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 fairly 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. It's a fully electric family SUV and a rival to the likes of the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX1, Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq – and it was recently given a big overhaul in a bid to make it quieter, more comfortable and more luxurious.

New Tesla Model Y video review

Read on to find out how successful these changes have been and how we rate the Tesla Model Y against the best electric SUVs...

All versions of the Tesla Model Y are quick – even the entry-level RWD (rear-wheel drive) model can officially sprint from 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds, easily outpacing the cheapest Kia EV6.

Above the RWD there’s a marginally quicker Long Range RWD, followed by the fastest-accelerating version, the Long Range AWD (all-wheel drive), which can rocket you from a standstill to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds.

As you've probably guessed, it's the Long Range versions that can go the furthest between charges. The Long Range RWD can official do up to 387 miles, with the heavier and faster AWD version promising a still-impressive range of 364 miles.

Even the entry-level RWD version can officially manage 311 miles without stopping for a charge – although bear in mind that the official ranges are almost impossible to match in real-world driving.

Before its mid-life facelift in early 2025, ride comfort really wasn’t a Model Y strength – but the suspension has been tweaked and it's now more agreeable along bumpy roads.

There are still much more comfortable alternatives though, including the Audi Q4 e-tron, Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq. The Model Y's relatively firm suspension means you're bounced around in your seat more than you'll probably appreciate.

That said, so far we’ve only driven the range-topping Long Range AWD on optional 20in alloys (19s are standard). It's quite possible that versions on smaller wheels smooth over bumps more effectively.

It's no surprise that, as an electric SUV, the Model Y isn’t as good to drive as the lower-riding Tesla Model 3 but it has improved since its facelift.

For example, the Model Y used to have incredibly quick steering, which made the handling feel a bit nervous. The steering is now a little slower and the handling feels calmer as a result.

There’s plenty of grip and not too much body lean, although the Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq are even better balanced, and ultimately more enjoyable to drive on twisty roads.

The pre-facelift Model Y was quite noisy by the standards of its class but this is another area where things have improved. It's now impressively hushed inside, even at motorway speeds, with only the occasional clonk from the suspension disturbing the peace.

The brakes are really good too. They're much 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 latest Model Y is more comfortable than its predecessor but I wasn't that impressed by the ride quality on a version fitted with optional 20in alloys." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

From the driver’s seat, most things in the Model Y are near-enough identical to how they are in a Tesla Model 3 – but you do sit higher up, almost looking down on the dashboard. That makes you feel less cocooned than in an Audi Q4 e-tron or Kia EV6.

The only other noteworthy difference is that you get a proper indicator stalk rather than the fiddly buttons on the steering wheel of newer Model 3s. There's no longer a gear selector stalk though – you have to use the infotainment touchscreen or a panel on the roof at the top of the windscreen.

The Model Y 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 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 your height 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 ahead, particularly when you're turning left.

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

The Model Y's main touchscreen measures 15in and the software is fairly intuitive. Some of the smaller icons can be tricky to hit accurately while you’re driving but the system is super-responsive once you’ve made your selection.  

You get loads of infotainment features, including everything from sat-nav to Netflix. There are even games to keep you and your passengers entertained while you charge. However, one notable omission is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, which you do get in most rivals.

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

The quality of Tesla cars is something we’ve been critical of in bygone years but things have improved enormously. All the Model Ys we’ve tested felt well screwed together inside and the exterior panel gaps were relatively consistent.

Improvements as part of a 2025 facelift introduced some more upmarket interior materials, making the Model Y feels classier inside than an EV6 or Enyaq. Mind you, the rival GV60 has an even plusher interior.

"I listen to music a lot while driving so I find it really handy that the 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 of occupants.

There’s also loads of room for odds and ends, with a vast 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 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 want limo levels of space in the back, take a look at the BYD Sealion 7 and Volkswagen ID Buzz.

If you need seven seats, the current Model Y is not for you. The pre-facelift version was sold as a seven-seater in the UK for a short period but this latest model is only available as a five-seater.

The Model Y comes with 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats as standard, as do the BMW iX1 and Renault Scenic (many 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 easy to fold down – you just press buttons on the walls of the boot. You can also recline the rear seatbacks for a more laid-back seating position.

The Model Y has a huge boot – especially when you factor in the large well under the main floor. We managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases below the load cover, plus an extra one in the "frunk" under the bonnet.

That's 10 cases overall, whereas the Audi Q4 e-tron, Kia EV6 and Renault Scenic swallowed seven. Mind you, the immensely practical van-shaped VW ID Buzz managed to take a total of 16 cases.

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

“I think it’s very useful to have such a big front boot. Many electric cars don’t offer one at all, or if they do it’s tiny and barely big enough for a charging cables, but the Model Y's can hold a carry-on suitcase.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

The Tesla Model Y is more expensive than the smaller Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq but cheaper to buy outright than many premium-badged electric SUVs, including the Audi Q4 e-tron and Genesis GV60.

PCP finance deals are competitive, although there are some legitimate concerns over resale values – a consequence of the divisive image of Tesla's owner and CEO, Elon Musk. Other Tesla models have suffered from heavier-than-predicted depreciation as a result.

However, one major advantage the Model Y has over its rivals is unrestricted access to the fast and reliable Tesla Supercharger network – although some Supercharger locations are now also open to non-Tesla electric cars.

With a maximum charging rate of 250kW, the Model Y can charge from 10-80% in less than half an hour in ideal conditions. A full charge using a 7kW home EV charger will take around nine hours and 45 minutes in the entry-level RWD, and 12 hours in the Long Range versions.

All versions of the Model Y come with plenty of luxuries, including climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated faux-leather seats, an electric tailgate and keyless entry using a Tesla smartphone app.

It’s a good thing it's well-equipped as standard because the options list is short. Apart from metallic paint, a white (rather than black) interior, different alloy wheel designs and a tow-bar package, the only extras you can add are 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 the Tesla app. If someone parks too close for you to open the door, you can drive your car out of the space without getting in.

The Model Y should prove very dependable – it was the most reliable electric SUV in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. Meanwhile, Tesla finished 15th out of 31 brands in the overall manufacturer league table.

Tesla gives you a four-year, 60,000-mile warranty on most components, with the battery and drive unit covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles (120,000 miles with the Long Range versions). The warranty covers the electrical bits against faults and guarantees a minimum 70% retention of battery capacity.

The Model Y was awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2022. A closer look at the scores reveals better adult-occupant protection than the Genesis GV60 and 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 an accident in the first place, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning. 

As for security, as well as the usual kit the the Model Y has 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 car when it's parked up, the cameras should record the incident.

"There are cheaper electric SUVs available but when you factor in the Model Y's impressive level of standard kit I'd say it represents good value for money." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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