2026 Tesla Model Y Standard revealed, alongside cheaper Model 3

Tesla reveals 2026 Model 3 and Model Y Standard for the US, cutting features and price—but Australia misses out.

Sylvie C.

Sylvie C.

October 9, 2025

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3 mins read

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Sylvie C.
Sylvie C.

9 October, 2025

Access Time

3 mins read

Tesla has unveiled stripped-back versions of its Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV for the US market, aimed at lowering the entry price. The “Standard” trims cut some features to lower the price, but they are not coming to Australia.

Cheaper trims, but not by much

The new Model 3 Standard starts at $US36,990 ($AU56,200), while the Model Y Standard begins at $US39,990 ($AU60,700). Despite the aggressive feature cuts, the price drops by around $US5,000–$5,500 ($AU7,600–$8,350) only.

Features removed

Some of the features removed from the new Tesla Model Y Standard and Tesla Model 3 Standard include FM radio, physical seat adjustment buttons, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and the 15-speaker stereo. Drivers now have to adjust the front seats using the touchscreen, and some adjustments, like passenger seat height, are no longer available. The 8-inch touchscreen for the rear passengers also gets deleted in the Standard trim, along with the ambient lighting strip on the doors.

The Model 3 Standard has manual side mirrors, a notable departure from the power-adjustable mirrors found in most modern vehicles. Both cars still get the same 15.4-inch central touchscreen, which houses pretty much all the controls for these gizmos on wheels. 

What’s new on the outside and inside

The price-cutting extends to visual elements as well with the Tesla Model Y Standard getting bigger changes than the Model 3 Standard. It now has simpler single-piece LED headlights instead of the split-level design that debuted with the 2025 Juniper facelift, and the tail-lights lose the central reflective section. The roof is no longer panoramic glass, and the rear seats no longer fold automatically. 

Other exterior design tweaks for the Model Y base trim include new front and rear bumpers, a revised tailgate section, a new rear window design, and 18-inch wheels, with optional 19-inch wheels. The interior of the Standard grade features half-textile upholstery instead of full leather, and the premium 15-speaker audio system has been replaced with a 7-speaker setup.

Both standard-grade models include standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. These trims do not include Tesla’s Autopilot (lane-keeping assist) as standard. However, they are hardware-ready for Full Self-Driving (FSD), which can be added for an additional $8,000.

The Tesla Model 3 Standard looks mostly like the regular car, with the least apparent cost-cutting on the outside. Only notable changes are the new 18-inch wheels and black badges standing out. Inside the cabin, the leather is replaced by part-fabric upholstery and the seats have a slightly different shape, but the rest looks quite similar with the same feature deletions as the Model Y Standard.

Performance and driving range

Both Standard models are rear-wheel drive, featuring smaller batteries, reduced range, and lower performance. Here’s how the specifications for the new base trims for the Model 3 and Model Y stack up against the previous entry point to the lineup:

Model 3 Standard vs Premium

ModelStandardPremium
Battery69.5kWh82kWh
Range (EPA est)517km on (18-inch wheels/488km (19-inch wheels)584km on (18-inch wheels)/ 552km on (19-inch wheels)
Power213kW373kW
Acceleration (0-97kph)5.8 seconds4.9 seconds
Top Charging Rate225kW250kW

Model Y Standard vs Premium

ModelStandardPremium
Battery69.5kWh82kWh
Range (EPA est)517km on (18-inch wheels/488km (19-inch wheels)575km on (19-inch wheels)
Power224kW343kW
Acceleration (0-97kph)6.8 seconds5.4 seconds
Charging Speed225kW250kW

What this means for Australia

The 2026 Model 3 and Model Y Standard are available to order in the US now. The Model Y is available in three colours: Stealth Grey, Pearl White, and Diamond Black. Tesla has confirmed that these cheaper trims will not be sold in Australia, where only Premium models are available.

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