Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a high performance SUV crammed with advanced technology

Overview

In 2022, the Tesla Model Y has finally reached the shores of the UK. It’s Tesla’s fourth electric car and benefits from all of the experience and know-how garnered from the first three.

What kind of car is the Tesla Model Y? If you’re familiar with the Model 3 – which is a low-slung saloon – the Y is taller and brings the advantages of an SUV shape, not least a hatchback boot.

There are three versions: the entry Base version, Long Range and Performance. The last two variants are all-wheel-drive (AWD), whereas the entry version is rear-wheel-drive.

Not surprisingly, the Long Range version has the best range (331 miles, officially), while the Performance variant goes like a rocket (0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds). The base model is no slouch at 6.6 seconds. All of Tesla’s cars are fast – very fast.

Inside it very much follows the Tesla design ethos: ultra-minimalist décor, very few buttons, and the dominance of the central touchscreen to control most of the Model Y’s settings.

There are five external colours to choose from (white, black, grey, blue or red), plus two internal trim options (all black, or black and white).

Wheels? 19-inch or 20-inch are available for the Base model and Long Range, with the Performance version topping the lot at 21-inch.

If you’re into camping (no comment), the Model Y can tow up to 1,600 kg with an optional tow hitch.

At the moment, the Y comes as a 5-seater, though 7 seats are technically possible, and we may get that configuration in the UK in due course.

Summary: Like all Teslas, the Model Y is an absolute joy to drive and show off to the neighbours. Engaging Autopilot, where the car pretty much drives itself on motorways (keep your hands on the wheel, please), is a delight. With over-the-air software updates, you get brand new features every four weeks or so. Don’t forget the Supercharger network for always-working rapid chargers on long trips. You also get that hatchback boot which the Model 3 doesn’t have.

The Tesla Model Y is not cheap, but it will sell very well, and if you get one you will be a member of the exclusive Tesla club.

Tesla Model Y Price UK, Trims & Variants

The price of the Tesla Model Y, including the government grant (where applicable), starts at £44,990 for the RWD trim, and goes up to £59,990 for the top spec Performance AWD trim. Here are all the variants:

Trim / Variant	Price	Drivetrain
RWD	£44,990	Rear-wheel-drive
Long Range AWD	£52,990	All-wheel-drive
Performance AWD	£59,990	All-wheel-drive

Model Y Range & Batteries

How far can you drive on a full charge of the battery in the Tesla Model Y? In ideal conditions, you should be able to achieve the official ‘WLTP’ range in miles. However in winter, for example, electric car batteries don’t perform as well, and actual range will be lower.

This table shows both the more optimistic WLTP range, and a rough, more likely ‘average’ range for the various versions of the Tesla Model Y:

Trim / Variant	Battery (useable)	Average Range	WLTP Range
RWD	57.5 kWh	232 miles	283 miles
Long Range AWD	75 kWh	271 miles	331 miles
Performance AWD	75 kWh	262 miles	319 miles

Efficiency

We are all used to ‘miles per gallon’ of petrol or diesel when thinking about efficiency in traditional cars. With EVs, you need to replace ‘gallon’ with ‘kWh’. 1 kWh = 1 unit of electricity. So the ‘miles per kWh’ measure tells you how many miles you can go on 1 kWh of electricity – the higher the number the better.

Here’s data for the Tesla Model Y, together with an equivalent in miles per gallon (yes, electric cars really are that efficient!):

Trim / Variant	Efficiency (electric)	Efficiency ('MPG')
RWD	4.04 miles per kWh	161 miles per gallon
Long Range AWD	3.62 miles per kWh	145 miles per gallon
Performance AWD	3.49 miles per kWh	140 miles per gallon

Charging Times & Costs

If you have off-street parking, the best and cheapest place to charge your Tesla Model Y is at home. Depending on your home energy tariff, you’ll either charge at a standard flat rate or at a lower off-peak rate. The 0-100% charge times below are a ‘worst case’ scenario – typically you will charge 1-2 hours a day, or maybe go for a longer charge on just a couple of days a week.

