2020 Tesla Model Y

Exterior

For the first time, Tesla chose a conservative path when designing the Model Y. What you see is, by and large, the Model 3 as penned by Franz von Holzhausen, the man that’s also behind the Model S’ elegant lines. The differences are what qualify the Model Y for a place in the crossover segment: a hatchback-style back end, a stubby front end with ultra-short overhangs, and a bulbous roof for more cargo space and room for people. It’s not revolutionary, it doesn’t make your heart stop but Tesla wants to build a brand image and it can’t do that if all of its cars look different which is why the same design language was employed.

It lacks a ’mouth’ up front and, while this may upset some, we all know electric cars don’t really need them so that’s not an issue. It even has some black covers over the wheel arches and the rocker panels in an attempt to make it look more rugged but the Model Y isn’t fooling anybody - it’s as street-bound as any four-wheeled vehicle can be. Also, it’s the Y that completes Tesla’s S3XY lineup of models. I’ll leave it up to you if the Y is oozing with sex-appeal or not. I’d think is as far from being sexy as a ’60s Maserati is from reliable.

We knew a ’Model Y’ was to be offered sometime in the future ever since 2013 when the name was trademarked but it took a couple of years for Musk to throw us a bait by previewing a Model 3 with falcon-wing rear doors that immediately got us thinking of a more compact Model X. In 2017, we saw a silhouette of the car and, one year later, we found out from Musk’s mouth that it should arrive in March of 2019, which it did. We already knew by then that no falcon-wing doors were on order and we also knew it’s slated to be assembled at the Gigafactory 1 in Nevada and, in the future, at the Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China.

In the front, the Model Y features very similar cues to the Model 3. The protruding nose in between the headlights lacks a grille or even a narrow opening like on the Model X. The badge has also been moved from the reversed U-shaped nose to the lid of the front trunk. The pointy, teardrop-esque headlights are positioned on either side of the front trunk and they’re nothing more than a copy-and-paste job of the Model 3’s light clusters down to the position of the LEDs within the headlights themselves - all in a bid to reduce costs and production times and to minimize the needs of new tooling and equipment.

The lower bumper actually protrudes further than the nose which slides back in line as the upper edge of the reversed U reaches its lowest points. The lower bumper features the indicators on either side atop two slender, vertically mounted air inlets. In between, there’s a more generous trapezoidal grille with a black mesh. The blacked-out plastic add-ons curve around the front end, below the bumper.

From the side, you can easily notice the arching roofline with a curvature far more pronounced than in the case of the Model 3 which, in itself, sports a rounder roofline than the sleek Model S. The Model Y can be optioned either with blacked-out window frames or with chromed trim pieces. The diminutive rear quarter window aft of the back doors is almost triangular in shape thanks to the swooping roofline and the lower edge of the window that goes up, like on the Model 3.

The side indicators in between the front wheel arches and the front doors are the only things that adorn that panel. Towards the rear, the design line that makes the rear of the vehicle seem broader starts in the area of the back doors. As I said, black add-ons cover the edge of the wheel arches and the rocker panels all across the sides and around the back. There’s also a crease that forms in the lower part of the car in between the wheels.

The Model Y can either be had with five-spoke rims with a triangular design or the ten-spoke ones that look a bit more stylish, although not as cool as the blade rims on the Model S and Model X. Maybe some other rim designs will join the lineup in the future.

The tall back end of Tesla’s newest product isn’t a thing of beauty. For one, the angled roofline means that you have limited rear visibility and, in turn, that you have to rely on the cameras and sensors at your disposal when you want to back up. The rear fascia is essentially flat, apart from the curved spoiler incorporated in the hatchback lid.

The taillights, like the headlights, are taken straight from the Model 3’s parts bin but they don’t look out of place on the new crossover as they go around the back end with their pointy edges. The number plate is placed in between the taillights in a recessed position above the protruding rear bumper that’s partially covered by the plastic lip which features the rear hazard lights. Unlike the Model X, there’s no chromed bar to connect the taillights.

Overall, the design of the Model Y is tame, so tame that most of the renders I’ve seen that were done before the actual release of the model were bang on the money, something you don’t usually see happen. What this means is that Tesla wants to increase its efficiency (remember how they need to make 5,000 cars a week to meet demand? I’ll talk more about this below) and also create a stable brand image. It’s nothing bad but we expected more from Tesla, to be honest. I can’t say the arched roof and the stubby overhangs make for a particularly gracious car but, in the end, it’s more a bloated Model 3 than a full-blown compact SUV so I think this isn’t a surprise and, on top of that, people that buy it will buy it anyway, despite it looking maybe a bit worse than the Model X.

