2026 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Axed, New RWD Joins the Lineup

Tesla has reportedly dropped the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant from the 2026 Model 3 lineup, while the Performance variant has received a battery upgrade and a new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant joins the roster.

The All-Wheel Drive Long Range variant made up around 12 per cent of Model 3 sales in Australia in the month of September, equalling the 91 examples of the Performance variant sold, while Rear Wheel Drive examples made up over 75 per cent of total Model 3 sales.

With its updated NMC (Nickel-Manganese Cobalt) battery, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 Performance’s driving range has increased from 528km to 571km on the WLTP cycle. 

The Performance model's $80,900 starting price before on-road costs has remained unchanged, along with its key performance figures. Its dual motor all-wheel drive powertrain still produces 343kW, achieving a 0-100km/h time of 3.1 seconds. 

Meanwhile, making its Australian debut, the new Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant – priced at $61,000 before on-road costs – has claimed the furthest WLTP BEV driving range of any car currently available on the local market. 

Its 750km range exceeds the maximum driving range of the Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor – which previously held the furthest driving range – by 44km. 

However, this distance can only be achieved on Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive’s specced with 18-inch wheels, with the range dropping to 691km on the optional 19-inch wheels. 

Furthermore, black exterior badging will now be standard across the entire Model 3 range. 

These updates come shortly after Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (Supervised) function was made available to the public on September 18th for Model 3 and Model Y examples equipped with HW4 hardware. 

Order books for the updated Tesla Model 3 Performance and the new Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant have opened, with test drives and deliveries of the latter tracking place from late-October and November, respectively. 

2026 Tesla Model 3 Pricing Before On-Road Costs