Few cars need less introduction than the Tesla Model Y. With the constant stream of electric crossovers entering the market, it seems as though the Model Y has become the car to beat. Characterized by that 330-mile range you’ve no doubt heard about by now, the car is gearing up to face some stiff competition as more brands vie for the top spot.
The Model Y is, at its core, mainly an expansion of its modestly priced Model 3 compact sedan. Love it or hate it, the Model Y takes after the same styling as every other model in its lineup. To that end, it’s very pragmatic. Many of the car’s minimalist lines and curves are based on aerodynamics, and save for the cool black door handles that fit seamlessly into the car’s body, the car’s teardrop form is relatively unfussy. In short, its design is what you’d come to expect from a formerly located Silicon Valley startup: sleek, glossy minimalism underscored by an equal dose of pragmatism.
Model Y Deliveries Begin!
The interior is centered around a single 15-inch touchscreen display that controls everything. It is the central information hub for the entire car, in charge of all driver’s side information like speed and battery life, media, climate, maps, locking and unlocking the doors, and opening and closing the glove compartment. While a centralized hub sounds like a dream, scrolling through apps can become tedious.
However, the car’s stark, minimalist design offers plenty of creature comforts. Passengers sit comfortably in the five vegan-leather heated seats, with a sprawling all-glass tinted roof that provides an air of spaciousness to the interior that gives the appearance of a living room.
To add to the vibe, Tesla’s central touchscreen is loaded with apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube for passengers’ enjoyment. It should also be mentioned that Tesla has added an option of a third row of seats. If you forgo the extra row, the car enjoys up to 68 cubic feet of valuable storage space.
The car makes an impression in its specs. With the sweet 330 miles of range, the Long Range version beats out all other EV crossovers significantly. In addition, Tesla’s Supercharger fast-charging network still reigns supreme, adding back 200 miles of range with just 15 minutes of charge. On top of that, the Model Y doesn’t trade in any of its quickness for its super long range. In both a Car and Driver and a MotorTrend test drive, the Long Range put up 0-60 times in the low four-second range.
As you would expect, Tesla loves to pack plenty of tech and safety features in the car. The Model Y comes standard with various driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, surround-view camera, and blind-spot warning. However, those nifty autonomous and semi-autonomous driving features that Tesla boasts about are only available with their Full Self-Driving Capability package.
The starting price for the Tesla Model Y Long Range is $64,440 and is available on their website. They also offer a Performance version that starts at $69,440.
As one of the pioneers of true battery-electric vehicle technology, Tesla has established a name as one of the premier EV manufacturers. However, with the industry becoming incredibly competitive, particularly within the crossover and SUV market space, it will be interesting to see how cars like the Model Y stand up to its newfound competition.