But you have to also take into account that Tesla wanted to keep the Model Y similar in proportions with the Model 3 - they have the same 113.2-inch wheelbase - while making it bigger on the inside and they’ve managed just that considering that, with the seats up, the Model 3 can only carry 15 cubic feet of luggage. Also, the Model Y is, reportedly, just eight inches taller than the Model 3 and this is why it doesn’t look like a proper SUV, just a ’bloated Model 3’ as I called it. It’s a clever way of making a more practical vehicle while also making it almost identical in appearance with one that’s already out there.

Interior

It should be a detective’s job to find the differences between the Model 3’s interior and the cabin of the Model Y because, frankly, there almost aren’t any. For starters, the cabin is all but devoided of buttons and everything’s been seen (and touched) before in Tesla’s compact sedan. Even the seats are the same, with the exception of the additional back row that’s foldable (completely) to create a flat surface in the trunk. The second row can also be split-folded and only then do you get the 66 cubic feet of cargo space.

Cleantechnica.com compared the Model Y’s styling with that of other, more traditional, crossover SUVs. The author points out that, for instance, the boxier Nissan Rogue, takes in no more than 70 cubic feet of cargo and those extra four cubic feet come at the expense of aerodynamic efficiency and, as such, fuel economy. The Rogue can achieve a combined fuel economy of 28 mpg and that’s oceans away from the Model Y’s 111 e-mpg as calculated by the author whose calculations are backed by Musk’s claim that the Model Y will get 90% of the mileage of the Model 3 which is 123 e-mpg.

In the same article, the Model Y is pitted against the Honda CR-V in terms of practicality and, while the Honda boasts 76 cubic feet of cargo space, you can’t seat seven people inside of it. Also, the CR-V is very slow in comparison to the Model Y (regardless of trim level) and this goes also for the bigger Passport (with up to 78 cubic feet of cargo space inside).

As I said, the Model Y interior is very simple and straight-to-the-point. When you get inside, you’ll first notice the 15-inch digital screen glued to the dashboard that’s placed horizontally, not vertically like in other Tesla’s where it also seats at an angle, resting on both the dash and the console between the seats. Depending on your wishes, you can get wood veneer on the dashboard’s center panel or other contrasting materials like the white padding seen on the launch vehicles. The rest of the dashboard, as well as the door panels, are black while the seats are white. Engadget.com reported that "the seats felt comfortable and are more utilitarian than those in other Tesla’s," upon getting a passenger ride aboard a Model Y during the car’s launch event.

To control the infotainment system, you have a few buttons on the three-spoke, Tesla-badged steering wheel and, of course, there’s the big screen itself. There are also two stocks mounted on the steering column, maybe the only truly old-school detail inside a Model Y. The center console itself also lacks buttons or knobs, it’s just sleek and painted in black. You can opt for a panoramic roof whose price is not known at the moment but, for reference, most sources claim that the price of the third row of seats is in the $3,000 region. But you do get some things right off the bat in the Performance version like the Level 2 autonomous driving system, onboard wi-fi, and a top-notch sound system.

Also, in terms of safety, the Model Y packs emergency braking systems, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning without you having to pay an extra dime. All these features are enabled by a set of rear, side, and forward facing cameras as well as a forward-facing radar that can track objects up to 525 feet ahead of the vehicle and 12 ultrasonic sensors for the detection of approaching hazards.

The Model Y won’t benefit from a ludicrous mode but, as with any Tesla, on-air updates will become available although it’s unclear what version of the infotainment system will come in standard with the Model Y once deliveries kick off in the second half of 2020.

Drivetrain

The Model Y isn’t revolutionary under the skin. In fact, it’s not even evolutionary. Tesla will most likely just use most of the drivetrain parts off the Model 3 for the new crossover SUV to cut build times and costs. Of course, there will be differences between the three (four, if you consider the Long Distance RWD and the Long Distance AWD models as being separate altogether) versions available but, in general terms, the Model Y is a bigger sibling of the Model 3 by all means.

A cost-cutting decision was made early in the design process of the Model Y when it was decided that it would not feature an all-aluminum structure and, instead, ride on a steel architecture. As per usual, the batteries are embedded in the floor. We reckon the Model Y Performance will share the Model 3 Performance’s 75 kWh battery pack to enable the 300-mile range that Tesla assures everyone of.

