Maximum Tune 3 brings 6 new cars Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR, Nissan 180SX, Mitsubishi Lancer GSR Evolution V, Toyota Aristo, Mazda Speed Atenza as well as the Subaru Impreza WRX STi GDB.

The major move with this upgrade is competition:

- Beefed up versus mode where the first player to a junction gets to choose the route that all other players must follow.
- Story mode where players need to deal with more rival drivers and mid race events including chases.
- The vastly improved ghost mode, where instead of just racing the fastest car that is always doing the same exact pattern, this ghost mode learns how each player drives and ranks him, then any player can select a virtual opponent and race him on any of the 6 ghost tracks. A menu is available to select your opponents via name or rank. The ghost car will perform not according to his best lap or recorded paths. But as a AI simulated opponent who would drive exactly like that person would if he was sitting in your seat. The best driver on each of the 6 ghost tracks is awarded the crown.

Also the player card (tuning card) can be upgraded to the new version and can now hold more information, including data for 3 tracks instead of just one.

To complete this maximum version, new tracks include Wangan-Line, Yokohane-Line and Osaka.