Tesla Model 3: Which Version Should You Buy?
Choosing a Tesla Model 3 from this catalogue comes down to three priorities: acceleration, drivetrain and weight. The first-generation Sedan ran from July 2017 to January 2024, while its restyling began in September 2023 and remains listed without an end date.
Choosing a Tesla Model 3 from this catalogue comes down to three priorities: acceleration, drivetrain and weight. The first-generation Sedan ran from July 2017 to January 2024, while its restyling began in September 2023 and remains listed without an end date. Across the data, power spans 258–513 hp, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h ranges from 3.1 to 6.1 seconds, and both RWD and AWD versions are available. The catalogue contains two Model 3 generations as classified in the source data, with the restyling included inside the first generation rather than treated as a separate generation.
Tesla Model 3 generations and versions
The original 1 generation is a Sedan produced from July 2017 through January 2024. The database records 14 modifications and supplies specifications for 12 of them. Its range includes Standard Plus, AT, Long Range AWD, Long Range, Performance, Standard RWD, AT Standard RWD and Standard Range Plus. Some names occur more than once with different specifications, so power figures are essential when distinguishing them.
The 1 generation, restyling 1 is also a Sedan. It began in September 2023 and has no recorded stop date. Its six listed versions are AT Standart RWD, AT AWD Long Range, AT Performance AWD, AT RWD Long Range, AT RWD Premium Long Range and AT AWD Premium Long Range. Compared with the earlier cars, recorded ground clearance falls from 140 mm to 138 mm. The restyled range also provides gross-weight figures for every listed version, whereas those figures are not measured for the earlier range.
Tesla Model 3 engine specs, horsepower and torque
Every listed Model 3 uses Electro power and an Automatic, 1-speed gearbox. Displacement, cylinder count, cylinder layout and boost are not measured for every version, so power-per-litre cannot be calculated from this dataset.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — Standard Plus | 258 hp / 190 kW | 430 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, AWD | 258 hp / 190 kW | 430 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2021–2024 listing | 351 hp / 258 kW | 527 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 441 hp | 441 hp / 324 kW | 493 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2017–2024 listing | 351 hp / 258 kW | 527 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — Performance, 462 hp | 462 hp / 340 kW | 639 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, RWD | 258 hp / 190 kW | 430 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation — Standard RWD | 325 hp / 239 kW | 420 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation — Performance, 513 hp | 513 hp / 377 kW | 660 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — AT Standard RWD | 283 hp / 208 kW | 430 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 498 hp | 498 hp / 366 kW | not measured | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation — Standard Range Plus | 325 hp / 239 kW | 420 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Standart RWD | 283 hp / 208 kW | 340 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Long Range | 498 hp / 366 kW | 559 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Performance AWD | 513 hp / 377 kW | 660 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Long Range | 283 hp / 208 kW | 420 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Premium Long Range | 320 hp / 235 kW | 450 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | RWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Premium Long Range | 440 hp / 323 kW | 493 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | AWD |
Tesla Model 3 performance, top speed and economy
| Generation and exact version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — Standard Plus | 5.6 s | 225 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, AWD | 5.1 s | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2021–2024 listing | 4.4 s | 233 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 441 hp | 3.3 s | 261 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2017–2024 listing | 4.4 s | 233 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — Performance, 462 hp | 3.3 s | 261 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, RWD | 5.6 s | 210 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Standard RWD | 6.1 s | 225 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — Performance, 513 hp | 3.3 s | 261 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT Standard RWD | 5.6 s | 210 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 498 hp | 3.3 s | 261 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — Standard Range Plus | 6.1 s | 225 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Standart RWD | 6.1 s | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Long Range | 4.4 s | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Performance AWD | 3.1 s | 262 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Long Range | 5.2 s | 201 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Premium Long Range | 5.2 s | 201 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Premium Long Range | 4.4 s | 201 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
Fuel or electrical consumption is not measured in the supplied data, so no economy or range advantage can be assigned to any version. Price, lease cost and used-car listings are also unavailable; consequently, the comparison can identify what each specification adds, but not what extra money buys.
Tesla Model 3 dimensions, weight and wheels
| Generation and exact version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — Standard Plus | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, AWD | 1,704 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2021–2024 listing | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | 235/50 R18; 235/45 R19 |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 441 hp | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Long Range AWD, 351 hp, 2017–2024 listing | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Performance, 462 hp | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — AT, 258 hp, RWD | 1,610 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Standard RWD | 1,752 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | 235/50 R18; 235/45 R19 |
| 1 generation — Performance, 513 hp | 1,836 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — AT Standard RWD | 1,645 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Long Range, 498 hp | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation — Standard Range Plus | 1,844 kg | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Standart RWD | 1,765 kg | 2,192 kg | 138 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Long Range | 1,828 kg | 2,295 kg | 138 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT Performance AWD | 1,931 kg | 2,305 kg | 138 mm | not measured | not measured |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Long Range | 1,828 kg | 2,295 kg | 138 mm | not measured | 235/45 R18; 235/40 R19 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT RWD Premium Long Range | 1,747 kg | 2,149 kg | 138 mm | not measured | 235/45 R18; 235/40 R19 |
| 1 generation, restyling 1 — AT AWD Premium Long Range | 1,824 kg | 2,232 kg | 138 mm | not measured | 235/45 R18; 235/40 R19 |
Which Tesla Model 3 version should you choose?
For maximum recorded performance, choose the restyled AT Performance AWD. Its 513 hp and 660 Nm match the strongest earlier Performance in output, but it reaches 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds instead of 3.3 seconds and reaches 262 km/h instead of 261 km/h. The trade-off visible in the data is weight: at 1,931 kg, it is 95 kg heavier than the earlier 513 hp Performance. Their weight-to-power figures are approximately 3.76 kg/hp and 3.58 kg/hp respectively.
For an AWD middle ground, the restyled AT AWD Long Range supplies 498 hp and 559 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and weighs 1,828 kg. It has 147 hp more than either 351 hp Long Range AWD listing, yet its recorded 0–100 km/h time is the same 4.4 seconds. Its top speed is also lower: 200 km/h versus 233 km/h. Buyers prioritizing the catalogue’s acceleration figure can therefore favor the restyled car, while those prioritizing recorded maximum speed have a clear reason to consider the earlier Long Range AWD.
Among the restyled RWD choices, AT Standart RWD has 283 hp, 340 Nm and a 6.1-second 0–100 km/h time. AT RWD Long Range keeps the same 283 hp but adds 80 Nm, cutting acceleration by 0.9 second to 5.2 seconds. AT RWD Premium Long Range also takes 5.2 seconds, but raises output by 37 hp and 30 Nm over AT RWD Long Range while weighing 81 kg less. On the supplied figures alone, AT RWD Premium Long Range is the strongest restyled RWD specification.
For the lowest kerb weight, the earlier 258 hp RWD AT is the standout at 1,610 kg. It reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and has a calculated weight-to-power ratio of about 6.24 kg/hp. AT Standard RWD weighs 35 kg more and adds 25 hp, while recording the same 5.6-second acceleration and 210 km/h top speed.
Price, range, charging, reliability and problems are not measured in the data. A final purchase decision therefore cannot be based on ownership cost or condition here. Using the recorded specifications alone, AT Performance AWD is the acceleration choice, AT RWD Premium Long Range is the most compelling restyled RWD comparison, and the 1,610 kg AT is the choice for minimum kerb weight.