Elon Musk gave up on the idea of a more affordable, entry-level Tesla model a while ago. Instead, Tesla is making stripped-out versions of its volume sellers. We knew that the new base Model Y was coming today, but Tesla also surprised us with this: The Model 3 Standard. This new entry-level model costs $38,630 with the $1,390 destination fee and $250 order fee both included. According to the Tesla configurator, it's a single-motor car with 321 miles of range and a 5.8-second 0-60 mile-per-hour time. The Model 3 Standard represents a $5,500 savings over the Premium Rear-Wheel Drive. In the Standard, you get a different set of 18-inch wheels, just three color choices—white, black, or gray—and a simpler interior with cloth seats and trim, no ambient lighting, a manually adjustable steering column, no ventilated seats, and no rear screen. Here's a full pricing breakdown for the 2026 Model 3. Model Price Model 3 Standard Rear-Wheel Drive $38,630 Model 3 Premium Rear-Wheel Drive $44,130 Model 3 Premium All-Wheel Drive $49,130 Model 3 Performance $56,630 Tesla also uses different dampers for the Model 3 Standard, and also deletes the standard Autosteer feature, though you can order Full-Self Driving (Supervised) for $8,000. One other curious detail, according to a comparison chart between Model 3 variants, is manually adjusting side-view mirrors. We can't think of a single car today that doesn't have power-adjustable mirrors. The Model 3 Standard also has a bit less range and slower charging speeds than other Model 3 models. Its 321-mile range trails the 363 miles of the Premium Rear-Wheel Drive model, and it can only Supercharge at 170 miles/15 minutes compared with 195 miles/15 minutes for the Premium. This is now the cheapest way into a Tesla, with the Model Y Standard costing $41,630. As far as other sub-$40,000 EVs on the market, the Model 3 Standard will have to contend with the new Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and perhaps its closest rival, the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Tesla says deliveries for this new entry model will begin either December of this year or January of next. Gallery: 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard Tesla Make: Tesla Model: URL: Tesla
