Tesla no longer calls it “Long Range.” As of the 2026 lineup, the trim that used to carry that name is now labeled “Premium” on both the Model 3 and Model Y configurators. The range and price gap it represents, though, is exactly the question buyers still ask: how much range do you actually lose by choosing the cheaper Standard trim, and is the extra money for Premium worth it.
On the Model 3, Standard is EPA-rated at 321 miles and starts at $38,380 including destination. Premium Rear-Wheel Drive is rated at 363 miles and starts at $43,880. That’s 42 more miles of range for about $5,500. A Premium All-Wheel Drive version is also available, rated at 346 miles from $48,880 — less range than the RWD Premium because the second motor adds weight, but with the traction of all-wheel drive.
On the Model Y, Standard is rated at 321 miles and starts at $39,990. Premium Rear-Wheel Drive is rated at 357 miles and starts at $45,990 — 36 more miles for about $6,000. Model Y also offers a Premium All-Wheel Drive variant, rated around 327 miles, priced a few thousand dollars above the RWD Premium.
In both cases, the jump from Standard to Premium buys roughly 35-40 extra miles of EPA range for $5,500 to $6,000. That’s a real difference on paper, but it matters less than it sounds for most owners. The Model Y Standard covered 337 miles in Edmunds’ own highway range test, beating its official rating, and the Model 3 Standard has done the same in independent testing. Real-world range on a Tesla frequently lands close to or above the EPA number in mixed driving.
For daily commuting, home charging, and typical errands, Standard covers the vast majority of use cases with room to spare — a 321-mile battery still means charging once or twice a week for most drivers, not once a day. The case for Premium is narrower: frequent long highway drives where minimizing Supercharger stops matters, cold climates that cut range noticeably in winter, or simply wanting more buffer before range anxiety sets in on a road trip. If your longest regular drive is under 150 miles round trip, Standard is very likely enough car. If you road-trip often or live somewhere winters bite into range hard, the extra miles in Premium are worth paying for.
Figures above are current as of July 19, 2026, and change with Tesla’s frequent price and range updates — check the Model 3 and Model Y configurators directly before ordering.
Photo by I’m Zion.