But the ’Standard’ version won’t go as far on one charge. That’s because the cheapest Model Y of the lot, due for the market in Spring of 2021, can only go 230 miles on a charge. You also get only one electric motor attached to the back axle but even in this ’bare’ trim it will accelerate from naught to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and go on to 120 mph. For comparison’s sake, if you want your Honda Passport to be as quick, you’ll have to pay up to $10,000 more than the $35,000 base price of a Model Y Standard. You’ll also have to pay up to $5,000 more over the next decade to feed the car with gas. However, you’ll only need to fork out $600 for electricity annually. Cleantechnica.com did the maths and the results are staggering: you’ll save $13,000 in fueling-related costs alone if you buy a Model Y and not a Passport and some $8,000 if you pick Musk’s compact crossover and not Honda’s CR-V which is a more economical vehicle than the heftier Passport.

But the Standard trim level won’t be the first you can get your hands on. In fact, as seen in the case of the Model 3, the more expensive versions will be out first. For instance, you can have as early as next year a Model Y Long Range that’ll have a 300-mile range, will reach 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, and go as fast as 130 mph at the top. There will also be an AWD, dual motor, Long Range model but, if you want it, you’ll have to make do with only 280 miles-worth of range on one charge. In exchange, you’ll benefit from a 0.7 seconds quicker acceleration and a top speed increased by 5 mph.

Finally, if you want the cream of the crop, the Performance is the model for you with dual electric motors, one on each axle, and, if it shares the motors from the Model 3 Performance, about 450 horsepower to play with. The Performance brags with a claimed 0–60mph time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 150 mph (remember that German sedans usually won’t surpass 155 mph due to that age-old gentleman’s agreement), and 280 miles on a charge.

We don’t really know much else about the drivetrain of the Model Y but we’re free to make judgments and, since we know there’s a lot of part sharing going on between the 3 and the Y, let’s suppose the two share suspension and steering components as well. The 3 is equipped with a double wishbone suspension, with a virtual steer axis in front and coil over twin-tube shocks on top of a stabilizer bar. In the rear, there’s an independent multi-link set-up, also with twin-tube shocks and a stabilizer bar. The Model 3 features variable and speed-sensitive electric power-steering.

It also must be said that the compact sedan is light by today’s standards tipping the scales at 3,549 pounds in standard trim and 3,814 pounds in Long Range guise. A Chevy Bolt EV is in the same ballpark with a curb weight of 3,563 pounds while the Model Y should be a bit heavier due to the all-steel structure (the 3 features an aluminum-bonded-steel structure) and its larger size. Expect the lightest version to not dip below 3,900 pounds in my view. A Model X weighs anywhere between 5,010 pounds (in 60D trim) and up to 5,531 pounds for the aggressively fast P100D.

2020 Tesla Model Y Performance Specs

Prices

The Tesla Model Y must be an affordable car for Musk’s masterplan to not fail. But, before the ’Standard’ version will be put into production in 2021, the first deliveries will be of the more expensive Long Range and Performance versions. The Long Range Model Y with only one motor (RWD) starts at $47,000 and, if you want two motors for a full-blown AWD experience, you’ll have to pay $51,000. The $60,000 Tesla Model Y Performance, meanwhile, comes with AWD from the get-go.

What you must remember is that almost every option costs when you buy a Tesla. For instance, only if you want your Tesla to be black you won’t be charged, every other tint costs. The 19-inch wheels also cost and the same goes for adding other trim pieces and gizmos on the inside.

Elon Musk said in a tweet that "the price of the Tesla Full Self-Driving option will increase substantially over time" and that the first price hike will occur on May 1st, 2019. Currently, the Autopilot feature will set you back $3,000 and you need to pay for it if you want the additional fully autonomous system that Musk is talking about. The price for it at the moment is $5,000 if you option it upon purchasing your Model Y (for which you must dispatch a $2,500 deposit first for a place in the queue) and a whopping $7,000 if you want it added to your car after you get it.

According to TechRadar.com, "the price hike comes as Tesla prepares to launch its new self-driving computer, which will be offered as a retrofit to customers who have already bought a car with the Full Self-Driving option." We don’t yet know how big the leap will be in terms of prices but you must keep in mind that the State’s incentives for purchasing Teslas are beginning to drain.

Jonathan wrote in an article in March 2019, that the Federal Tax Incentive started to phase out starting on January 1st for Tesla’s Model 3 which is relevant since the Federal Tax Credit amounted to $7,500 that would get slashed from the car’s asking price of $35,000 (in base trim).

