Tesla Model Y review: Best electric SUV? | TotallyEV

The Tesla Model Y is a more spacious alternative to the Model 3. Find out how the electric SUV compares to its rivals by watching our review!

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Alternatives to consider:
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Equipment used to film this review:

Video timestamps:
Price & electric range: 00:00
Charging: 02:05
Regenerative braking: 04:05
Performance & handling: 05:22
Cabin noise & audio: 10:06
Comfort: 10:50
Storage: 12:42
Interior tech & app: 15:41
Exterior design: 18:00
Visibility & parking: 18:58
Safety & Autopilot: 21:02
Verdict: 23:02

#Tesla
#TeslaModelY
#ModelY
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[TotallyEV]

Video timestamps:
Price & electric range: 00:00
Charging: 02:05
Regenerative braking: 04:05
Performance & handling: 05:22
Cabin noise & audio: 10:06
Comfort: 10:50
Storage: 12:42
Interior tech & app: 15:41
Exterior design: 18:00
Visibility & parking: 18:58
Safety & Autopilot: 21:02
Verdict: 23:02

[SA-hvqm]

Use the throttle to control the amount of regenerative braking. Release quickly for maximum regen, release slowly for less regen. Simples.

[spsmith]

I’m 6fr 4 (1m 93) and the seating position is great. But the squab is short and the side squab bolsters are a bit too hugging on my thighs/backside. Seat extensions would be welcome.

[mannkeithc]

I currently have a 64kW Hyundai Kona EV that will be 3 years old in August. I love the car. It's fun to drive, performance is good and efficiency excellent. I especially like its heads-up display. The smart cruise control and smart regen also work well. I have a Tesla Model Y long range on order to replace it as I would like a little more space and AWD. I did intend to replace the Kona with a Ioniq 5 AWD Ultimate, but there are several little niggles with it such as efficiency and range that have put me off, even though these may be addressed in the April model refresh. Also, Hyundai software is OK, but Tesla's is class leading. In the end what swung my decision was the Tesla Supercharger network. The public network has improved considerably since I purchased my Kona in 2019, but the number of rapid chargers per location are often limited and not always working, with many not exceeding 50 kW/h charging rate. Therefore, when planning a long trip, I also have a contingency charging location identified in case my preferred location is not available / not working, and numerous EV charging accounts!

[maxflight]

What reviewers miss … and yet makes a big difference in day to day ownership … is the audio.

It sounds so much better than any BMW Harmon Kardon or Merc Bose upgrade ….

[robertjohn]

Great review.Love the technology on this car.
The only thing lacking for me is a heads up display.
But I definitely want one 👍

[MrQwerty]

Assuming the firm ride is a sensible choice given the acceleration is approaching supercar numbers with even the mid level Teslas? i.e. powering out of corners at 0-60 in ~4 seconds would be unwise with soft suspension?

[maxflight]

7:40 “I’m truly impressed with the suspension and grip”

You can say that because you are not dependent on Mercedes/BMW / Others advertising in your publications! Thanks for being honest.

[nigelgarvey]

Thanks for the video. I must admit the black 20" wheels do set off a white Model Y quite nicely, visually. I personally prefer the look of the 19s with the Deep Blue Metallic colour I've chosen, which is partly why I've ordered that configuration. The rest of the logic is that I won't be able to see the wheels myself while driving, and what others think of the aesthetics isn't particularly relevant, so the decreased range, harder ride, and increased risk of rim damage with the 20s aren't worth the additional £525 per wheel! 😉

[maxflight]

I didn’t see a 20 inch wheel option ! When I purchased mine it was 19 (my god the plastic trims are ugly ) or 21’s

[mowburnt]

I wanted to go for an EV as new company car and doing around 30000 miles per year, the supercharging network was 100-percent the deciding Factor. Obviously I'm a bit annoyed at the network being opened up to all at a few stations, but hope that improves coverage. My Model y arrives later this year and can't wait.

[dathyr]

I now own a 2023 model Y long range vehicle and myself would not consider it a SUV. To me, I feel the Model Y is more of a great Hatchback type vehicle because of the sloped downward back end of the vehicle. Typical SUV's normally don't slope down in the back of the vehicle, at least that is my opinion.

My Model Y definitely has allot of storage space throughout the vehicle and we can add more by buying accessory trays to put under the seats, etc.

Thanks for the video and take care.

