2027 Tesla Model 3 RWD becomes the cheapest Tesla ever sold in Australia
The new entry-level Model 3 RWD is priced from $45,900 before on-roads, $9000 under the Premium RWD, with 572km of WLTP range but fewer comfort features.
Rob Leigh
Key takeaways
- Priced from $45,900 plus on-roads, $9000 below the Premium RWD
- 572km WLTP range from the same 62.5kWh LFP battery
- Orders open now, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2026
Tesla has added a new entry-level Model 3 RWD to its Australian lineup, priced from $45,900 before on-road costs. That makes it the cheapest Tesla ever sold here, and $9000 less than the Premium RWD that previously opened the range.
Orders are open now through Tesla Australia's website.
The new base model undercuts the Kia EV4 Air and Mazda 6e, both priced from $49,990 plus on-roads, as well as the cheapest version of the BYD Seal.
Known overseas as the Model 3 Standard, the car marks a reversal for Tesla, which had previously said its cheaper Standard models would not be offered in Australia or New Zealand.
The Model 3 RWD uses the same 208kW rear motor and 62.5kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery as the Premium RWD. Claimed WLTP range rises 52km to 572km, helped by new 18-inch 'Prismata' alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tyres. The 0-100km/h time is 6.2 seconds, 0.1 seconds slower than the Premium.
What the Model 3 RWD gives up
To reach the lower price, Tesla has removed several features fitted to the Premium RWD:
- Textile and leatherette seat trim instead of full leatherette upholstery
- No front-seat ventilation or heated rear seats
- No 8.0-inch rear touchscreen
- Seven speakers instead of nine, and FM and DAB radio appear to have been dropped
- Ambient lighting limited to the footwells
- Manual steering column adjustment, no auto-dimming side mirrors, and front seat controls moved to the touchscreen
- Conventional dampers in place of frequency-selective units
Standard equipment still includes matrix LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, a hands-free power boot lid, power-folding mirrors, a 16-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, heated power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel and a heat pump. Safety gear includes autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with a blind-spot camera, lane-keep and lane-centring assist, and front, side and rear cameras.
Pearl White is the only no-cost paint. Diamond Black adds $1500 and Stealth Grey $1900. Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is available as a $149 monthly subscription.
2027 Tesla Model 3 range updates
Every MY27 Model 3 gets a larger 16-inch touchscreen, up from 15.4 inches, and access to Tesla's Powershare vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. V2L requires the optional Tesla Outlet Adapter and can't be retrofitted to older Model 3s.
Premium and Performance variants add a dark headliner and a Zen Grey interior option, while the Premium can be ordered with 19-inch 'Dark Nova' wheels. The Performance's WLTP range rises 29km to 600km.
All Model 3s carry a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty guaranteeing at least 70% capacity.
2027 Tesla Model 3 pricing
| Variant | Price excluding on-roads |
| Model 3 RWD (new) | $45,900 |
| Model 3 Premium RWD | $54,900 |
| Model 3 Premium Long Range RWD | $61,900 |
| Model 3 Performance AWD | $80,900 |
View Tesla Model 3 driveaway pricing and specifications →
Test drives of the Model 3 RWD start later in October, with first customer deliveries expected before the end of 2026. Tesla hasn't confirmed whether a cheaper Model Y RWD will follow locally.
Rob Leigh
Co-founder & Director
Rob Leigh is Co-founder and Director of The Beep based in Melbourne, Australia. He has 15+ years inside a major automotive OEM, specialising in product planning, pricing and vehicle strategy.
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