Talking about price differences, the Model Y is obviously more expensive than the Model 3 but the guys over at Cleantechnica.com found out what the most cost-effective version is. They argue that, while the difference between a Model 3 and a Model Y in comparable trim level is about $2,500, the gap between a Model 3 Performance and a Model Y Performance is just $500 at the moment. This may change as Tesla is closing down stores in a bid to achieve the 100% online purchasing experience the company’s been talking about for some time. Of course, losing real-life dealerships is also a move done to slash the prices of the cars in Tesla’s lineup since Tesla bragged about the $35,000 MSRP of the base Model 3 but didn’t actually delivered since the upper-trim Model 3s were produced first and only now, in 2019, can we expect to see base trim Model 3s rolling out of the Fremont factory.

All things considered, the Performance is still a $60,000 car. Forbes points out that "with every box ticked [the Model Y is priced] at $75,000 before any (likely short-lived) EV incentives from the Feds or local governments, which at present could shave 10% or more off that number." This pushes the ’affordable’ Model Y into Audi and Jaguar territory as the new Audi e-Tron starts at $74,800 while the Jaguar I-Pace starts at just under $70,000. There’s obviously a silver lining.

The Jaguar, for instance, features "90kwh battery pack with a claimed range of 234 miles, which is down almost 50 miles from the Model Y’s average range. The Jag will also top out at just 124 miles an hour, or 11mph slower than the Model Y," according to Forbes. The Audi is just as fast as the I-Pace but, depending on the mode you choose, it can offer significantly more oomph than its British peer. Also, Audi says that the 124 mph top speed is due to "U.S. regulations that Telsa apparently forgot to read," as Forbes puts it. In any case, the Model X is the car that should be challenging the premium electric SUVs and not the Model Y which should do battle with the first car I’ve mentioned in the upcoming section - but also the other two in terms of performance and dimensions.

Business Insider is of the opinion that the Model Y is Tesla’s make-or-break car. That’s because crossover SUVs are the most popular four-wheeled things right now so, if you want to cash in, you must have a product in this segment and the Model Y slots right in. if the Model 3 proved successful, the Model Y should exceed it and that’s exactly what Musk hopes will happen.

We detailed in a piece published in October 2018 that the Model 3 has become one of the most popular sedans in the U.S. selling 55,800 units in the third quarter of 2018 alone while Nissan sold only 49,500 Sentras and Hyundai dispatched just 49,200 Elantras in Q3. And that’s at a time when the sedan market is shrinking and that of the crossovers continues to boom. It grew by 12.6% in 2018 alone according to a report by CarSalesBase.com while the compact car market lost 12.3% last year. It is, then, feasible to think that the Model Y will become Tesla’s best-selling car ever in a matter of years, if all goes well with the launch of the Standard version and if there won’t be any other bottlenecks, issues in the QC department or other things along those lines.

In spite of this, we wrote shortly after the Model Y’s unveiling that Wall Street was hesitant to buy into all the hype. So much so that Tesla’s shares dropped by 5% as the day closed on March 15th but this was largely because people expected a bombastic launch event that never happened. Of course, there are still questions looming about Tesla’s ability in the future to assemble thousands of cars per week and also in regards to its soon-to-be fully digital purchase experience (many people were left unimpressed, to say the least, about the short-lived CPO program run by Tesla online, for example) but the signs aren’t bad if you take a step back and look at the whole picture.

Competition

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Hyundai Kona Electric is a solid offering from the Korean automaker although its autonomy is unimpressive and it looks somewhat dull. The top-of-the-line Ultimate version comes with an asking price of $44,650, little over $2,000 cheaper than the RWD Long Range Model Y while the other two versions hover between $35,450 (SEL) and $42,000 (Limited). As Forbes notes, if you buy a Kona Electric you benefit not only from the Federal Credits but also from some incentives put in place by Hyundai.

This means that the Kona Electric is the choice for people that are in the market for an even cheaper electric compact crossover but with the cheaper price come some letdowns. For instance, it only packs a 64 kWh battery pack (still 4 kWh bigger than that of the Chevy Bolt though). With this being said, the Kona Electric can go 258 miles on a charge which is 28 miles more than the Model Y Standard will do when released. Also, the single electric motor puts out 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet which means the car is bog slow but you won’t buy it hoping Tesla-like performance nor should you look forward to Tesla-like autonomous features.

You do get, though, an eight-inch digital display inside, the standard safety paraphernalia like the lane assist and collision warning systems, LED lights, and a heads-up display. No on-air updates, obviously, but not everybody buys a car in the hope that the next system update will hide cheeky easter eggs like the fart app in a Tesla.

Read our full review of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric

2020 Polestar 2

If you like the idea of a sedan-looking crossover but you don’t like how much the Model Y resembles an egg, you could try the brand-new Polestar 2. The Polestar is a much more angular car with an aggressive fascia and a down-to-earth grille-like thing in between the multi-faceted headlights. You can say both these cars draw out the masterplan for yet another niche, one that was maybe previewed by BMW’s horrendous-looking 3 Series GT and 5 Series GT as we underlined in a comparison piece.

