Tesla Model 3 heads Down Under

Tesla’s most affordable model yet, the Model 3, will hit Australian showrooms in August priced from $66,000 before onroad costs for the rear-drive Standard Range Plus variant or $85,000 for the all-paw, dual-motor Performance grade.

Finally available in Australia more than three years after its initial reveal, and more than two years since it first went on sale in its native US market, the cheapest Tesla model will sit upstream of the new-generation $49,990 Nissan Leaf, as well as Hyundai’s electric versions of the Kona and Ioniq that start at $59,990 and $44,990 respectively.

However, Tesla’s base Model 3 boasts 460km of driving range when tested on the less stringent and outdated New European Driving Cycle test, as well as a top speed of 225kmh and a zero-to100kmh acceleration time of 5.6 seconds.

For comparison, the Ioniq Electric delivers 280km of range on the NEDC, while the Leaf and Kona Electric were tested on the newer Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure and feature 270km and 449km of emissionsfree driving respectively.

Stepping up to the Model 3 Performance, driving range swells to 560km, top speed is bumped up to 233kmh and the landmark triple-digit sprint is slashed to a supercar-scaring 3.4s.

Standard equipment in the Model 3 includes power-adjustable and heated front seats, 18-inch wheels, satellite navigation, LED foglights, four USB ports, twophone docking station, tinted glass roof and heated side mirrors with dimming and fold functions.

Safety systems extend to autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, while buyers can also option Tesla’s Autopilot semi-autonomous system for $8000 that currently includes automatic lane changing, automated parking and adaptive cruise control.