More Affordable but Slimmed Down: The New Model 3 Standard Feels Like a Bare-Bones Tesla

Tesla has unveiled a new Model 3 Standard in Malaysia, making it the brand’s most affordable offering in that market. The price has been cut to about $31,000, while the driving range reaches around 332 miles (WLTP). However, the lower price comes with a noticeable reduction in standard equipment.

The base version features a new design for the 18-inch Prismata wheels and limited customization options, with only two additional exterior colors available. Inside, the simplifications are more obvious: the number of speakers has been reduced to seven, ambient interior lighting is gone, as are the FM radio tuner and illuminated door pockets. The steering wheel is now manually adjustable, and seat adjustments have been moved entirely to the touchscreen.

Comfort features have also been scaled back. The front seats retain heating but lose ventilation, while the rear seats no longer offer heating at all. The dedicated rear-seat display has been removed as well. Interior materials are more basic, with fabric seats and door panels replacing leather and microsuede.

The key mechanical change is the elimination of the adaptive “Highland” dampers. The Model 3 Standard returns to a fully passive suspension setup, making it feel closer to the pre-refresh version in terms of ride and handling.

While the 332-mile range is officially higher than that of the Premium RWD version, performance is slightly more modest, with a 0–60 mph time of about 6.1 seconds.

The car still comes standard with basic Autopilot, six cameras with dashcam functionality, and support for the optional Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) and Full Self-Driving (FSD) packages. In terms of architecture and core functionality, the new version doesn’t lose any fundamentals—it’s simply a more stripped-down take on the Model 3.