Launched in 2017, the Tesla Model 3 received updates, both in 2020 and in 2024, with the most recent one, internally designated as Project Highland, allowing this 100% electric model to be repositioned amidst an increasing number of competitors. Thus, the introduction of a new version at the base of the range represents an important added value, especially since the brand has never offered, in Portugal, a car at such an affordable price: €36,990 (or €35,000, taking advantage of all ongoing promotional campaigns).
Available for delivery starting in February 2026, the Model 3 Standard has 283 hp, rear-wheel drive, and a battery with a nominal capacity of 59 kWh – Tesla announces up to 534 km of range in the combined WLTP cycle, as the homologated average consumption is 13 kWh/100 km, according to the European protocol. This high level of energy efficiency also means more kilometers traveled for each euro spent on charging, an operation that can be done quickly at one of the approximately 20,000 Superchargers available at over 1,500 locations that make up the American brand’s network in Europe.
The Model 3 Standard accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, making it faster than most sports compacts available on the market, without compromising comfort, interior space, and operating costs. Furthermore, it comes standard with 18’’ wheels that reduce consumption and also the maintenance costs associated with tire replacement – and it retains features known from the brand’s offerings, namely remote access, the Trip Planner, Phone Key, Sentry and Dog modes, and Remote Climate Control.
At the same time, the Model 3 Standard features an electric tailgate, which facilitates access to a trunk with a capacity of 594 liters (1659 liters when the rear seats are folded down), complemented at the front, under the hood, by a frunk with 88 liters. The equipment includes everything presented at the beginning of 2025 in the model update, including Autopilot with hardware already prepared for Full Autonomous Driving (supervised), a function that will be activated remotely when the technology is approved by regulatory authorities.
The other versions of the entry model in Tesla’s lineup are the Model 3 Premium Long Range (rear-wheel drive, 320 hp, starting at €44,900), the Model 3 Premium Long Range (one motor per axle, all-wheel drive, 498 hp, starting at €48,990), and the Model 3 Performance (627 hp, starting at €57,490).
