The hottest new Tesla that you can buy today is called the Model Y, and it is essentially a Model 3 on stilts, with a few other upgrades to go with it.
It has a $54,000 starting price, including a $1,200 destination and handling charge, which makes it around $14,000 more expensive than the Model 3 – that’s pretty substantial. Opt for the Performance variant, like KBB’s tester, which was actually a customer car, and you’re looking at another $8,000.
Video: Check Out How Fast The Tesla Model Y Performance Does The 0-60 mph And 1/4 Mile
The premium is justified by the upgraded dual electric motors and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 3.5 seconds. Flat out, it will do 145 mph (233 km/h), but wave more money at Tesla and they will raise the top speed to 155 mph (250 km/h). The base variant, on other hand, will do the 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, with a 135 mph (217 km/h) top speed. The driving range is 316 miles (509 km) in the cheaper model, and 315 miles (507 km) in the Performance.
Inside, you get a very basic layout, with a single screen sitting in the middle of the dashboard, which is used to control and access pretty much each and every function. There is no gauge cluster, so looking at right as opposed to slightly lower when driving will take time to get used to. Space at the back is quite good and so is the cargo area, but unfortunately, the Model Y doesn’t have the best build quality, despite being advertised as a premium car.
So, is the electric crossover worth the upgrade over the Model 3 or should you spend more money and get the larger Model X? That’s for you to decide, but the following review could help.