Tesla Model Y Review 2024

Tesla is a company that prides itself on doing things differently to traditional carmakers, innovating and driving the EV revolution. Yet even Tesla can't resist the march of the SUV, with the Model Y joining its larger, fancy-doored Model X in the ever-crowded electric SUV space. In this review we'll see if it deserves to be as big a sales hit as the Model 3. 

Take one glimpse at the Model Y and it'll confirm that Tesla is engaged in evolution over revolution with this particular model. Whereas the (and still not in production) Cybertruck aims to disrupt the pickup truck market with a wildly outside-the-box design, the Tesla Model Y looks much like a Model 3 after an upward growth spurt. 

And that's basically what it is. Tesla claims around 75% of the Model Y's components are shared with the Model 3, which is no bad thing given the latter is one of the best-selling electric cars on the market. But there is a key reason why you might buy a Model Y instead, despite it being more expensive. 

Extra practicality is what matters here. That extra 150mm of body height doesn't just take it into the all-important SUV sphere, it also brings more room for passengers and luggage alike. The Tesla Model Y is also a hatchback, unlike the Model 3, which means much better access - and of course you still get a front boot (or 'froot', if you like). 

In other markets the Tesla Model Y can actually be had as a seven-seater, which gives it a unique selling point over pretty much every rival bar the Mercedes-Benz EQB. However, right-hand-drive versions aren't offered with the option yet. 

In every other respect the Model Y is like a Model 3, but taller. That means you get the same minimalist cabin dominated by a feature-packed touchscreen (and the same ergonomic foibles that result), the same ability to rapid charge at up to 250kW using Tesla's excellent supercharger network and the same electrifying pace. 

Alright, so the Tesla Model Y Performance is ever so slightly slower than the equivalent Model 3. But it still has the pace to embarrass many sports cars in eerie near-silence. Even the cheaper Long Range model is hardly sluggish, yet manages an impressive claimed range of up to 331 miles. 

That's all well and good, yet given the Model Y's family-friendly intent it's surprising Tesla hasn't put more effort into making it a comfortable cruiser. The ride is pretty firm - sometimes actively harsh - and while that might make it really agile in the bends it also means you're jostled around in your seat over all but the smoothest roads. The darty steering takes getting used to, as well, while refinement falls behind electric SUV rivals. 

And that's all a shame, because in most other respects the Model Y has the potential to be class-leading. As it is, it just doesn't work as well on UK roads as we were hoping, and makes it more difficult to recommend over talented rivals such as the Jaguar i-Pace, Audi Q4 e-tron and Kia EV6. 

Get into the Tesla Model Y up front and - were it not for the touchscreen car icon clearly displaying it - you might think you were sat in a Model 3. 

The dash, doors, infotainment and steering wheel all look basically identical, but the front seats are mounted noticeably higher to allow for a more SUV-like driving position. This means easy entry and exit and a commanding view forward over a low dashboard, although the windscreen pillars are thick and can obstruct junctions more than we'd like. 

Overall space is plentiful, the front cabin feels airy even with dark trim, and there's plenty of storage in the centre console. Rear visibility isn't great, however, so you'll need to make use of the standard camera system when parking. 

The rear seats might not blow you away with extra space over the Model 3 on first impression, but that's because Tesla has mounted the rear bench higher up. That not only benefits the view out, it also means your feet sit lower and you're in a more comfortable position. 

A pair of six-footers get plenty of legroom and decent headroom, and the middle seat is useable for shorter journeys thanks to a flat floor and seatbacks that recline. There's a bit more outright legroom in the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, however.

Where the Model Y does blow away the competition is luggage space. Tesla quotes a vast 854-litre rear boot capacity, although that's measured up to the roof so doesn't compare fairly with rivals. Even allowing for that, it's probably an even larger space than in the Skoda Enyaq or BMW iX3. Importantly, the large hatchback tailgate opening is much more useful than the tight saloon-style bootlid on the Model 3. 

