Tesla Model Y review

You can think of the Tesla Model Y as a Model 3 that’s been pumped full of growth hormone to give it a higher driving position and more room inside.

You see, while the Model 3 is a fantastic electric car, Tesla is all too aware that its entry-level saloon doesn’t suit everyone. Its small boot opening isn’t great for families and it's not an SUV, which is an instant turn-off for many buyers.

That's where the Model Y comes in. As an electric SUV, it offers all the perks of the Model 3 but with more interior space and the option of having it as a seven-seater. True, it’s smaller than the Tesla Model X but that model is only available with left-hand drive.

Tesla Model Y video review

The Model Y's rivals include everything from the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX1 to the Kia EV6 and Renault Scenic – although the price of the range-topping version creeps into VW ID Buzz territory.

Read on to find out how we rate the Tesla Model Y against the best electric SUVs...

The Model Y isn’t quite as rapid as the equivalent Tesla Model 3 but all versions are quick. For example, a Model Y Long Range AWD (all-wheel drive) rocketed from 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds at our private test track.

If you want to go even faster, you'll want the Performance version, which will officially accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds, outpacing even the quickest version of the Audi Q4 e-tron. Even so, we’d stick with the entry-level Long Range RWD (rear-wheel drive) because its official 0-60mph sprint time of 5.7 seconds will be plenty quick enough for most uses.

Better still, that version can officially manage up to 373 miles on a full charge, compared with 331 miles for the Long Range AWD and 319 miles for the Performance. In our real-world range tests, the Long Range AWD managed 272 miles in winter and an impressive 304 miles on a warm July day. That said, on a similarly balmy day, a Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range went 322 miles.

Ride comfort isn’t a Model Y strength. It has bigger wheels than the equivalent Model 3, with 19in rims fitted as standard, and 20in wheels available as an option.

Neither wheel size is particularly forgiving over ridges and potholes, and you're jostled around in your seat along roads that appear quite smooth. Surprisingly, though, the Performance version, with its 21in alloys and sports suspension, isn't much more fractious.

The Model Y is more settled than a Ford Mustang Mach-E but many electric SUVs – including the Q4 e-tron, the Genesis GV60 and the Scenic – offer a smoother and more composed ride.

It should come as no surprise that the taller and heavier Model Y isn’t as good to drive as the Model 3, but it’s a shame Tesla hasn’t spent more time tuning the car accordingly – especially given how rapid it is.

The incredibly quick steering that works well on the Model 3 has been carried over, but with the slightly more lethargic responses of an SUV it makes the Model Y feel a bit nervous.

When you get past that and into a corner, you’ll find plenty of grip and not too much body lean, but the Genesis GV60, the Kia EV6 and the Skoda Enyaq feel better balanced, inspire more confidence and are more enjoyable on twisty roads.

The Model Y isn't that quiet by electric SUV standards. The interior is a bit of an echo chamber, actually, because the entire roof is made of glass, which doesn’t absorb sound very well. 

You hear a fair amount of road noise and boom from the suspension when you're driving. In fact, when we tested it against the EV6 and Scenic, the Model Y’s readings at both 30mph and 70mph were higher. If you want something even more hushed, try the Q4 e-tron, GV60 or Enyaq.

At least the Model Y's brakes are really good, despite the regenerative braking working away. They're far smoother and more progressive than in most electric cars so it’s easy to judge how much pressure you need to apply with your right foot to slow down smoothly.

"The Long Range RWD version of the Tesla Model Y is the worst I've tried when it comes to ride comfort and noise suppression." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

From the driver’s seat, everything in the Model Y is near-enough identical to how it is in the cheaper Tesla Model 3 – except for one thing. You see, you sit noticeably higher up in the car, almost looking down on the dashboard. That makes you feel less cocooned than in an Audi Q4 e-tron or Kia EV6.

We wish the Model Y's front seats had a bit more support around the sides and shoulders to hold you in position through corners, but they’re comfy enough when you’re going in a straight line.

The driver’s seat lines up neatly with the pedals and steering wheel, although the wheel itself is a faff to adjust for reach and height. You have to use the infotainment screen to tell the car that’s what you want to do then play around with some small controls on the steering wheel.

The Model Y's windscreen pillars are fairly chunky and angled in such a way that they can hamper your view out at junctions and roundabouts. How badly will depend on how tall you are and your preferred driving position.

The same goes for the rearview mirror – it's mounted too low on the windscreen, so it can block some of your view when turning left.

All versions come with front and rear parking sensors, plus there are cameras around the car to help with manoeuvring. LED headlights are standard and illuminate the road well at night.

The Model Y comes with a 15in infotainment touchscreen. The operating system is fairly intuitive, and while some of the smaller icons can be distracting to hit accurately while you’re driving, the system is very responsive once you’ve made your selection.

It’s loaded with features too, including everything from sat-nav to Netflix and games (to keep you entertained while you charge). One notable omission is Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring – which you do get in the Renault Scenic and other electric SUVs. 

Overall, the Model Y has a better infotainment system than the Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq, although the system in the Genesis GV60 is less distracting to use while driving.

The quality of Tesla car models is something we’ve been a little critical of in the past, but things have definitely improved. All the Model Ys we’ve tested felt well screwed together inside and the exterior panel gaps were relatively consistent.

