Last month, Tesla honored their original promise to release a $35,000 Tesla Model 3. The base model would come with cloth interior, manual seats, and basic audio. It came alongside a new Standard Range Plus model which would upgrade you to their partial premium interior.
The Standard Range starts at $35,000 has a range of 220 miles, 0-60 mph time of 5.6 sec., and a top speed of 130 mph. It comes with just a standard interior which includes:
- Manual seat and steering adjustment
- Cloth seats and base trim
- Basic audio
- Standard maps and navigation
- Center console with storage and 4 USB ports
The Standard Range Plus starts at $39,500, a range of 240 miles, 0-60 mph in 5.3 sec., and a top speed of 140 mph. It comes with a partial premium interior which is listed as:
- 12-way power adjustable heated front seats
- Premium seat material and trim
- Upgraded audio – immersive sound
- Standard maps & navigation
- LED fog lamps
- Center console with storage, 4 USB ports and docking for 2 smartphones
Both versions of the Standard Range Model 3 will include the following interior options:
- Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
- Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
- Music and media over Bluetooth ®
- Custom driver profiles
This information came alongside the announcement of the long awaited electric car but it turns out Tesla was unable to fulfill orders for the Standard Range Model 3. Instead, the company stated they would deliver a software limited version of the Standard Range Plus to those who ordered the base model. For the same, original $35,000 price tag, you would also receive:
- 12-way power adjustable heated front seats
- Premium seat material and trim
- LED fog lamps
- Center console with storage, 4 USB ports and docking for 2 smartphones
Owners were obviously ecstatic about the free upgrade but now that deliveries are beginning, we are finding out that the Standard Range has even more similarities to the Standard Range Plus. The big one, range. Currently, the Standard Range does not have a software limited battery and instead has the same 240 mile range as the Standard Range Plus. Both vehicles also have immersive audio and heated seats.
Currently, there is no difference between the Standard Range and the Standard Range Plus. In the vehicle, a Standard Range Model 3 actually calls itself a Standard Range Plus. For $4,500 less, you get the same exact car. But there are a few catches. Autopilot comes standard on the Standard Range Plus. For the base model, it is a $3,000 upgrade.
While there is still a $1,500 difference in your favor, don’t get your hopes up just yet. Tesla has stated that they have plans to software limit the base model and will get rid of features such as immersive audio, heated seats, and limit its range. For the time being, those who purchased a Standard Range Model 3 are driving around with features they did not pay for and Tesla has plans to take them away.
When its all said and done, the Standard Range Plus is still the better deal. Assuming you have plans to use Autopilot, you’re paying just $1,500 more for heated seats, immersive sound, and 20 extra miles of range.
As reference, the next vehicle in the lineup would be the Long Range which starts at $49,500. For $10,000 more, it comes with a range of 310 miles, 0-60 mph in 4.5 sec, and a top speed of 145 mph. It is fit with a full premium interior which adds:
- Premium audio – 14 speakers, 1 subwoofer, 2 amps, and immersive sound
- Satellite-view maps with live traffic visualization and navigation
- In-car internet streaming music & media
- Internet browser
- Location-aware automatic garage door opener
With the price increase, Tesla might hope that some consumers might be swayed to get the Long Range Model 3.
Additionally it’s possible that Tesla purposely allowed the features to be activated on the Standard Range. Possibly to act as a “free trial” before being shut off, in the hopes that people will fork over the extra money to get those features back.