You also get 40/20/40 split-folding seats to increase space, while there's an electric tailgate on every model (that can even be opened via a smartphone app). Oh, and let's not forget the useful front boot that's deeper than it is in any rival. Of course, quite a few electric SUV rivals don't have one at all...

In terms of exterior dimensions the Tesla Model Y is 4,775mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,600mm tall. That makes it 81mm longer, 1mm wider and 157mm taller than the Model 3. 

This has always been a tough nut to crack for Tesla, which has had to rapidly expand production in a relatively short space of time. Early cars really didn't seem built to last and suffered from quality and design issues that you just don't see with other large carmakers.

The Model 3 showed a turning point for the brand, however, and while consistent quality can still be a problem (as owners report) the Model Y seems generally pretty solid, both inside and out. It's not as plushly trimmed as a BMW iX3 or Audi Q4 e-tron, though, and our particular example had a rather nasty rattle from the rear seat area. The faux leather upholstery feels less-than-premium, too. 

This is a core part of a Tesla's appeal, partly because the screen is really the only dominant design feature in a rather generic-looking cabin. It's also packed full of useful features, however. 

All Tesla Model Ys come with the same 15-inch portrait-angled central touchscreen as the latest Model 3. For the most part it's impressively slick and speedy, while it also has crisp graphics and logical menus. You don't get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but it's not a huge issue here. 

There's too many clever apps and functions to list here, but you get nicely integrated Google Maps navigation, Netflix, Spotify and Youtube, a variety of games to play while charging and features such as Sentry Mode, which uses the around-view cameras and sensors as a detailed security system.

You also get two - yes, two - wireless phone chargers below the screen itself, plus plenty of USB charging ports. 

However, in some areas the tech is too clever for its own good. There's no physical key for a Model Y, you lock and unlock the car via an RFID card and smartphone app, which might sit uneasily with some people. More annoyingly, almost everything is controlled through the screen, from the door mirrors to the steering column and climate control. 

Rear-seat passengers get heated seats, but these can only be activated from the front screen. We also cannot understand Tesla's omission of a screen directly in front of the driver's eyeline - or even a heads-up display - meaning checking the speed and critical driving information forces you to look away from the road. 

At the time of writing (in mid-2022) the entry-level Tesla Model Y Long Range starts at £55,990, with the Model Y Performance at £64,990. 

It's a shame that's a full £10,000 more than the starting price of a Model 3, but remember that's for the slower, shorter-range rear-wheel drive model, whereas both Model Ys offered in the UK are dual-motor all-wheel drive. As such, the Model 3 Long Range is only £1,000 cheaper than the Y, although the 3 Performance is £5,000 less. 

Another important thing to note is Tesla doesn't do trim levels: every Model Y comes comprehensively equipped as standard, with paint, wheels and a tow hitch the only options.

Oh, and there's also Tesla's Enhanced Autopilot driver assist system to pay extra for, while you can go even further with the £6,800 Full Self-Driving Capability option. These systems claim to allow automatic lane-changing and the ability for a Tesla to drive by itself under supervision in many situations. We've yet to try either, but reports suggest these functions work much better on Californian roads than they do in the UK right now. 

All Tesla Model Y variants on sale right now have a 75kWh battery, which is about average for longer-range electric SUVs. Teslas manage better quoted range figures than almost all the competition, however, thanks to impressive battery efficiency and aerodynamics. 

The WLTP-rated range of the Model Y is 331 miles, which is among the highest figure of any electric SUV on the market, let alone ones that offer all-wheel drive and this kind of performance. It's worth noting, though, that the equivalent Model 3 promises up to 374 miles on a charge.

Opting for the Model Y Performance drops that quoted figure to 319 miles, which given the performance advantage seems reasonable. 

Running costs will be kept low if you can charge at home via a dedicated wallbox. A 7kW unit will charge the Model Y from empty to full in about 12 hours, and will cost anything up to £20 depending on your home energy tariff. 

