Tesla Black Vs White Interior: 6 Factors to Consider Before Choosing

On December 16, 2018, Elon Musk claimed in his tweet that white seats on Tesla cars are extremely stain-resistant. He also said that users spill red wine on the seats and wipe it off easily. Experiments following this tweet showed that his claim was accurate.

In the debate about the Tesla black vs white interior, upholstery stain is a crucial factor. There are other factors like cost, heat retention, durability, and comfort. Wannabe Tesla owners often get confused about which interior to choose.

I will explain each little factor to help you decide which interior will be best for you. Let’s get started.

Tesla Black Vs White Interior: Quick Comparison

The following chart shows the key factors of both interior options.

Features	Black	White
Material	Vegan leather	Vegan leather
Comfort	Less	More
Stain Resistance	Less	More
Cost	Less	More
Heat Retention	High	Low

Tesla Black Vs White Interior: Detailed Comparison

All Tesla models currently offer two interior options, black and white. Both interior options have their pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at how these options perform.

1. Look and Feel

A black interior is a classic option for most cars out there. Similarly, Tesla models with a black interior have that sleek look with black leather seats. When the car is new, the black interior looks highly appealing.

But the white interior looks much more luxurious. It elevates the vehicle’s impression and gives it a futuristic feel. Also, the white interior has a great contrast against the darker panels on the interior. It will be more appropriate to address the white interior as a B&W interior.

Even for two cars of the same model with black and white interiors, the cabin with the white interior feels more spacious.

2. Material and Comfort

The black interior comprises vegan leather seats with a traditional texture. This design and build of the seats are generally comfortable but aren’t as plush as white seats. Both interiors are made of vegan leather but the finished feel of each interior is different.

In the white interior, the seats are much softer and more comfortable. You will feel like you are sitting in a high-end luxury car. The texture on the white seats is different from the black seats.

3. Stain Resistance

Users are more concerned about this factor when buying a Tesla. The black interior is generally more stain-resistant due to its nature and texture. Dirt and stains are less visible on darker seats. As the seats have a sleek finish, stains can’t generally get attached to the seat.

But the black interior has a huge problem. Over time, the black interior catches some dirt stains that fade the color and finish. So, the seats may end up looking dull.

White seats are free from this problem, but they are more susceptible to darker stains. Dirt and stains are more visible on lighter seats. To fight this, Tesla used a special stain-resistant coating on the white interior. This gave Elon Musk the confidence to invite users to spill red wine on white seats.

Overall, white seats perform better in the long run compared to the dirt marks and streaks on black seats.

This video will provide more details:

Discover the best method for cleaning Tesla seats in our comprehensive Tesla seat cleaning guide.

4. Heat Retention

Unlike most cars, Tesla uses an overheat protection feature to keep your car cooler. Consider parking your car on a sunny day. The black interior absorbs heat more than the white interior. So, the car with a black interior will become hotter than the car with a white interior.

The cooling system of the car will need to spend more energy to keep the car with a black interior cooler, even if the temperature outside is the same. As the white interior reflects heat more, it will generally stay cooler. So, the white interior is better for hot climate regions.

But if you live in a cold climate region, the black interior might be a better choice. It will retain heat better than the white interior and the heating system can save some energy.

5. Maintenance

Even though white interiors are more susceptible to stains, maintaining them is easier. Due to the texture of the white interior, any spills can be wiped off easily. Be it a juice or coffee spill, nothing really sticks to the white interior. You can wipe these spills off with a paper towel.

However, dirt and grime may be more visible on white interiors. So, you have to clean white interiors regularly. Black interiors don’t have this urgency, but they also need periodic cleaning and maintenance to retain the look.

6. Cost

It is a general norm for black products to cost more than other colors. But the case is the opposite here. The black interior is a standard feature of Tesla cars. For the white interior, you have to pay an additional $1,000. This may be a bit surprising to many potential customers.

The additional cost is due to the softer and more comfortable material used in the white interior. Also, white interiors get a special hydrophobic coating to repel stains. It may be a dealbreaker for many users as spending an extra grand for the color might seem unnecessary.

But with my experience of using the white interior for a while, I can assure you that the additional cost is worth it. For a higher price, you get a luxury feel, more comfort, better stain resistance, and better fade resistance.

Pros and Cons of Tesla Black Vs White Interior

The following list of advantages and drawbacks of these two interior options will help you make decisions faster. Check them out.

Tesla White Interior Pros

• The white interior has a more luxurious look and feel
• It makes the cabin look spacious
• The contract in the interior is visually appealing
• White seats are more comfortable
• The white interior has a hydrophobic coating
• It is less prone to fading

Tesla White Interior Cons

• It costs $1,000 more than the black interior
• Dirt and grime are more visible on the white interior
• The white interior requires more frequent maintenance

Tesla Black Interior Pros

• The black interior comes as a standard
• It has decent stain resistance
• The wooden trim in the black interior looks gorgeous
• You’ll get a timeless feel in the black interior
• Black interiors require less maintenance

Tesla Black Interior Cons

• This color is more prone to fading and creases
• Black seats are a bit less comfortable
• The black interior absorbs more heat

Tesla Black Vs White Interior: Which One Should You Choose?

See which of the following situations matches you to find out the right interior options.

1. Consider Your Climate: For hot and humid climates, a white interior will be better. Otherwise, you can get the black interior.
2. Type of Users: If you have kids, the chance of spilling on the interior will be higher. In that case, the white interior will be better. But if you intend to use the car yourself, the black interior is fine enough.
3. Think About the Maintenance Effort: For Tesla cars with a white interior, you have to spend more time after maintenance. If you are too busy to deal with maintenance, a black interior is a better option.
4. Budget: If you are tight on the budget, go for the black interior. Choose the white interior if you have an ample budget.

FAQs

I answered some commonly asked questions about these two interior options of Tesla cars. Check them out.

Discover the Best Way to Clean the Touch Screen in Your Tesla!

Conclusion

White interiors in cars used to catch more dirt and stains until Tesla introduced its hydrophobic coating on the interior. As a result, the demand for white interiors has increased. The black interior is also popular among a wide range of users for its timeless and sleek look.

Choosing between these two interior options may become hard as there are so many factors to consider. I simplified those factors and compared them against each other to help you choose an interior option that suits you the best. Make your decision wisely and pick an interior color that will be beneficial in the long run.