The materials inside are a little more appealing than those in a Ford Mustang Mach-E or Skoda Enyaq. Don’t expect to be blown away though – the "vegan leather" on the seats and steering wheel is soft but very obviously plastic. The rival Genesis GV60 is much plusher inside.

"I listen to music a lot while driving so I find it really handy that the Tesla Model Y has built-in apps for Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

No one sitting in the front of a Tesla Model Y is likely to have any complaints about space: there's plenty for even the tallest occupants. There’s also loads of room for odds and ends, with a lidded cubby between the front seats and a good-sized storage area under the centre armrest.

The front seat area feels remarkably light and airy thanks to the combination of tall side windows and a standard full glass roof.

There's more rear leg and head room in a Model Y than a Tesla Model 3 – although not by a dramatic amount. The biggest difference is that the Model Y's higher seating position is more comfortable and you don’t feel as though your knees are being forced up towards your chin.

A couple of six-footers will be more than comfy enough on a long journey, and thanks to the flat floor, a third passenger sitting in the middle won’t feel too hard done by. That said, if you really must have limo levels of leg room, we’d recommend you take a look at the Kia EV6 or VW ID Buzz. Those cars also have longer seat bases for better under-thigh support.

The Model Y Long Range AWD is available with two extra seats as a cost option, but an adult sitting in the third row will have their head pressed against the rear window and very little leg room. What’s more, while small children will fit more comfortably, they can’t sit back there because there are no Isofix mounts for child seats. There are plenty of better seven-seat SUVs.

The Model Y comes with 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats as standard, as do the BMW iX1 and Renault Scenic (most other rivals have a less flexible 60/40 split). That gives you the option of slotting something long and thin, such as skis or a golf travel bag, between two rear passengers. 

The seats are super-easy to fold down – you just flick switches on the wall of the boot and they drop of their own accord. You can use the same switches to recline the rear seatbacks, making them even more comfortable.

On versions of the Model Y with seven seats, the second-row seats can slide back and forth to vary how much leg room passengers in each row get (or increase boot space with the rear-most seats folded down flat).

The Model Y has a huge boot – especially when you factor in the large well under the floor. There’s also a smaller underfloor storage area directly behind the rear seats, which is a great place to stow the charging cables.

Using the front boot under the bonnet as well, we managed to squeeze an impressive 10 carry-on suitcases into the Model Y's load bays – more than in the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Kia EV6 and the Renault Scenic (they all took seven). The immensely practical – and bigger – VW ID Buzz swallowed 16 cases.

The Model Y's hatchback tailgate makes it much more practical than a Tesla Model 3. Fitting in a big buggy is no problem, and all versions have an electric tailgate that can be opened and closed using the touchscreen, from a Tesla smartphone app or with a button on the boot lid.

“I’m 5ft 10in and tried sitting in the third row of a seven-seat Tesla Model Y. Leg room was tight but sufficient while head room was non-existent. Indeed, the only way I could fit was by laying my head on my shoulder. Even then, it was pressed against the rear window.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The Tesla Model Y is cheaper to buy outright than many premium-badged electric SUVs – including the Audi Q4 e-tron and Genesis GV60 – and costs about the same as an entry-level BMW iX1. Resale values are predicted to be strong, and because it's fully electric the Model Y is seriously cheap to run for company car drivers who pay BIK tax.

One major advantage the Model Y has over its rivals is access to the fast and reliable Tesla Supercharger network. In ideal conditions, that can charge the Model Y from 10-80% in less than half an hour. A 0-100% charge using a 7kW home EV charger will take around 12 hours.

All versions of the Model Y come with plenty of luxuries, including climate control, adaptive cruise control, faux-leather seats (heated in the front and back), an electric tailgate and keyless entry using an app on your smartphone. 

It’s a good thing it's well-equipped as standard because there isn’t much on the options list. Apart from metallic paint, different alloy wheel designs and a tow bar package, the only options are extra assisted driving functions.

The so-called Full Self Driving Capability doesn’t mean you can sit in the back while the car takes you to your destination. It simply allows the Model Y to make lane changes on its own (just press the indicator), steer itself into a parking space or be "summoned" using a smartphone app at very low speeds. If someone parks too close to you in a car park for you to open the door, you can drive your Model Y out of the space using your mobile phone.

If you want your Model Y as a seven-seater, you need to go for the Long Range AWD version and pay an extra £2,500.

The Model Y was the most reliable electric SUV in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey while Tesla finished 15th out of 31 brands in the overall manufacturer league table.

Tesla gives you a four-year/50,000-mile warranty, with the battery and drive unit covered separately for eight years or 120,000 miles. The warranty covers the electrical bits against faults and guarantees a minimum 70% retention of battery capacity.

The Model Y has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. A closer look at the test scores reveals better adult-occupant protection than in a Genesis GV60 or Kia EV6 and about the same as in an Audi Q4 e-tron. Child protection was found to be exceptional.

There's loads of active safety kit to prevent you from having an accident in the first place, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning.

As for security, as well as the usual kit there’s something called Sentry mode. When enabled, it uses the car’s external cameras to start recording when the car is approached after it’s locked, saving the footage to a USB drive. If someone tries to break in or drives into your Model Y when it's parked up, the cameras should record the incident.

"There are cheaper electric SUVs available, but when you factor in the Tesla Model Y's level of standard kit, I'd say it's hard not to conclude that it represents good value for money." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

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