The interior of the Polestar is, as expected, taken straight from Volvo’s book on automotive interiors and what this means is that it’s adequately somber while also looking a lot more traditional in style (you have buttons and knobs on the center console, on the door panels, and typical air vents) than the Model Y’s that’s futuristic in its simplicity or, should we call it, minimalistic approach.

While the Model Y will eventually be available with three drivetrain options, the Polestar 2 offers one. That one sports two electric motors that put out a combined 402 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. This, in turn, enables a sprint from naught to 60 mph in under five seconds. We don’t know as of yet how fast the Polestar 2 will be but it must be in the region of 124 to 135 mph. With such numbers, the Polestar 2 effectively threatens the Model Y Long Range AWD version and the range is comparable too at 278 miles on a charge (power coming from a 78 kWh battery pack). The price, too, will be comparable as Polestar announced a base MSRP of $45,000 although you can only order the $80,000 Launch Edition at the moment.

Charging-wise, the Polestar 2 can make use of 150 kW charging ports. Tesla benefits from the American manufacturer soon-to-be extensive network of ’Superchargers’. These electric recharge stations with their 250-kW charging capability (the V3 ones for which you need particular firmware to use that will probably come standard with the Model Y) surpass what other manufacturers have put in place. Musk hopes to have a network of 12,000 of ’Superchargers’ in place in the near future.

Read our full review of the 2020 Polestar 2

2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Porsche will blast into the EV scene with the Taycan four-door grand tourer but, close behind, a Cross Turismo version is in the pipeline of the Stuttgart-based automaker. The crossover version of the Taycan should arrive in late 2020 as a 2021 model year car and we think it may be the biggest rival of the Model Y Performance, one that could push Tesla to enable some sort of Ludicrous mode for the Model X’s baby brother too.

We’ve only seen some spy shots of a slightly jacked-up test mule so far plus the odd sneak preview and, also, the E-Cross Turismo Concept unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Auto Show. Putting everything together, I’d say that Porsche will go for the same sort of roofline with a highly slanted rear window as Tesla and Polestar (among others). It will also most probably feature the same drivetrain as the Taycan because, why not? If the tech is there, why not share it and save costs along the way.

The Taycan will come in a number of guises with its two electric motors offering up to 600 horsepower when working together in AWD mode. Expect the Cross Turismo to traverse at least 250 miles on a charge if the slightly lighter Taycan will be able to go 280-300 miles on one big sip of electric juice. The catch is that the Porsche should be a lot more expensive with prices for a Taycan said to start at about $85,000 or $17,000 more than a base Model S but, given it’s Porsche and Porsche knows how to ask money for everything, the top line trim level will probably set you back $180,000 or more and that’s the price of a small fleet of ’Standard’ Model Ys. In other words, you can buy jam-packed Taycan or start your own car-sharing company with Model Ys for about the same amount of money.

Read our full review of the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Conclusion

The Model Y might not set the world on fire upon release but it might when it will hit the market. The ingredients are all there: Tesla should’ve learned from all of its mistakes, be it QC-related, selling-related or, generally, in terms of what’s needed to build a successful automaker and this means the Model Y should hit the ground running. Given that people won’t stop buying crossovers anytime soon and that Tesla fans are incredibly devoted to the brand, you should see the Model Y sell like hotcakes and, maybe, even confirm Musk’s prophecy of outselling any other Tesla model.

Tesla needs this car to be a success and, if it won’t be, it’ll first have itself to blame because, right now, they have the market to themselves if no delays are on order. If, however, delays do happen or if the production rate falls behind, Tesla might be in trouble.

With that in mind, Tesla is going to be fighting an uphill battle and could find itself in trouble once mainstream automakers are all up in the kiddie pool that is the electric car market. And that raises a big question about the future: If Tesla isn’t the only option for an affordable, electric vehicle with decent range, will customers still gravitate to it and offer up their money long before they ever take possession of the car, or will they just drive to the nearest BMW, Mercedes, or Volkswagen dealer and come home with a new ride? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

• Love it
  • Looks almost like a sedan but it’s roomier
  • Affordable but also interesting to drive and quick
  • Could be a best-seller in no-time if all goes well
• Leave it
  • Not really a looker, a bit boring
  • If delays happen, Tesla is in trouble
  • Once others catch up, you might want to overlook the Model Y

Further reading

2016 Tesla Model X

2018 Tesla Model 3