Tesla fights back with massive upgrade

Tesla has announced a battery upgrade for its flagship Model 3 Performance as well as a new Long Range rear-wheel-drive variant of the long-serving pure-electric sedan.

Available to order from today (03/10/25), the Model 3 Performance now features a higher capacity Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery increasing (WLTP) range from 528km to 571km, with pricing unchanged at $80,900, before on-road costs.

With dual motors delivering 343kW/741Nm, the Model 3 Performance accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 3.1 seconds before storming on to a maximum velocity of 261km/h.

At the same time, the local Model 3 line-up has been massaged with the addition of a new Long-Range RWD variant, replacing the existing Long-Range AWD model.

With a (WLTP) range of “up to 750km”, a whopping 230km more than the standard RWD model, Tesla is claiming it as “the longest-range EV in Australia”.

All Model 3s have also been tweaked cosmetically with black Tesla badging, and the brand has confirmed its ‘Supercharger’ charging network has grown to 163 sites across Australia which equates to 1003 plugs. 

Tesla lays claim to “the largest global, fast charging network in the world” and says its superchargers can add up to 282km of range in 15 minutes. 

2026 Tesla Model 3 price Australia:

Variant	Price - before on-road costs
Rear-Wheel Drive	$54,900
Long-Range RWD	$61,900
Performance	$80,900

2026 Tesla Model 3 engine/powertrain and efficiency: 

Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and Long-Range RWD models are powered by a single 190kW/375Nm electric motor with claimed ranges of 520km and 750km, respectively. The top-spec Performance puts out 343kW/741Nm and now has a range of 528km. 

2026 Tesla Model 3 standard features: 

• Alloy wheels
• 15.4-inch centre touchscreen
• 8.0-inch second row display
• Nine-speaker audio (RWD)
• 17-speaker audio (Performance)
• Wireless phone charging
• Glass roof
• Navigation (with real-time traffic updates)
• Acoustic glass
• Ambient lighting
• Ventilated front seats

2026 Tesla Model 3 optional features: 

• Full Self-Driving (Supervised) - $10,100
• Home charger - $800
• Mobile charger - $550
• 19-inch alloy rims - $1800

2026 Tesla Model 3 colours: 

Exterior - 

• Pearl White Multi-Coat (no cost)
• Diamond Black
• Deep Blue Metallic
• Stealth Grey
• Quicksilver
• Ultra Red

Interior -

• Black
• Black and White (optional)

2026 Tesla Model 3 safety: 

The Tesla Model 3 received a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from assessment in 2025. Its Adult Occupant Protection score was 90 per cent, Child Occupant Protection was 95 per cent, Vulnerable Road User Protection was ranked at 89 per cent and Safety Assist came in at 88 per cent.

Features -

• AEB (car-to-car junction, crossing and head-on)
• Lane keeping assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Forward collision warning
• In-cabin child presence detection
• Active cruise control
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Auto emergency call
• Nine airbags
• Active bonnet
• Fortified battery pack
• Multi-collision brake

2026 Tesla Model 3 warranty and servicing: 

Tesla’s standard warranty in Australia is four years/80,000km (including roadside assistance for the duration) with the drive battery covered for eight years/160,000km. 

Servicing is computer determined so the car will tell you when it's time to visit the workshop. However, Tesla recommends the following maintenance items and intervals:

• Brake fluid health check every four years
• Cabin air filter replacement every two years
• Wiper blade replacements every year
• Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 20,000km
• Rotate tyres every 10,000km

Tesla also offers a mobile customer tyre repair service covering puncture repair, tyre replacement and wheel loan.

2026 Tesla Model 3 dimensions: 

The Tesla Model 3 is 4720mm long, 1848mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1442mm tall with a 2875mm wheelbase. Boot space is 594 litres with 88L in the ‘frunk’.