[yeahbuddy]

It's not just about the performance and range, why the Model Y is the best car in the world: its rated the #1 safest car by US and European safety scores. It has the best autopilot for the highway, and the possibility of fully driving itself in the future with FSD. It updates the software over-the-air, adding new features monthly. It has the ability to auto-summon and drive itself to you in parking lots, it has Netflix, Youtube, Disney and many video games to watch and play on the beautiful 15-inch touchscreen. It has the best phone app, able to control the vehicle remotely and see its location, its supercharger network is by far the gold standard, its the only vehicle with voice commands, it has the most storage space among all crossovers, world class sound system, it has a 7-seater option, it's the only vehicle with sentry mode which records video around the vehicle to act as the ultimate security system, it alerts your phone when there is a break-in or the alarm is going off, you can change the climate, roll down the windows, activate dog mode, camp mode, let someone temporarily drive the car, all from the phone app. The phone is the car key! No other car compares to the Model Y.

[john_hind]

I do not get the desire for control over regen braking. This should be completely automatic with a first priority to dump energy to the battery, second to the cooling system and only as a last resort use friction braking. It should feel exactly the same to the driver in all cases. This minimizes brake wear and particulate pollution whilst maximizing range and not compromising safety. My current Mitsubishi Outlander has paddles, but for some reason it cannot achieve the same deceleration as acceleration and it does not work at all when the battery is full. Also, vastly annoying, it defaults to off every time drive is engaged rather than being remembered as a user preference. I'd like to know if the Tesla system will dump energy to the cooling system when the battery is full, and if it is transparent to the driver or requires adaptation and manual selection of friction or regen braking?

[maxflight]

450HP 630nm torque … and if you put for the acceleration boost (why wouldn’t you ?) it’s even more

[thelifeofbatteries]

Model Y charges at up to 250kw and acceleration boost is £1500 not £2000

[petertf]

Watch out! It may make you throw up. Our brand new Model Y Long Range, collected 23rd February 2022 from the NEC in the UK, made in Shanghai so actually made in 2021, gives us headaches and makes us throw up. It has standard 19inch wheels with awful Hankook tyres, whose tread pattern looks very similar to that of a 7.5te truck.
With no parcel shelf supplied, the pounding of these tyres on the road, amplifies throughout the cabin to cause a reverberating sound pressure wave that assaults our ears, similar to the sound pressure "beat" when being close to a helicopter.
After Tesla Service Nottingham agreed this "was harsh to the ear" and then, gave us "they are all the same guv & it will wear off after 200 miles or so as the tyres wear in" typical dealer guff, we tried driving it again.
We got headaches after a few miles and our driver had to stop to throw up at 120 miles.
At 543 miles, the reverberation hasn't "worn off" and we can only reduce it a little by increasing cabin pressure via turning on "bio defence mode" or driving with the windows open - not a realistic option on motorway journeys obviously.
Tesla told us that we should approach Black Horse Finance - Tesla's finance partner in the UK - if we wished to achieve a "mutually satisfactory outcome".
Black Horse Finance initially assured us that the vehicle will be returned to Tesla for a full refund and so, to stand by for their vehicle collection contractor to take it away.

Weeks later, it seems that Black Horse Finance may be going back on their word, after Tesla told them the same "they are all the same guv" guff and declined to fix it.
Apart from this obvious, fatal flaw, we love the car and would be very happy if Tesla fixed it.
Or, if Tesla took it back, we would happily order another one (maybe even a Model Y Performance) - assuming that to be booming reverberation-free - as we see from other reviewers that this problem seems to have been fixed on new production out of Giga-Berlin.
We have had a Model 3 Long Range for 2 years that we love and have a Model X Plaid reservation, that we are saving hard for, in the hope we can afford one when UK pricing gets announced.

[SpeedkingUK]

Great review Tesla great cars especially the tech all the others are playing catchup

[maxflight]

So …Many journalists slate the ride on the MY.

*Let me tell you, that it’s good*

In fact compared to a 4WD car like an X3 X5 or Merc GLC it’s very good.

I think journalists are unfair to compare it to a E class or 520D . Of course it’s inferior to a 2WD 4Door saloon !

[thomassoderqvist]

Reason to buy a TMY: charger net work, roominess, effectiveness. Reason for not: comfort, head lights (strong but non adaptive), quality feeling and design. Performance is a non-issue for me as long as it is faster than my old Volvo diesels...