Image: Tesla
Tesla has quietly changed the acceleration number on its new entry-level Model 3 in Canada for the second time since launch (yes, this is real).
When the $39,490 CAD Model 3 Premium RWD first went on sale earlier this month, the configurator listed a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds. Tesla quickly walked that back to 5.2 seconds, calling it a website error (as well as the charging speed). Now the number has changed again, this time landing at 6.2 seconds.
The 6.2 second figure actually matches what Tesla lists for the same car in Europe and other markets, so this is likely the real number. The slower sprint time comes down to the battery. The Canadian model built at Giga Shanghai and uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells, which are cheaper and last longer but are not as quick off the line as other battery types.
Everything else stays the same. The car still offers an estimated 463 kilometres of range and a top speed of 201 km/h.
The back and forth has not gone unnoticed. Some early buyers have reportedly managed to get their deposits back over the shifting specs.
For most people though, the difference between 5.2 and 6.2 seconds is not something you would notice on a daily commute, and at that price point the car is still a solid deal.
Still though, it definitely feels like a bait and switch by Tesla when the car you’re about to buy was originally stated at 5.2 seconds and now it’s one second slower. Consumer rights laws in Quebec are licking their chops right about now…
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