Two new affordable EVs debut under the Standard name, cutting a slew of features like the FM/AM radio to bring prices down
For all of Elon Musk’s grand promises over the past couple of years about game-changing budget Teslas, the much-touted affordable models have arrived with more of a polite cough than a thunderclap.
As we expected after several leaks these past few weeks, the newcomer is essentially a heavily cost-cut version of the Model Y. Still, glance upward and you might realize that, in Tesla’s peculiar logic, less sometimes really does mean more. We’ll circle back to that soon.
Even so, Tesla slipped in a small surprise with the introduction of a lower-priced Model 3, both now bundled under the newly introduced “Standard” trim name.
Alongside these launches, Tesla has reshuffled its trim lineup. Entry-level versions now carry the Standard name, while the mid-range Long Range models have been renamed Premium. The Performance flagships of both cars remain in place at the top of the hierarchy.
Lower Prices, Leaner Package
The headline figures set the tone: the Model 3 Standard starts at $36,990, which is $5,500 less than the previous base Long Range RWD. The Model Y Standard begins at $39,990, a $5,000 reduction compared with its RWD Premium equivalent. These figures exclude delivery fees, of course.
Both models a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup and a smaller 69 kWh battery pack with one fewer module than usual.
Model Y Standard
Starting with the Model Y Standard, the range sits at an EPA-estimated 321 miles, a dip from the 357 miles offered by the RWD Premium. Acceleration is a lot slower too, hitting 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.8 seconds with a rollout, versus the Premium’s 5.4-second run. Top speed remains unchanged at 125 mph.
Specs tell only half the story, though. Tesla has stripped away so much that the car now feels like something you’d leave in the economy lot after a long weekend in Vegas, drop the keys, and never think about again.
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The middle section of the lightbar has vanished, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. Some might even call it an improvement, if only by accident. The front bumper has been simplified too, with revised air inlets and lighting elements now integrated into the headlamps. Around the back, the Juniper’s trademark taillights drop their connecting center strip.
Elsewhere, new smaller 18-inch wheels come as standard, with a 19-inch option available. The simplified wheel covers might not win any style awards, but the extra tire sidewall should improve ride comfort. Color choices are limited to three: Stealth Grey as standard, plus Pearl White for $1,000 and Diamond Black for $1,500.
No FM/AM Radio And Downgraded Suspension
The biggest changes are found inside. The vegan leather seats have been swapped for textile inserts, and the center console now features a large open compartment reminiscent of the Cybertruck’s utilitarian layout.
Front seat ventilation and rear seat heating have been dropped, and rear passengers lose their 8-inch fun screen in favor of manual vents. The driver also gets a manually adjustable steering wheel instead of an electric one.
Digging a little deeper into the spec sheet uncovers several more omissions. Tesla has downgraded the audio system, fitting this version with seven speakers instead of the 15-speaker setup and subwoofer found in higher trims. The FM / AM radio is gone too, along with the HEPA filter and ‘Bioweapon Defense Mode’.
Even the side mirrors are now manually folded and no longer feature auto-dimming, while Autosteer has been removed. The second-row seats, power-operated in the other trims, are now manually folded. Ambient LED lighting and the double-pane windows have also been dropped.
Interestingly, there seems to be a suspension change as well. The Standard version now uses passive shock absorbers rather than the frequency-dependent units fitted to other models.
Once again, it raises the question of what other features might have quietly slipped away.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Look upward and you’ll spot the most obvious alteration. The Model Y Standard trades its see-through roof for a regular headliner with sound-absorbing material above it, something many Model Y owners have long wanted, albeit in the form of a retractable shade, not a full-on cover-up.
But appearances can be deceiving. The glass roof hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s simply hiding beneath the new headliner. Apparently, Tesla figured it was more cost-effective to leave the glass in place rather than invest the time and money needed to engineer a proper metal roof, which makes sense up to a point.
What’s less clear, unless we’re missing something like the use of a different and deeply discounted glass, is why go through the extra effort and expense of covering it up in the first place. If the goal wasn’t to save money, why not just leave it visible, as they did with the Model 3 Standard?
Everything else you love and loathe about the Model Y experience remains as is, from the 15.4-inch touchscreen that serves as both the instrument cluster and infotainment system to the steering stalks.
Model 3 Standard
Moving to the Model 3 Standard, the EPA estimates a 321-mile range, down from the RWD Premium’s 363 miles. The sedan sprints to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds with rollout and matches the same 125 mph top speed.
Visually, the exterior updates are more restrained than on the Model Y. There wasn’t much to take away to begin with, so the main differences come from the smaller 18-inch wheels that should offer a slightly comfier ride, with 19-inch options once again available. The same trio of paint choices carries over: standard grey, optional white, and black.
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Inside, the cabin sticks to the same cost-cutting playbook as the Model Y Standard, though with one notable exception: the glass roof remains. Textile seats take the place of vegan leather, the steering wheel adjusts manually, the rear touchscreen has been deleted, and the audio system has been simplified.
All the other omissions noted on the Model Y Standard, including the change in shock absorbers, carry over here too.
However, for 2026, Tesla has reinstated the traditional turn signal stalks, while it appears that there’s a front camera too, so that’s something.
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John Halas is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carscoops. With a career in automotive journalism… Read full bio
