2023 Tesla Model Y review: Full range detailed

The Tesla Model Y is a medium electric SUV with a practical boot and frunk, minimalist interior, and efficient design.

It was launched in mid-2022 in Australia, but has been available globally since 2020.

The popular Model Y SUV is offered in three variants, with a mid Long Range variant joining the local line-up in April 2023. It is based on the smaller Model 3 sedan.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• What body styles are available for the Model Y?
• What features are standard in every Model Y?
• What key features do I get if I spend more?
• How safe is the Tesla Model Y?
• How comfortable and practical is the Model Y?
• How much boot space does the Model Y offer?
• I like driving, will I enjoy this car?
• Which version of the Model Y provides the longest range?
• What is the Model Y's towing capacity?
• How long is the warranty & what are the Model Y servicing costs?
• Which version of the Model Y does Wheels recommend?
• What are the Tesla Model Y key rivals?

Pricing

What body styles are available for the Tesla Model Y?

Five-door, five-seater SUV only. It is classed as a medium SUV.

The seven-seater option sold in the US remains unavailable for Australia.

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What features are standard in every Tesla Model Y?

The base Tesla Model Y comes with most features as standard, with a single rear-mounted electric motor and a 57.5kWh usable lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery (according to EV Database). It includes:

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What key features do I get if I spend more?

Opting for the Long Range gains a larger 75kWh usable nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery (according to EV Database) and dual electric motors for grippier all-wheel drive traction, plus:

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Stepping up to the most expensive Performance version adds a more potent dual-motor tune. Other additions include:

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How safe is the Tesla Model Y?

The Tesla Model Y obtained the full five-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) under the 2022 testing criteria.

It achieved high scores including; 97 per cent adult occupant protection, 89 per cent child occupant protection, 82 per cent vulnerable road user protection, and 98 per cent for safety assist systems.

The electric SUV adopts a camera-only safety assist setup. It comes with as standard; front auto emergency braking with car/pedestrian/cyclist/junction detection, lane-centring and lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

A reversing camera and blind-spot view cameras come as standard.

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How comfortable and practical is the Tesla Model Y?

The Model Y medium SUV features an animal-free material black with wood trim interior as standard, with an all-white cabin available as an $1500 option.

There’s little to distinguish between a Model 3 and Model Y cabin in design, but the SUV offers significantly more space - notably in headroom and rear-seat room, taking advantage of its higher roofline and longer body.

In our experience, we’ve found the black-vinyl seats - standard even on the most expensive Performance model - to be sweaty on hot days. Keeping the cabin cool on warm days isn’t helped by the fixed full-length sunroof.

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While there’s a relaxing suppleness to the front seats, more side and shoulder support would be welcome. This is more of an issue when going around corners.

The Y gains recline functionality for its rear seats, if limited to two positions.

A flat cabin floor helps make life more comfortable for the middle-rear passenger.

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The rear bench features two ISOFIX child seat anchor points in outboard seats and three top-tether points.

The Model Y’s dual-zone climate control is powered by ‘invisible’ air vents across the front dashboard, while rear passengers also have centre console vents.

The company’s Cabin Overheat Protection function automatically turns on the climate control to cool down the interior when it is above 40-degrees Celsius, but doesn’t operate when the EV is below 20 per cent battery.

It also benefits from ‘Keep Climate On’, camp mode and dog mode that keep the air-conditioning system running while the vehicle is stationary and locked.

A seven-seater version of the Model Y isn’t available in Australia, though US reviews suggest the two third-row seats are all but unuseable.

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How much boot space does the Tesla Model Y offer?

The Tesla Model Y SUV boasts a 854-litre boot (including the underfloor well), which expands to 2158 litres when the 40:20:40-split rear seats are folded down.

However, it’s worth noting the former number is larger since it’s measured up to the roof – instead of the more common VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie) standard used by other rivals that measures up to the second-row seatback level only.

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The tailgate is electrically opening/closing, but doesn’t have a hands-free function. The boot also doesn’t include a cargo cover.

The boot aperture is much larger than the 3 sedan’s, making it easier to fit bulkier items into the Y.

Additionally, there’s a 117-litre frunk storage space under the bonnet - significantly more space than that offered by some rivals that also use the area where an engine would normally sit.