Tesla's big selling point is its extensive Supercharger rapid charging network, which can charge the Model Y at up to 250kW, giving you 80% of charge in around half an hour. It's worth noting, though, that Tesla has recently made this available to other EV users, making them busier, while at around 50p/kWh it'll cost twice as much as home charging. 

Residual values for Teslas are excellent, while zero road tax and extremely low company car Benefit-in-Kind rates help offset the purchase price.

Insurance can be more expensive than comparable rivals, but there's less servicing required than a petrol or diesel car, while there's a four-year/50,000 mile warranty and an eight-year/100,000 mile battery warranty that means Tesla will refurb or replace your battery if it falls below 70% of its from-new performance during that time. 

Tesla has managed to keep the kerbweight of the Model Y at around two tonnes for both variants. While that's far from lightweight, it's lighter than every similar-sized rival, and that benefits handling. 

The Model Y changes direction keenly, with minimal body lean for an SUV, loads of grip and very quick steering. That latter point is a bit of an issue, though - the Model Y's steering is almost too quick for its own good, unsettling the car unless you're gentle with inputs. It's also not as naturally weighted as some rivals. 

Overall, though, the Model Y handles pretty well for a larger electric car. The brakes are powerful and easy to judge, too. There's a fairly big trade-off, however, and it's the ride. 

The left-hand drive Long Range version we've driven came on optional 20-inch wheels, up from 19s as standard. But we'd be surprised if sticking with the lower size made much difference as the Model Y feels fundamentally firm. 

On UK roads it manages to find bumps and surface changes on tarmac that appears otherwise smooth. On rougher roads you're jostled around in your seat like you're in a performance car, while the suspension thumps and clunks audibly around town. In the Performance model we'd almost forgive it given BMW M and Audi RS SUVs can also be firm, but for a 'normal' premium family SUV it just isn't as comfortable as it should be. 

What's more, wind and road noise aren't as low as we'd like. You do notice this more in electric cars as there's no engine noise to disguise it, but compared to most battery-powered rivals it's louder, probably because there's no parcel shelf and a standard glass roof. 

There's two power options for the Tesla Model Y as of 2022: the Long Range and the Performance. 

Only supercar junkies or people who ride rollercoasters every day would call the Long Range slow. With motors on each axle, 440PS and a 0-60mph time of 4.8 seconds, plus the instant power delivery of EVs, it's more than fast enough for most needs and will make your kids grin every time you stamp on the throttle. 

If you want to make them throw up instead, there's always the Model Y Performance. Officially that puts out 490PS (hardly a huge boost) but electronic wizardry means a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds. That's 0.4 seconds slower than a Model 3 Performance, but still in the realms of six-figure supercars. 

Having that huge, instant, silent performance on tap can be an exercise in restraint because a flinch of the right foot sends you rocketing towards the car in front. But get the hang of this and it's smooth when you want it to be and rapid when you don't. 

The Tesla Model Y hasn't been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but the structurally and technically similar Model 3 has. That scored the maximum five star safety rating, with very high scores for adult occupant protection and safety assists. 

Every Model Y gets a suite of airbags, rear Isofix mounting points and a healthy array of driver assist tech including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. There's also lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring, while opting for Enhanced Autopilot brings automatic lane changing, parking and a summon function that lets you avoid parking dings by driving the car out of the space remotely. 

There's also the aforementioned Sentry Mode, which keeps an eye on your Model Y when parked, continually records camera feeds and sounds various alarms and warnings if someone leans on or tries to break into the car. 

Both Long Range and Performance versions of the Tesla Model Y can tow up to 1,600kg. That's a way off some all-wheel drive petrol and diesel SUVs, but enough for a small caravan or medium-sized trailer. 

There are no trim levels with the Model Y, just a comprehensive equipment tally and some choice options. 

Standard equipment on the Tesla Model Y includes the central touchscreen with navigation and connected services, adaptive cruise control, climate control, an electric tailgate, keyless entry and go, front and rear heated seats, an electrically adjustable steering wheel and electric seats.