Tesla’s second most popular model after the Model Y SUV, the Model 3 sedan, is getting an update. No major changes like the ‘Highland’ update three years ago, but small improvements with no price increase.
The updates could read like a case of ‘staying ahead’, since Tesla seems to be on a roll. It delivered 486.532 electric cars in the third quarter of 2026, beating analyst estimates for the second straight quarter. With these figures, the brand is very likely to beat last year’s sales.
Sales hike
In Europe, Tesla also seems back on track, after a period of negative brand perception. Tesla posted large registration gains in numerous countries, amid high oil prices and rising EV sales overall.
In Belgium, the brand ranks twelfth overall after the first three quarters of 2026, with a market share of 3.32%. Over nine months, no fewer than 10,644 Teslas were registered in Belgium, a year-over-year increase of 43.35%.
But the Belgian Tesla statistics for September alone are even more impressive: third place overall, behind BMW and Mercedes, with 2,352 cars registered (+129.02%) and a monthly market share of 7.32%.
Meanwhile, the company is in discussions with European lawmakers to allow its semi-autonomous ‘Full Self Driving’, now rebranded ‘Tesla Assisted Driving’. This would be an important breakthrough, since the paying option would create a recurring monthly income.
Limited visual updates
But today’s news is the update the brand gave its Model 3. On the outside, it will be very hard to tell whether you are dealing with a new version. Nothing changes, except for new optional 19-inch ‘Dark Nova’ wheels on the ‘Premium Long Range RWD’ and ‘Long Range AWD’ versions.
Inside, the update adds a bigger central screen. It increases from 15.4 to 16 inches and improves resolution from 1,920 x 1,080 to 2,560 x 1,440. The interior trim remains black on the base versions, but the white option on the ‘Premium’ and ‘Performance’ models changes to ‘Zen Grey’.
Small technical improvements, also for the Model Y
Technically, the update adds range to the ‘Performance’ model. It can now drive 600 kilometers on a full charge, up from 571 km previously. The ‘Long Range AWD’ range is unchanged, but it can now go from 0 to 100 kph faster: 4 seconds instead of 4.4.
Figures for the other versions remain unchanged. The standard RWD model recently improved its range to 572 km by replacing the Bridgestones with low-friction Giti Control P10 tires. The Model 3 Long Range still leads the Model 3 lineup in range, with 750 km on a full charge.
The Model Y Premium Long Range AWD gets a similar technical update, with a 0-100 time dropping from 4.8 to 4.6 seconds.
In the U.S., the Model 3 and Model Y can now get a ‘PowerShare’ vehicle-to-Home functionality, when combined with a bidirectional charger and a Tesla Powerwall 3 battery. But outside the U.S., the carmaker doesn’t mention this option.
