Tesla Crossover



  • The Tesla Model Y is a small crossover SUV to fill out the cheap(er) end of Tesla's lineup. It will be vehicle number five in the Tesla lineup alongside the Model X mid-sized SUV.
  • Tesla unveiled a new battery-electric crossover named Model Y during a private event held at its Los Angeles design studio. Heavily based on the Model 3, the Y is a smaller, more affordable.
Crossover

Like every Tesla, Model Y is designed to be the safest vehicle in its class. The low center of gravity, rigid body structure and large crumple zones provide unparalleled protection. Like every Tesla, Model Y is designed to be the safest vehicle in its class.

© Marc Urbano - Car and Driver The 2020 Model Y is the first Tesla that doesn't purport to do things in a radically new way. Rather, it's a Model 3-based crossover aimed at the mainstream.

Driving a Tesla can be a revelation. It's partly the way they look. Tesla pioneered building a dedicated EV that doesn't seem intentionally ugly. Then there's the perform­ance. Anyone who has sat behind the wheel of a Tesla with Ludicrous or Insane acceleration modes knows that these are no weenie compliance cars. And there's the perception that everyone else in the EV game builds appliances whereas Tesla builds status symbols, something entirely new.

Setting up a Tesla, your brain—trained by a lifetime of expectation—wonders if having a dedicated control to adjust the side mirrors is actually necessary and if you'll ever remember where the hazard-light button is when you need it (psst, it's above you). But then once you start going, if you're in a Model S or a Model 3, you'll experience the simple joy that comes from driving a car that's quick and quiet and that handles well. Tesla's electric powertrains really are remarkable, and considering everything the company provides—from Supercharging to Dog mode to over-the-air updates—we understand why so many Tesla owners say they'll never buy from any other carmaker.

© Marc Urbano - Car and Driver Calling it an instrument panel just seems wrong; how about 'panel panel'?Tesla crossover model y

Tesla Crossover Models

But then we come to the Model Y. Hopping from Car and Driver's long-term Model 3 into the Model Y—which we sourced from a gracious owner and not Tesla—changes the frame of reference and makes the Y look even more like a dishwasher than it already does. This isn't a bold new thing from Tesla. It looks like what would happen if you read the 'Esio Trot' poem to a Model 3: It's taller, longer, and wider, but the interior and exterior designs are essentially indistinguishable.

On its face, that seems like a good thing. We like the Model 3, so a car that's just like it but has a roomier back seat—with nearly two more inches of headroom—and a bigger cargo hold—fitting seven carry-on bags behind the seats to the 3's four—sounds great, right? In reality, the Y's dimensions work against it. Even though the Y and 3 share powertrains and batteries, the less refined driving character of the former is instantly discernible by anyone who has driven the latter. There is more body roll, and a keen tush detects a bit of flex in the unibody when the chassis is stressed in corners or by pockmarked roads. The quick steering makes the 350-pound-heavier Model Y feel twitchy in comparison with the 3, and our test car's optional 20-inch wheels contribute, no doubt, to suspension crash over expressway expansion joints.

We also noticed a lot of that odd electric-motor whine that accompanies acceleration and a slightly different tone that comes with regenerative braking. The regen feels the same, though. The good news is that you can easily drown this out with the stand­ard 14-speaker audio system.

© Marc Urbano - Car and Driver 2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range

The $57,190 Model Y we drove has the same two-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain as our long-term Model 3 but musters a combined 384 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque in this application. The 75.0 kilowatt-hours of usable energy from the battery pack provide an EPA-estimated 316 miles of driving range, but you'll regret not opting for the more powerful Performance model when you're trying to get the Y's 4386 pounds off the line. The stomach-turning sensation of low-end torque that we've come to associate with Teslas is missing here.


Gallery: The $234,000 Aston Martin DB11 V8 has so much soul that I almost forget how much fun it is to drive (Business Insider)

The Y has taller tires than the 3, which help it in the range department (longer gearing), but these act like cement shoes at low speed. When rolling into the accelerator from a stop, the power­train feels almost sluggish until 30 or 40 mph. That's not to say the Y isn't quick. It hits 60 in 4.4 seconds, 0.4 second behind our 3, and goes from 30 to 50 mph in an impressive 1.7 seconds. At the quarter-mile, a 12.7-second affair, the Y is still 0.4 second down on the 3. No one is going to make a YouTube reaction video in this car, at least not one that will get a bunch of views.

© Marc Urbano - Car and Driver In the Y, you can go 220 miles while traveling 75 mph on a single charge.

