
The aesthetic differences are purely subjective, and to some the white interior has a more futuristic look, which may be what you’re after. However, the functional differences are definitely in favor of the white interior.
The white interior reflects sunlight, making the interior seem a lot brighter and as a result much more spacious. The white color also means that in summer when sunlight is directly hitting the seats, it is reflected rather than absorbed, keeping the seats much cooler.
A Great Upgrade At A Cost
The white interior costs an extra $1000 more than the black interior if you wish to have it in a Model 3 or Model Y. The Tesla Model S and X white interior costs a hefty $2000 extra, so no matter the model, you’re paying a reasonable chunk of cash for the white versus the black interior.
If the benefits of having a white interior are worth the extra cost to you and it’s in your budget, then the white interior is the clear winner, and despite the white color attracting more dirt than the black interior, it’s not too difficult to clean (which we’ll discuss more below).
While the white interior attracts more dirt than the black interior, it is coated in a hydrophobic coating that repels most everyday stains so that they can be easily wiped away or cleaned with a paper towel. Some may prefer the softer feel of the white interior, but again it’s incredibly subjective and depends on what you want from the car.
KEY POINTS
• The black and white Tesla interiors each have their advantages and disadvantages
• The black feels more luxurious to some, and it’s the default option for every model
• The white is more expensive, but it reflects heat and feels softer
Does The White Tesla Interior Get Dirty Easily?
The white Tesla interior does attract dirt and stains more easily than the black interior. When you purchase the white interior, you need to be able to sustain the cleanliness of the interior to keep it from looking rough and dirty looking, but the white interior is fairly easy to clean.
Dirt that may not have been visible on the black interior is very visible on the white interior as it works like a canvas for dirt and grime. But even though the material is far softer than the black interior, stains or spills that would otherwise absorb into a normal car’s seats do not absorb into the white material and can easily be wiped off with a soft cloth.
Keeping It Clean
As it’s more difficult to sustain the cleanliness of the white interior, if you expect that you won’t have the time to maintain the interior, or if you will be getting in the car covered in dirt quite often, it may not be the ideal interior for you.
However, most everyday stains aren’t an issue as the seats have a protective coating that is hydrophobic, so coffee and other things that are known for terrible stains will simply wipe off with a wet cloth or baby wipe. But it’s worth taking a closer look at cleaning a white Tesla interior in case you’re still not sure.
How To Clean White Tesla Interior
Baby Wipes
Possibly the easiest way to clean the white interior of a Tesla is by using simple baby wipes. Generally, the chemicals in most baby wipes will not harm the material of the seat, but it’s best to use wipes with as few chemicals as possible just in case.
Wet Cloths
Tesla themselves recommends that you simply use a soft wet cloth with some soap that doesn’t contain any detergent. This method is better when there is a lot of dirt as it’s easier to work with cloth than a thin baby wipe.
However, it’s far easier to just have a box of baby wipes in the car as you won’t need to find water to wet the wipes and you won’t have to clean the wipes afterward like you would with a cloth. Reusing a cloth is a more environmentally friendly method, but for ease of use, having a supply of baby wipes in the car is handy.
Clean It Immediately
If you have any spills that you reckon will stain the seat, whether that’s mustard or coffee, it’s best that you immediately try to clean any serious stains off the seat. While it’s surprisingly difficult to stain the seats, it’s best not to push your luck!
Don’t Wipe Too Hard
As the seats are made from such a soft material, it’s best that you don’t wipe too hard in case you damage the material. Instead, just wipe gently in a circular motion until the dirt is gone.
Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals
You should never, under any circumstances, use any harsh chemicals to clean the interior of your Tesla as that is likely to cause damage. It will also destroy the protective coating already on the white interior, making future stains more likely to stick around.
Overall, the cleaning process is extremely simple and is far easier than cleaning a standard mesh car seat that often absorbs any stains or liquids that spill onto it. Given that keeping it clean is one of the things that deters many people from buying the white interior, it’s actually surprisingly easy and shouldn’t be an issue for most owners.
Final Thoughts
The white Tesla interior is visually more appealing than the black interior to many people, and it can create the illusion of more space inside the car. Despite what you may think, the white interior is very easy to clean, but it certainly makes dirt and stains more visible than the black interior.