Tesla’s New Model 3 Long Range RWD Finally Breaks The 350-Mile Barrier

Tesla has quietly introduced a new Model 3 Long Range variant with rear-wheel drive, an appealing price tag, and the highest range of any Model 3 currently available. Priced at $42,490 before incentives, the Long Range RWD is $5,000 cheaper than its all-wheel drive sibling and only $3,500 more than the entry-level Model 3 RWD.

The latest addition to the range appears to occupy the sweet spot, with an EPA-estimated range of 363 miles. With a top speed of 125 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, the Long Range RWD also has strong performance. Tesla offered the rear-wheel-drive Long Range model a few years back but removed it from the lineup. CarBuzz has contacted Tesla for additional information regarding the new model.

Model 3 Long Range RWD Offers The Best Of Both Worlds

Reintroducing this ‘Goldilocks’ Model 3 shows Tesla is desperate to regain control over the electric sedan segment. Once the ubiquitous choice, Tesla faces tough competition from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($37,500) and BMW i4 ($52,200). While the facelifted Model 3 is a significant improvement, sales have fallen for several reasons. Until recently, the Model 3 LR AWD was not available with the lucrative $7,500 tax credit incentive. This has since changed, making this model even more affordable. The new variant is also eligible for the EV incentive, which isn’t available for the entry-level Model 3 RWD.

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That means customers can purchase a Model 3 LR RWD for as little as $34,990 with incentives, making it cheaper to buy than the base model. Whether Tesla will continue to sell the Model 3 RWD alongside the newcomer remains to be seen, as it makes little sense to offer both. The entry-level version may also be eligible for the $7,500 tax credit in the near future.

Model 3 LR RWD Could Boost Tesla Sales

Even if you select all the optional extras, such as Ultra Red Paint ($2,000) and Autopilot ($8,000), the Model 3 LR AWD is still cheaper than the BMW i4 eDrive35. It’s worth noting that specifying the $1,000 19-inch ‘Nova’ wheels reduces the range from 363 miles to 322 miles. The addition of this new model will almost certainly boost sales and increase Tesla’s diminishing lead over legacy automakers.

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Tesla is slow to introduce updates for existing vehicles. The Model S, for example, has been around for 12 years. While it has received minor and consistent revisions, the electric sedan is still essentially the same car introduced in 2012. However, the Model 3 and Model Y are far more critical to the brand’s bottom line, so more consistent updates are necessary. To that end, the Model Y ‘Juniper’ (spied testing ahead of its reveal) is expected to arrive in 2025, keeping Tesla’s best-seller at the top of its game.