Tesla Model 3 range updated: new $45,900 entry grade opens the line-up

A new entry point opens the Model 3 range

Tesla has added a new, un-named base model to the Australian Model 3 line-up, with the no-trim Rear-Wheel Drive variant priced from $45,900 before on-road costs. Chasing Cars reported that the 2027 model year update cuts the cost of entry to the electric sedan by $9000, positioning the new grade well below the Premium model that shares its rear-wheel-drive, single-motor set-up. ¹

CarSauce, writing on the day the configurator went live, confirmed pricing of A$45,900 in Australia and NZ$54,900 in New Zealand before on-road costs, and quoted Tesla Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Thom Drew saying the variant was "the most affordable way for Australians and New Zealanders to own a Tesla, and the most accessible way to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised)". Man of Many, which published its report the same day, carried the same Drew quote and the same pricing, and described the model as Australia's cheapest electric sedan. ²⁴

Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is available on the new entry model as a monthly subscription priced at A$149 in Australia and NZ$159 in New Zealand, according to CarSauce's report of Tesla's launch information. ²

Note that the model year designation differs between outlets: Chasing Cars refers to the updated line-up as the MY27 Model 3, while CarSauce and Man of Many headline the new variant as a 2026 Model 3. The pricing, specification and timing they report are otherwise consistent. ¹²⁴

Pricing and order timing

The updated Model 3 range prices, as listed by both Chasing Cars and CarSauce, are $45,900 for the base Rear-Wheel Drive, $54,900 for the Premium Rear-Wheel Drive, $61,900 for the Premium Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive and $80,900 for the Performance All-Wheel Drive. All figures are manufacturer recommended retail prices excluding on-road costs. CarSauce lists matching New Zealand prices of NZ$54,900, NZ$63,900, NZ$71,900 and NZ$86,900 respectively. ¹²

Ordering opened on 1 October 2026, with first Australian customer deliveries commencing from mid-October, according to CarSauce. Chasing Cars reported the MY27 range was available for ordering from that day with deliveries starting later in October. Man of Many likewise reported the configurator was live from 1 October with mid-October Australian deliveries, and CarSauce adds that New Zealand deliveries begin from late November. Tesla showrooms will display the entry model and offer test drives from mid-to-late October, per CarSauce. ¹²⁴

Every Model 3 carries a five-year unlimited-kilometre basic vehicle warranty and an eight-year or 160,000km battery and drive unit warranty with a minimum 70 per cent battery capacity retention over that period, terms CarSauce and Man of Many both report as matching recent Model 3 and Model Y coverage in Australia. ²⁴

Buyers choose from three exterior colours on the entry model: no-cost Pearl White, Diamond Black at $1500 and Stealth Grey at $1900, as reported by Chasing Cars and repeated by Man of Many. ¹⁴

Specification of the base model: what is kept and what is cut

Tesla Australia confirmed standard features on the cheaper Model 3 include 18-inch Prismata wheels, matrix LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, a 360-degree camera, and heated steering wheel and front seats, according to Chasing Cars. CarSauce's specification list adds heated and electrically adjustable front seats, power-folding side mirrors, a hands-free powered tailgate, a heat pump, an adaptive matrix LED headlight system and an eight-camera vision system. ¹²

The cabin centres on a 16-inch front touchscreen borrowed from the Model Y, which now features on every Model 3 and replaces the previous 15.4-inch display, Chasing Cars reported. CarSauce lists the same 16-inch screen plus Tesla Audio with seven speakers, three USB-C ports, front wireless phone charging and footwell ambient lighting. Man of Many adds that the screen carries native streaming apps including Apple Music, Spotify, Netflix and YouTube for use while parked. ¹²⁴

The seven-speaker audio system is the smallest count in the range, Chasing Cars noted, and the rear-cabin 8.0-inch touchscreen found in other Model 3 grades is omitted. CarSauce confirms the rear passenger screen is dropped while the rear cabin retains air vents and two USB-C ports. Chasing Cars reported second-row heating is not detailed by Tesla and is expected to be missing; Man of Many describes the upholstery as flat-woven textile and vegan leather. ¹²⁴

Some US-market base model details remain unconfirmed for Australia. Based on the specification of the American entry model, Chasing Cars reported it is likely the local version also has a steering wheel with manual rather than electric adjustment, non-perforated artificial leather seats, manually folding side mirrors and passive rather than frequency-dependent dampers, although CarSauce's Australian specification list includes power-folding side mirrors. The discrepancy is unresolved in the published material. ¹²

Cargo capacity is listed by CarSauce at 682 litres across the boot and frunk, expanding to 1659 litres with the rear seats folded. Man of Many reports the same combined figure. ²⁴

Performance, range and safety

Tesla quotes a WLTP range of up to 572km for the rear-wheel-drive base Model 3, a 52km advantage over the next model up, the Premium, according to Chasing Cars. CarSauce and Man of Many report the same 572km WLTP figure and a 0-100km/h claim of 6.2 seconds, which Chasing Cars identifies as the slowest grade in the range, only a tenth of a second behind the Premium RWD. ¹²⁴

The entry model carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating, CarSauce reported, with Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, blind-spot monitoring and a live blind-spot camera feed displayed on the touchscreen when the indicator is selected. Man of Many repeats the five-star ANCAP rating and notes the eight-camera vision system also powers Sentry Mode when parked. ²⁴

Elsewhere in the updated range, Chasing Cars reported the Performance extends its WLTP range by 29km to 600km, still 150km short of the Premium Long Range RWD, which holds the longest claimed EV range in the line-up. Premium and Performance grades gain a dark headliner and an optional Zen Grey interior, and Premium grades add a new optional 19-inch Dark Nova wheel design. ¹

Range-wide changes and market context

Tesla has extended its Power Share vehicle-to-load capability to all Model 3 grades where it was previously limited to specific variants, Chasing Cars reported. CarSauce explains the entry model's Power Share allows the vehicle battery to power devices and appliances when used with the Tesla Outlet Adapter, which is sold separately. Man of Many describes the same feature as allowing owners to run external devices such as space heaters or power tools. ¹²⁴

Man of Many reported that Man of Many has not yet used Tesla's Grok AI assistant, developed with xAI, which allows natural-language voice interaction with the vehicle; this is a manufacturer feature claim rather than an independently verified finding. Pet Mode, which keeps the cabin climate-controlled for animals, is also listed by Man of Many and CarSauce as part of the specification. ⁴²

Tesla has also introduced an upgraded Model Y alongside the updated sedan, according to Chasing Cars, which describes the SUV as the Model 3's twin. The Model Y's standing in the Australian market is substantial: Chasing Cars' sales coverage lists it as Australia's third-best-selling vehicle year to date as of July 2026 with 22,611 registrations, behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, citing Vfacts industry sales data. ¹³

Man of Many framed the pricing as a response to intensifying competition in the local EV market, positioning the new grade against rivals it names at approximately $48,762 drive-away for the BYD Seal and approximately $48,900 drive-away for the Zeekr X. Those are Man of Many's own drive-away comparisons, which sit on a different basis to Tesla's list prices excluding on-road costs, and Tesla retains the Supercharger network as a differentiator, the publication noted. ⁴