Tesla sells the Model 3 in four trims now, and the lineup changed enough recently that older comparisons floating around online are out of date. The former “Long Range” trim has been renamed Premium, and there’s a new entry-level Standard trim that wasn’t available before. Here’s what each one actually gets you, based on Edmunds’ pricing guide as of July 2026.
| Trim | Price* | EPA range | 0–60 mph | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $38,380 | 321 mi | 5.8 sec | RWD |
| Premium RWD | $43,880 | 363 mi | 4.9 sec | RWD |
| Premium AWD | $48,880 | 346 mi | 4.2 sec | AWD |
| Performance | $56,380 | 309 mi | 2.9 sec | AWD |
*Prices include Tesla’s destination fee and are current as of this writing — always check Tesla’s configurator for the current number before you order, since pricing changes without much notice.
Standard: the budget entry point
This is the newest addition to the lineup, and it exists to hit a lower price point. You still get heated front seats, dual wireless phone charging, the 15.4-inch touchscreen, and Autopilot as standard equipment — Tesla didn’t strip the interior down to get here. What you give up is some range and quicker acceleration. It’s a reasonable choice if your daily driving is mostly local and the lower price matters more than maximum range.
Premium RWD: the range leader, and the pick for most buyers
Slightly counterintuitively, this is the longest-range Model 3 in the lineup at 363 miles, beating both AWD trims. It adds power-folding mirrors, heated rear seats, synthetic leather upholstery, and a nine-speaker sound system over the Standard. For drivers who do real road-trip mileage but don’t need all-wheel drive for weather or traction, this is the trim that makes the most sense.
Premium AWD: for snow, rain, and slick roads
Same feature set as Premium RWD, but with dual motors for all-wheel drive and quicker acceleration. The tradeoff is less range than the RWD version, since the second motor adds weight and draw. Worth the upgrade if you regularly drive in snow, on gravel, or anywhere traction is a real concern — otherwise the RWD trim gets you further on a charge for less money.
Performance: quickest, shortest range
The Performance trim trades range for speed and handling: a 2.9-second 0–60 time, adaptive sport suspension, larger brakes, and 20-inch performance tires. It has the shortest EPA range of the four trims at 309 miles. This one is for buyers who specifically want the quickest Model 3 Tesla sells, not for buyers optimizing for cost or range.
Bottom line
Most new owners are best served by Premium RWD — it has the longest range in the lineup and a meaningfully nicer interior than Standard, without paying for all-wheel drive or performance you may not need. Choose Standard if the lower price is the deciding factor, Premium AWD if you need the traction, and Performance if speed is the point.
Photo by I’m Zion.