Rather than follow a strict model-year schedule, Tesla likes to roll out updates to its lineup whenever they are ready, and the automaker announced yesterday that the Model 3 is getting a slew of changes in North America. Tesla didn’t specify when these new features will arrive, but we have to assume they will be in effect almost immediately.
Inside, the Model 3 will now feature a new 16-inch touchscreen, replacing the current 15.4-inch screen. This new display also reportedly has a higher pixel density, and it’s standard across the lineup. It’s likely the same 16-inch screen that Tesla slotted into the Model Y earlier this year.
Tesla also upgraded the Model 3 Performance, with peak power now listed at 528 horsepower, up from the 510 hp that the sporty sedan launched with in 2024. Strangely, however, Tesla still makes the same claim of a 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph. The Performance version of Tesla’s sedan also gets a new black headliner, and range has improved from 309 to 316 miles.
Last but not least, Tesla also says the Model 3 Premium AWD model is quicker, now able to hit 60 mph in a claimed 3.8 seconds, versus the previous mark of 4.2 seconds. Tesla didn’t reveal what led to this improved result, so we don’t know if the Premium AWD model has more power, and if so, how much more. Range appears to be unaffected by the more rapid acceleration, still estimated at 346 miles.
These upgrades to the Model 3 all come at no additional cost, with Tesla leaving pricing unchanged. The Model 3 currently starts at $38,630 in base rear-wheel-drive form, with the Premium AWD model requiring $49,130. The Model 3 Performance rings in at $56,630. Still, the Model 3 in North America misses out on one feature that Tesla added overseas. In China, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, Tesla also added a vehicle-to-load function, allowing owners to power external devices using their car. It’s unclear why the feature was left off the Model 3 in the U.S.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt