Tesla Model Y & Model 3 Standard Unveiled as Brand’s New Entry-Level Duo

The all-new Tesla Model Y and Model 3 Standard were unveiled in the US as the brand’s new entry-level EV duo.

Following a cryptic teaser and a recent spy shot, Tesla has finally unveiled its new entry-level EV duo, the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 Standard. Officially launched in the US, this entry-level duo starts from $39,990 (RM168,857) for the Model Y Standard and $36,990 (RM156,190) for the Model 3 Standard, thus making them $5,000 (RM21,112) and $5,500 (RM23,223) cheaper than the Premium RWD variants, respectively.

Despite being a new entry-level variant for both the Model Y and Model 3, Tesla claims these new Standard variants boast the best energy efficiency of any Tesla model, with both offering up to 321 miles (517 km) of range according to the strict EPA standards in the US.

While Tesla didn’t give the exact battery specs for both models, we believe they use the same 60-kWh pack found on the Premium RWD variants. For reference, the Malaysian-spec Model Y RWD is rated with a WLTP range of 466 km, while the Model 3 RWD gets a longer WLTP range of 520 km.

Tesla Model Y Standard (left) & Model 3 Standard (right)

But perhaps the most distinctive feature for both the Model Y and Model 3 Standard lies in their design, as they are both being ‘stripped-down’ compared to their Premium twins. Some key changes include the absence of the LED bar on the front fascia of the Model Y, new 18-inch wheels (Aperture for the Model Y and Prismata for the Model 3), and many more.

The de-premiumisation continues inside these Standard models, where the faux leather upholstery is now being replaced by part-cloth material and the glass roof on the Model Y is now being ‘covered’ by a headliner, while the full-length central console has been cut in half to create a similar open area to that found in the Cybertruck.

Tesla also didn’t offer any physical keys for both the Standard models, with owners instead only able to access their car using the digital key on their smart devices.

That said, both the Model Y and Model 3 Standard continue to get the same 15.4-inch central touchscreen that houses all of the car’s main features, remote climate control functionality, and Dog Mode, while both the Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems are also available—although the latter is an add-on feature.

As of now, the all-new Tesla Model Y and Model 3 will only be available in their native American market, with both of them being initially built in the US. Tesla representatives told Autocar UK that the automaker is planning to launch the Standard variants in other key markets such as Europe and China, although their production will take place at the respective regional Tesla Gigafactories.

So folks, what do you think of the new Tesla Model Y and Model 3 Standard? Could these stripped-down, entry-level EVs provide a saving grace for Tesla’s declining performance on the global stage, especially against their rising Chinese adversaries?