Tesla Crossover Pictures

On our 75-mph 200-mile highway test route, the Y achieves a real-world range of 220 miles, just 10 shy of the Model 3's. The brand's commitment to building out its charging network means that having a Tesla as your only car is a realistic proposition, even here in the Midwest. The company says a Model Y can restore 158 miles of range by spending 15 minutes at a Supercharger. This still doesn't match the five-minute full-tank fill-up that a gas station provides, but Tesla is continually getting closer. That said, Supercharger stations remain notably lacking in cheap coffee and Hostess Donettes.

Tesla Crossover Suv

Tesla Crossover

This Model Y came with the one feature we've come to expect in all Teslas: shoddy fit and finish. We noted inconsistent gaps between the body panels—not all of which sit flush, by the way. There's a definite orange-peel effect to the paint, which also had some chips fresh from the factory, according to the owner. A few wires hang in the open from the dashboard into the passenger's footwell. Tesla placed the tire-pressure sticker on the door jamb in such a way that the white label peeks through the gap between the front fender and the door panel. And a series of persistent creaks and rattles from the back seat and cargo area made the owner send this car back to Tesla for a fix. The company says the rattle is a known problem without a solution, so the owner found a workaround. He slightly reclines part of the rear bench to stop the seatbacks from rubbing against one another.

© Marc Urbano - Car and Driver Like the 3, almost every control runs through the touchscreen.

Tesla has built its business by selling desirable EVs at luxury prices. But the Model Y, which lacks a lot of amenities for its price, makes clear that Tesla wasn't looking to innovate here. The company took one of its established vehicles—the cheapest one, at that—and made an appliance of it, just like so many other automakers have done with their EVs.

And yet, Tesla loyalty runs so deep, this electric crossover will surely sell like gangbusters. And that's fine. There's nothing dreadfully wrong with the Model Y. But we can't help but feel that Tesla punted on this one. The company known for daring played it safe, and the result doesn't score big with us.

Tesla Crossover

Counterpoint

Tesla joins the crossover ranks by raising the Model 3's roof 7.1 inches to create the Y, and yet the EPA range figure barely budges. What gives? The BMW X3's highway mileage drops 15 percent compared with that of an equivalent 3-series, and an Audi Q5's plummets 13 percent versus an A4's. You'd think the Tesla would suffer a similar hit, but the all-wheel-drive Y Long Range sees only a 2 percent drop from the comparable 3's range. And it's not just the EPA results that bear this out; in our real-world testing, the Y's 220-mile range is just 4 percent down on the 3's (230 miles). I appreciate that Tesla could over­come this drawback of turning a car into an SUV, but it took seriously uncomfortable ride quality on 20-inch wheels and tires to achieve it. —Dave VanderWerp

The Tesla Model Y may be one of Tesla’s most important vehicles its ever produced. It’s a compact crossover SUV that appeals to larger audience due to its utility and size. So wether you’re a single person who enjoys outdoor adventures or you have a family that needs to haul a lot of groceries the Tesla Model Y has all of those needs covered. On top of this its 100% electric meaning gasoline costs aren’t a factor and it takes up the same footprint as the Model 3 making it great for city driving and parking. It also has AWD enabling you to venture into nature with improved winter performance and safety.

Tesla Model Y Interior

How Much Are Tesla Suv's

The Tesla Model Y interior can be described as fairly “Spartan” but is nearly identical to the Tesla Model 3 with the exception of additional space. Aside from 3 buttons, everything is controlled from the center console touchscreen. Just like the Model 3 it also has 2 interior options to choose from. The Model Y comes with black interior and wood on the dashboard but for $1,000 USD ($1,300 CAD) you can get stain resistant white seats, white inserts on the doors and a white dashboard.

Standard Tesla Model Y Features

  • Dual Motors All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
  • 12 way power adjustable seats and heated (both front and rear).
  • Connect to Music and media over Bluetooth
  • 14 speakers, 2 amps and 2 subwoofer.
  • LED fog lamps
  • Tinted Glass Roof (w/ ultraviolet and infrared protection).
  • Side Mirrors are both power folding and heated.
  • Stores driver profiles.
  • Center storage console has 4 USB ports and docking for 2 smartphones.
  • Second and third row seats fold flat for storage and transport.
  • Power rear lift gate w/ memory settings.

Tesla Model Y Specifications

Tesla Model Y Compared to Model 3

While the Tesla Model Y shares nearly 75% of it’s parts with the Model 3, there are a wide variety of benefits that the Model Y has over the Model 3.

