In this article, we’ll answer the question “What is a frunk?”, give details about the Tesla frunks (specifically for the Model 3 & Model Y), and discuss why the Tesla frunks matter for parents.
The all-electric Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover are getting a lot of praise from families with children. They are not as expensive as their bigger siblings, the Model S and X, making them accessible to a wider swath of people shuttling young kids around. Although the Model S and Model X are in fact more capable family haulers, the median age of the owners (54 and 52 respectively) makes them unlikely to have young children in strollers.
Owners of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y not only love the high safety ratings of the vehicles, but also the innovative and practical storage solutions that make driving around with children in tow a lot easier. Both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have a traditional rear trunk area, a less common storage area under the trunk floor and an even more unusual (for the category of vehicle), a front trunk – commonly referred to as a “frunk”.
The front trunk or “frunk”, is a storage solution that is found in some vehicles. Frunks are commonly found in rear and mid engine vehicles (like many Porsche and Ferrari models), as well as many electric vehicles. Being electric, the Model 3 and Y do not have a large engine taking up the bulk of the area in the front of the vehicle allowing for additional cargo space. Even though electric cars lack traditional engines up front, not all electric cars have front trunks.
The electric VW E-Golf has the area under the hood filled with wiring and plumbing, thus no frunk. Even if the frunk is present in an electric vehicle, it may not be as usable or practical as the frunk of the Tesla Model 3 and Y. The electric BMW i3 is a good example of this. It has a frunk (although quite small) that is not completely sealed and not waterproof. It’s not as practical as the Tesla frunks, as you have to carefully consider what you store in there. Even on dry days, sand and debris may still get in.
Frunks do not offer the same relative volume of cargo space as the size of the hood may suggest. This is simply due to packaging restrictions with steering, suspension and front crash structure components taking up space up there. The same restrictions apply with the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
The frunk of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y make the two vehicles far more usable for life with children. The Model 3 even more so, since so many parents are leaving sedans for SUVs and crossovers (sorry wagons we love you!) mainly for the reason of cargo space. The frunk of the Model 3 could even be the only thing keeping some of the owners from buying a larger crossover!
The frunks in these two vehicles, although not huge, really do have a lot of benefits. They are completely sealed and waterproof, offering a safe dry space to store things. The smaller size than the trunk actually has the benefit of not allowing smaller items to annoyingly slide around all over the place while driving.
A great benefit that parents can relate to is that the frunks are plastic lined space that is completely separate from the main cabin and trunk. If a child’s outfit or belongings becomes heavily soiled with any sort of smelly material, you can throw them in the frunk until you get home and not contaminate the air inside the cabin of the vehicle with the odor. The same thing could be done with a gym bag and shoes after you are done working out. We also found that the frunk is the perfect place to put pizza and other takeout food!
There are even several travel strollers that can fit in the frunk of the Tesla Model 3 & Y! We will provide a comprehensive list in a following article.
Now that we have presented a bunch of vague examples of the relative size of the Model 3 and Y’s frunk, it’s time to get more specific. Even though the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y share many of the same parts, the slightly larger physical dimensions of the Model Y overall are also present in the frunk, but only in depth. The Model 3’s frunk measures approximately 28in wide and 15.5in long with a depth ranging from 8-10 inches. This is perfect for anything with a maximum size around that of a standard carry-on piece of luggage which is about 22in X 14in X 9in. As previously mentioned, the Tesla Model Y has a very similar, but slightly deeper frunk with dimensions of 27.6in wide, 13.8in long and 12-13.8in deep. All of these measurements were taken at the base or floor of the frunk. The frunk is slightly larger as you get farther from the front bumper.
Model 3 Front Trunk Basic Dimensions:
Wide: Approx. 28”
Long: Approx. 15.5″
Deep: Approx 10” at rear wall nearest windshield. Approx. 8″ at shortest end near front bumperA
Model Y Front Trunk Basic Dimensions:
Wide: (Arrow B in figure below) 27.6”
Long: (Arrow A in figure below) 13.8″
Deep: (Arrow E) 13.8″ at highest point nearest windshield. Approx. 12″ at shortest end near front bumper.
The image above of the Model Y front trunk is from the Tesmanian Blog. They have included a comprehensive list of front trunk measurements. Their blog post includes measurements of other areas of the Model Y as well. Click on the image or HERE to check it out.
The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y both have very usable cargo space with the addition of the frunk. The front trunk situation found in Tesla is somewhat uncommon and often an overlooked feature. However, the frunk offers many practical uses. Families with children will likely find many benefits to having a frunk. As mentioned, the frunk offered by the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y offer storage space that make it comparable with larger SUVs. Of course, depending on each individual’s situation, some people may use the frunk all the time and others may never use it. We personally love the frunk and believe it’s better to have it than not.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for you or your favorite EV owner CLICK HERE for our favorite EV owner gift list!
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