Charging at Home on an Off-peak rate of 10p per kWh

Trim / Variant	Charge Time 0-100%	Cost per mile
RWD	7 hours 46 minutes	2.5p
Long Range AWD	10 hours 8 minutes	2.8p
Performance AWD	10 hours 8 minutes	2.9p

Charging at Home on a Peak rate of 34p per kWh

Trim / Variant	Charge Time 0-100%	Cost per mile
RWD	7 hours 46 minutes	8.4p
Long Range AWD	10 hours 8 minutes	9.4p
Performance AWD	10 hours 8 minutes	9.8p

When you’re on a trip, you can get a quick boost at a rapid charger. These vary in terms of charging speed and you are also limited by the Model Y’s maximum charging rate, although there are very few charging stations in the UK at the moment that can provide a charge faster than the Model Y can take it. Charge at Tesla’s own Supercharger network wherever possible and you will find reliable chargers and generally lower prices. Take the 10-80% charging times with a pinch of salt – the charging rate will gradually decrease and times are often longer.

Charging in Public at a 50 kW Rapid Charger at a rate of 50p per kWh

Trim / Variant	Max DC charge	Charge Time 10-80%	Cost per mile
RWD	175 kW	49 minutes	12.4p
Long Range AWD	250 kW	1 hour 3 minutes	13.8p
Performance AWD	250 kW	1 hour 3 minutes	14.3p

Charging in Public at a 150 kW Rapid Charger at a rate of 60p per kWh

Trim / Variant	Max DC charge	Charge Time 10-80%	Cost per mile
RWD	175 kW	16 minutes	14.9p
Long Range AWD	250 kW	21 minutes	16.6p
Performance AWD	250 kW	21 minutes	17.2p

Charging in Public at a 350 kW Rapid Charger at a rate of 70p per kWh

Trim / Variant	Max DC charge	Charge Time 10-80%	Cost per mile
RWD	175 kW	14 minutes	17.3p
Long Range AWD	250 kW	13 minutes	19.3p
Performance AWD	250 kW	13 minutes	20.1p

Performance

The Tesla Model Y, like all pure electric cars, has its wheels turned by one or more electric motors. The motors themselves are powered by a lithium-ion battery. Battery + electric motor is a great combination, giving you instant torque with no gears to change.

You’ll find the Tesla Model Y eerily quiet after an internal combustion engine. Here are the performance stats:

Trim / Variant	Top Speed	0-62 mph
RWD	135 mph	6.6 seconds
Long Range AWD	135 mph	4.8 seconds
Performance AWD	155 mph	3.5 seconds

Tesla Model Y Boot Space & Dimensions

The Tesla Model Y is an SUV, and its boot space can be further increased by folding the rear seats down. The boot really is cavernous. You can also lift up the boot floor to reveal even more space below.

There’s tons of room for rear passengers, too. Lots of leg and head room. There is no bar across the panoramic sunroof in the middle (which you get with the Model 3) which means passengers in the back get an unadulterated view of the sky. Lovely.

Here are all the boot and dimensions measurements:

Boot Space & Cargo Volume

Trim / Variant	Boot Space	Cargo Volume (seats down)
RWD	854 litres	2,158 litres
Long Range AWD	854 litres	2,158 litres
Performance AWD	854 litres	2,158 litres

Dimensions

Trim / Variant	Length	Width	Height
RWD	4751 mm	1921 mm	1624 mm
Long Range AWD	4751 mm	1921 mm	1624 mm
Performance AWD	4751 mm	1921 mm	1624 mm

Next Steps

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief analysis of the Tesla Model Y. We’ve tried to focus mainly on potentially unfamiliar electric car related items – such as batteries, range and charging – rather than trot out the usual car review platitudes.

Where to next?

1. Narrow down your EV search in a systematic way using our Car Selector tool
2. Read more about the Model Y at Tesla’s UK website
3. If you’re ready to go, consider leasing the Tesla Model Y from a low-cost broker