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I like driving, will I enjoy this car?

There’s plenty of satisfaction to be derived from how the Tesla Model Y provides smooth driveability regardless of how many electric motors it’s powered by.

Even if you’ve never driven an electric car before, the ability to largely drive the SUV with just the accelerator pedal - where you can slow the car gradually to a standstill just by lifting off the throttle – quickly becomes intuitive.

Satisfyingly strong acceleration is provided by the single-motor RWD, which has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds.

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Performance steps up with dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models: the Model Y Long Range reaches triple figures in 5.0 seconds, while the Performance takes just 3.7 seconds.

There’s impressive traction in all models courtesy of clever electronics and grippy Michelin or Pirelli sports tyres that are standard from base model upwards.

The rest of the Model Y driving experience is less positive. Riding on larger wheels than the Model 3 exacerbates the busy ride of the sedan. The SUV struggles to a greater extent to absorb bumps, while the Y’s suspension is noisier again than the 3’s underpinnings.

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And while quick steering works well on the Model 3 with its lower centre of gravity, it’s less welcome with the tall-bodied Y that exhibits inferior lateral body control to the sedan and generally feels less composed in corners.

Ironically, the Model Y Performance features what Tesla calls a “Comfort’ suspension tune, which slightly improves ride smoothness but still leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Choose a Kia EV6 if you want a midsized SUV that is more comfortable and interesting to drive, or a Polestar 2 if an SUV body style isn’t non-negotiable.

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Which version of the Tesla Model Y provides the longest range?

As its name suggests, the mid-pack Tesla Model Y Long Range offers the best driving range in the line-up, with 533 kilometres claimed on the WLTP combined test. It consumes a claimed 14.1kWh/100km of energy.

However, it’s worth noting that Tesla recommends charging the Long Range and Performance NMC battery to 90 per cent to maintain good health, whereas the RWD’s LFP pack can be regularly charged to 100 per cent.

The base Model Y RWD is $13,000 cheaper than the Long Range and features 455 kilometres of claimed WLTP range from a 15.7kWh/100km energy consumption.

Meanwhile, the flagship Model Y Performance has 514 kilometres of claimed WLTP range and 17.1kWh/100km energy efficiency.

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What is the Tesla Model Y’s towing capacity?

The Tesla Model Y electric car has a 1600kg braked or 750kg unbraked towing capacity.

The company offers a tow package accessory for $1970, which includes a steel tow bar with a maximum 72kg download weight. A trailer harness and tow mode software is also included.

Meanwhile, Tesla also sells a roof rack priced at $770 and is capable of carrying a of 74kg load.

The Model Y RWD has a maximum payload of 539kg, Long Range at 640kg, and Performance at 637kg.

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How long is the warranty and what are the Tesla Model Y’s servicing costs?

The Tesla Model Y comes with a shorter four-year/80,000km vehicle warranty. The touchscreen and media control unit are covered for two-years/40,000km.

Additionally, the entry-level Model Y RWD has an eight-year/160,000km battery and drive unit warranty, whereas the Long Range and Performance variants are backed for eight-years/192,000km.

Tesla promises all Model Ys will retain at least 70 per cent of its battery health in the pack’s warranty coverage period.

The carmaker uses a condition-based servicing scheme, where the vehicle’s sensors will detect whether specific parts need maintenance based on usage and notifies the owner via the touchscreen or mobile app to book a checkup.

It also recommends a range of routine maintenance tasks listed here [↗].

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Which version of the Tesla Model Y does Wheels recommend?

We would opt for the entry-level Model Y - simply because it offers the best all-round value (just as is the case with the Model 3 range).

There’s not a huge difference in features between the RWD, Long Range and Performance; they’re essentially separated by the size of their batteries and electric-motor count.

Fingers crossed the RWD also adopts the Comfort suspension soon for some ride improvement, but otherwise its single motor provides ample performance and you still get all the practicality goodness of this cleverly packaged SUV.

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What are the Tesla Model Y’s key rivals?

The popular Tesla Model Y competes in a highly contested medium electric SUV segment, including high-performance EVs at the top-end. Key rivals include:

• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Kia EV6
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Toyota BZ4x
• Volvo XC40 Recharge
• Mercedes-Benz EQB