Popular Tesla now $9000 cheaper: New 2026 Tesla Model 3 RWD undercuts BYD Seal, Kia EV4 and Mazda6e
Dom works as CarsGuide's News Editor after starting his career at the Sydney Morning Herald's Drive section before moving into News Corp's automotive coverage.
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Key takeaways:
- Tesla has launched a new base Model 3 RWD variant priced from $45,900, which is $9000 cheaper than the next variant
- This makes the Model 3 cheaper than the BYD Seal, Kia EV4 and Mazda6e
- The new model is lighter on equipment but still has more than 570km of range, OTA updates and more
A new-car price war is brewing, and it has never been more affordable to buy a Tesla.
The American carmaker has slashed $9000 of the price of entry into its Model 3 electric sedan, with a new based rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant priced from $45,900 (before on-road costs).
That makes it cheaper than the base BYD Seal Dynamic ($49,888), Kia EV4 ($50,040) and Mazda 6e ($49,990).
Shop Tesla Model 3 Cars
Search all carsThis follows several tempting offers from rival BYD in the past month.
"Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive is the most affordable way for Australians and New Zealanders to own a Tesla, and the most accessible way to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised)," said Thom Drew, Country Director – Australia & New Zealand.
Australians can order the Model 3 RWD from today with the first deliveries expected from mid-October.
2026 Tesla Model 3 RWD driving range, battery size and more
Tesla is notoriously secretive with its mechanical details of its vehicles, but it appears the base RWD has the same hardware as the RWD premium.
It has a claimed driving range of up to 572km calculated via the benchmark WLTP test cycle, and has a 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds.
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It is believed to be powered by a single electric motor making up to 208kW fed by a roughly 63kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery.
2026 Tesla Model 3 RWD equipment
Tesla has ripped out some of the features from the Model 3 Premium RWD, to make it more affordable, but it has all the essentials.
It has:
- Tesla Audio system with seven speakers
- 16-inch first-row touchscreen
- 3 USB-C ports (2 rear, 1 front)
- Wireless phone charging (front)
- Footwell ambient lighting
- Panoramic glass roof
- 18-inch Prismata wheels
- Matrix LED headlights
- Hands-free boot
- Power-folding side mirrors
There is also Tesla’s app that allows you to control vehicle features remotely, such as air conditioning, charging, power tailgate, unlock the car and more.
The multimedia screen controls all the vehicle functions, and has apps such as Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, Youtube and games.
It also grants owners access to Tesla's expansive network of Superchargers and it will be constantly improved via over-the-air updates.
Owners can still access Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised) in the cheapest variant, with a subscription costing $149 a month.
Tesla covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited km warranty.
Tesla Model 3 range pricing (Australia)
| Variant | Price (before on-road costs) |
|---|---|
| Model 3 RWD | $45,900 |
| Model 3 Premium RWD | $54,900 |
| Model 3 Premium Long-Range RWD | $61,900 |
| Model 3 Performance AWD | $80,900 |
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News Editor
Dom works as CarsGuide's News Editor after starting his career at the Sydney Morning Herald's Drive section before moving into News Corp's automotive coverage.
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