Image: Tesla
Tesla’s cheapest electric vehicle is proving it can punch well above its weight. According to a new real-world range test from Edmunds, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD managed to drive an impressive 339 miles on a single charge, comfortably beating its EPA-estimated range and even outperforming Tesla’s new Model Y Standard.
As Edmunds reports, the Model 3 Standard is the most affordable version of Tesla’s most affordable car, designed to offer maximum value while trimming some creature comforts. What it doesn’t trim, however, is range. The EPA rates the Model 3 Standard at 321 miles, but Edmunds’ testing saw it exceed that figure by 18 miles, a 5.6% improvement. That makes it one of the best overperformers relative to its EPA estimate among recent Model 3 variants.
While it doesn’t quite dethrone the 2021 Model 3 Long Range, which previously hit 345 miles in Edmunds’ testing, the result is still notable — especially given the Model 3 Standard’s sub-$40,000 price point. In fact, the new base Model 3 also edged out the Model Y Standard, which itself recently shocked Edmunds by delivering the best real-world range result the outlet has ever recorded for a Model Y.
Image: Tesla
Efficiency played a big role here. Edmunds measured the Model 3 Standard at 23 kWh per 100 miles, slightly better than its EPA efficiency rating. That puts it in the same ballpark as much pricier EVs, though some, like Mercedes’ new CLA EV, still go significantly farther overall.
Charging performance is solid, if not class-leading. In Edmunds’ charging test, the Model 3 Standard averaged 89 kW, translating to about 387 miles of range added per hour. That’s slower than higher-end Model 3 variants, but competitive for an entry-level EV and comparable to models like the Nissan Leaf and Volvo EX30.
Tesla launched the Model 3 Standard in the U.S. back in October, with deliveries beginning in early November, and has since rolled it out in Europe as well. Based on these results, the Model 3 Standard is shaping up to be one of the strongest value plays in the EV market right now, offering excellent real-world range without the premium price tag.
