Tesla is widening the Model 3 range in the UK with a new entry-level Standard version. It’s now the most affordable Model 3, with the price trimmed by £2,000 to £39,990. To hit that figure, Tesla has pared back the cabin and some features, a clear play to broaden access without changing the core proposition.

The Standard switches to cloth upholstery instead of synthetic leather, drops the rear touchscreen and trades the full centre console for open storage. The media setup is simpler too: there’s no subwoofer, and AM and FM radio are not included.

Electric adjustments for the front seats and steering column give way to manual controls, and the physical key is gone—access is handled exclusively through the Tesla mobile app. Fewer motors and components should help with both cost and long-term simplicity, which aligns with the brief.

Tesla hasn’t disclosed the battery capacity, but the quoted 531 km range suggests it’s the same pack used in the RWD version. Performance is dialled back: 0–97 km/h takes 6.2 seconds, and top speed is capped at 176 km/h. The power limit was intentional to place the car in a much lower insurance group, which meaningfully reduces ownership costs. For everyday driving, that trade-off comes across as pragmatic rather than punitive.

First UK deliveries of the Model 3 Standard are due in February, arriving alongside the new Model Y Standard priced at £41,990.