  • Loading the car with anything from groceries to furniture is a lot easier for 2 reasons. Unlike the Model 3, the Model Y has a hatchback. So gaining more access to items in the back while also being able to load larger items is a huge plus. Because the Model Y sits up higher, loading items is more ergonomic and saves you from having to bend over as far.
  • Speaking of sitting up higher, the seating position in the Model Y ride height is also higher by 8 inches. This allows for greater view while driving and being able to see over smaller cars. The increase in height also makes it easier for other vehicles to see you.
  • One of the biggest benefits of the Tesla Model Y compared to the Model 3 is storage space. Storage space increases by 53 cubic feet for a total of 67 cubic feet (1,919 liters) of storage space in the Model Y. The Model 3 only has 15 cubic feet (424 liters) of storage space.
  • The glass roof in the Model 3 has a crossbar which obstructs part of the view. In the Model Y this is 1 solid piece of glass with no crossbar for better aerial views that passengers will enjoy.

Road Trips in the Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y may be their best “Road Trip” vehicle made. It has plenty of storage. So much that you could actually put a bed in the back and sleep in it. Tesla also has “Camper Mode” for this specific situation. To enable camper mode in the Model Y, select the Fan Icon > Camp Mode on the far right. This will allow the Model Y to stay on and regulate the air temperature/air flow while camping until the battery reaches 20%. When inside, you can close the tailgate of the Model Y using the Tesla app.

Beyond the vast amount of storage space for all your gear and luggage, the Tesla Model Y has great range. A full charge will get you 326 miles (525 kilometers). For all of you in Canada, you could drive from Vancouver, BC to Whistler and back… then do that round trip again without having to recharge! For everyone in the Unites States, you could drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on 1 charge. So for electric range, it has more than what most people need.

The Tesla Model Y is also all-wheel drive (AWD) so its great for year round fun on almost any terrain. By having AWD with Dual Motors the Tesla Model Y is also a lot safer in terms of traction compared to a crossover SUV with only rear or front wheel drive. Tesla Model Y winter performance is also very similar to the Model 3 so it’s beyond exceptional. It’s also way more affordable compared to the Tesla Model X which starts at $30,000 more than the Model Y.

Tesla Model Y Cost of Ownership

The Tesla Model Y base price starts at $49,900 USD ($69,900 CAD) with the performance Model Y starting at $59,990 USD ($83,990 CAD). The only vehicle on the market right now that compares as a crossover electric SUV is the Audi e-Tron. While its an amazing vehicle the Audi e-Tron starts off at $66,995 which is $17,000 more than the Tesla Model Y. Does $17k get you more range? No, its gets you 124 miles less than the Model Y. The Audi e-tron, Tesla’s nearest Model Y competitor, costs $17k more and only gets you 222 miles (357km) of range compared to the Tesla Model Y’s 326 miles (525 km).

When you compare the price of the Tesla Model Y to other fossil fuel crossover SUVs of the same level, its still more expensive. The Porche Macan (having similar luxury features in this class) starts off around $52,100 USD. So Tesla wins in price but there are also 2 key differences here that make the Tesla Model Y better value for what you’re getting. The obvious one is that it’s electric. So you’ll never have to pay for another gallon of gasoline ever again in your life. If you charge the Tesla Model Y at home it can cost you $6-10 depending on where you live. Charging at a supercharger can cost around $12-$16 depending on how long you stay. Compare those costs to $30-$50 per tank of gasoline for a similar sized vehicle. Those costs when multiplied over the years of owning the vehicle… add up to thousands of dollars saved in the cost of ownership alone.

The amount of repairs that electric vehicles need compared to gasoline powered cars is huge. Since there are few moving parts in electric vehicles the usual things that may need to be repaired are the tires and any cosmetic issues if needed. Regenerative braking also greatly reduces wear on the braking system almost eliminating repairs there. Compare that to tune-ups, replacing brakes, hoses and any one of thousands of parts that break on fossil fuel vehicles and the Tesla Model Y saves thousands more on ownership repair costs compared to fossil fuel competitors.

My Opinion on the Tesla Model Y

Aside from the minor fit and finish issues with the Model Y (that Tesla will refine and improve over time) I think the Model Y will be the most popular Tesla ever made and will most likely outsell any other vehicle in its class for years to come. People around the world are becoming more conscious of their choices and how they impact the environment. When making the decision of a logical vehicle investment, a vast majority of people are going to choose low maintenance, zero gas, no smell and better safety over anything else offered. So until there is another electric vehicle that looks as good or better than the Model Y, with similar range and features… Tesla will own this part of the the auto market.





Comments are closed.