The Model Y should bring Tesla into the mainstream, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Review

Tesla's Model Y aims to redefine what a compact-to-mid-sized SUV can deliver. It brings the engineering of its Model 3 saloon showroom stablemate to this quickly growing segment and lays down a benchmark to the established brands as to exactly what a full-electric BEV Crossover of this kind ought to be.

Background

This is where Tesla gets serious (again). The Model Y is the brand's very first compact-to-mid-sized SUV. And the company predicts that it'll out-sell all its other three models combined. Tesla's Model 3 mid-sized saloon was the first car that brought the brand into more affordable market segments and if you're familiar with that car, you'll be familiar with a Model Y because 75% of components are shared between the two models. Model Ys for Europe will be built at Tesla's new Berlin factory. The car will also be built in California and Shanghai and eventually, around half a million examples of it will be produced for worldwide sale each year.

So, this car needs to be good, pivotal as it'll be for Tesla. Market demand for SUVs is, after all, far higher than it is for saloons - or cars in the Model S or Model X large luxury category. But that demand is already being satisfied by an army of compact-to-mid-sized SUVs with full-battery power from other brands. Cars like the Volkswagen ID.4, the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Skoda Enyak iV, the CUPRA el-Born, the Volvo XC40 P8 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E - to name just a few. Let battle commence.

Driving Experience

All the running gear is shared with Tesla's Model 3, which means that Model Y customers get the same three variant choices - or will eventually do so anyway. There's a base 'Standard Range' version with a 230 mile range, a 5.9s 0-60mph time and a 120mph top speed. Next up is the version most will choose, the 'Long Range' derivative, which offers 314 miles of range, a 5.5s 0-60mph time and a 130mph top speed. This mid-range variant also comes in 'Dual Motor' 4WD form, in which guise the range falls to 280 miles but speed improves to 4.8s and 135mph. At the top of the line-up is the dynamic 'Performance' model, basically the fastest compact-to-mid-sized SUV there is, with around 450hp on tap and 640Nm of pulling power. This top derivative also has a range of 280 miles, but sprints to 60mph in just 3.5s and tops out at 150mph.

This car's low centre of gravity promises much in terms of handling. Tesla's Elon Musk says it 'has the functionality of an SUV but rides like a sports car'.

Design and Build

Though the Model Y shares a platform with its Model 3 showroom stablemate, it's around 10% longer - 4,750mm in length. And of course, being an SUV, it's a hatch, not a saloon.

Inside, differences over the Model 3 saloon are few, the dash and interior of that car carried over almost completely. You can have a bigger panoramic glass roof - that's the only real difference. So, as usual on a Tesla, the fascia is dominated by a huge central infotainment touchscreen of upright portrait format. Build quality and material richness might not be quite what you're looking for if you're seeking a premium branded model in this sector but it's quite comparable with a volume maker rival. As usual with a Tesla, there are almost no physical buttons in the cabin - almost everything's controlled via the touchscreen, which is sharp to look at and as easy to use as ever.

Market and Model

Prices start at just under £30,000 for the 'Standard Range' version. Think more like £37,000 upwards for the 'Long Range' model - or close to £40,000 if you want it with Dual Motor 4WD. For the top 'Performance' model, you'll need a £50,000 budget. Standard equipment includes all the usual executive niceties. And there's a forward facing radar that scans the road 160-metres ahead as you drive, providing a long-range view of distant objects. A 360-degree camera system making parking easier too. You can certain have plenty of luxury features if you want then, things like a 14-speaker premium audio system, 12-way power adjustable leather front seats and a tinted panoramic glass roof with ultra violet/infra-red protection.

Safety should be a strong point. Tesla says the Model Y is designed to be the safest vehicle in its class. The low centre of gravity, rigid body structure and large crumple zones provide strong protection. Like all new Teslas, this one comes as standard with emergency braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and more. And in future, the brand promises that the Model Y will have Full Self-Driving capability, enabling automatic driving on city streets and highways pending regulatory approval, as well as the ability to come and find you anywhere in a car park: brilliant.

Cost of Ownership

Owning a Model Y will of course be very different from owning a conventionally powered compact-to-mid-sized SUV. There'll be no fuel bills of course and servicing costs will be much smaller. The annual service fee covers an annual inspection, replacement parts like brake pads and windscreen wipers, 24 hour roadside assistance, system monitoring, remote diagnostics, software updates and new features sent through the touchscreen. As for driving range, well we'll repeat the figures quoted earlier - 230 miles for the standard Range version, 314 miles for the 'Long Range' variant and 280 miles for the 'Long Range' and top 'Performance' Dual Motor models.

The car responds best to nightly recharges, but will happily sit for a couple of weeks at an airport while you holiday without losing significant charge. The Model Y is compatible with the US brand's third generation public Superchargers, which are capable of 250kW charging. Hooked up to one of these, your Model Y will be able to recover 75 miles of range in five minutes, or up to 168 miles in fifteen minutes, with a peak charging rate equivalent to 1000 miles for every hour.

Summary

There's no doubt that the Model Y is the most important Tesla yet. And it's a car you'll get used to seeing on our roads. European rivals are catching this American brand quickly in terms of electrified powertrain technology and they still often shade Tesla in terms of cabin quality. But they still can't (yet) match Tesla's public charging infrastructure. There's nothing from any other maker like Tesla's network of 'Supercharging' stations. And that'll sway many customers towards this car.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Tesla Model Y

PRICES: from £30,000 {est} on the road {inc. £3,000 Plug-in Car Grant}

CATEGORY: FULL ELECTRIC - COMPACT

INSURANCE GROUPS: TBC

PERFORMANCE: {Performance} 0-62mph 3.5s / Max Speed 150mph

WLTP ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE: {Long Range} 314 miles

BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] {seats folded} 1,849

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4750/1920/1626 mm