Tesla has bumped up pricing of its Model 3 electric vehicle, as it battles the weak Australian dollar.
As reported by CarExpert, the brand’s cheapest model has been given a price hike alongside the wider range. Hardest hit is the base Standard Range Plus, which has had its price increased by $6000.
Tesla offers three variants of Model 3 in Australia, with prices starting at $67,900 before on-road costs for the Standard Range Plus RWD and extending to $99,869 before on-roads for the Performance AWD.
The Model 3 is a game changer for Tesla, offering usable electric range and a high-tech cabin at a price that puts it into direct competition with the Hyundai Kona Electric.
Tesla doesn’t report sales in Australia, however deliveries of the Model 3 have been strong since the car finally touched down in the middle of 2019.
2020 Tesla Model 3 pricing
- Standard Range Plus RWD – $73,900
- Long Range AWD – $91,613
- Performance AWD – $102,014
Engines
Given the Model 3 is a pure-electric vehicle, there’s no engine to speak of here. Instead, the car is offered with a choice of single- or dual-motor powertrain.
The single-motor rear-wheel drive Standard Range Plus has 211kW of power and has a 54kWh battery pack good for 460km of range on the tougher WLTP test cycle.
The Long Range AWD has 188kW from its rear motor and 147kW from the front motor, fed by a 79.5kWh battery pack. Range is 560km on the WLTP test cycle.
The range-topping Performance AWD offers 147kW from its front motor and 211kW from the one on the rear axle, mated with a 79.5kWh battery pack good for 530km on the WLTP test.
Safety
The Model 3 has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, and has been lauded in the USA for its impressive crash performance.
Standard equipment
Standard equipment on the Model 3 Standard Range Plus includes:
- 18-inch alloy wheels with ‘aero covers’
- 12-way power adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats
- Tinted glass roof
- Upgraded audio
- Power folding mirrors
- 15-inch touchscreen
- Satellite navigation
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assist
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Reversing camera
- Parking sensors
Moving to the Long Range AWD adds:
- Heated rear seats
- Premium audio
- Live traffic updates
- In-car music/media streaming
- LED fog lights
- Interior floor mats
The Model 3 Performance is fitted with:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Performance brakes
- Carbon fibre spoiler
- Lowered suspension
- Track mode
Servicing
Given it has very few moving parts, there isn’t much maintenance required on the Model 3. Tesla recommends having the air-conditioning filters changed every two years, and checking the tyre tread, balance, and rotation every 20,000km.
Thanks to regenerative braking, the brake pads and discs require work less frequently than in internal-combustion vehicles. However the Model 3 will need to have brake fluid checked every two years, and the pads and discs lubricated every 12 months in colder climes.
