Tesla appears to make headlines each few weeks with changes to its pricing, however the newest minimize actually received folks pondering.
That’s as a result of the US model minimize the price of its China-made Mannequin Y electrical SUV to a staggeringly low degree – $55,900 earlier than on-road prices.
The model is consistently kicking the pricing ball round, and that certainly leaves a nasty style within the mouths of those that simply took supply of their base mannequin Mannequin Y – and spent $5000 extra to take action.
However – ethics of epic worth changes apart – is the bottom 2024 Tesla Mannequin Y RWD the most effective electrical SUV you will get for this kinda cash?
How does the Tesla Mannequin Y evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Tesla Mannequin Y towards equally sized autos.
Tesla
Mannequin Y
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin Y value?
The bottom Mannequin Y RWD is now $5000 cheaper than it was only a few weeks in the past.
| Mannequin Variant | $RRP |
|---|---|
| 2024 Tesla Mannequin Y RWD | $55,900 (-$5000) |
| 2024 Tesla Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary AWD | $69,900 (-$8500) |
| 2024 Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency AWD | $82,900 (-$8500) |
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s the Tesla Mannequin Y like on the within?
You’re both going to be okay with the whole lot being on that central display, otherwise you’re not!
Whereas there could be aftermarket parts you possibly can add to this automobile – reminiscent of a head-up show, or a small digital speedometer you possibly can put in entrance of the steering wheel – usability would possibly nonetheless go away a little bit bit to be desired relying on what you want if you’re driving.
For me, I’d a lot favor to have a head-up show or a dashboard binnacle to inform me a bit extra info straight in my line of sight, however I do discover that I get used to leaping again right into a Tesla fairly rapidly and the very fact the pace readout is comparatively near your line of sight does imply that it’s not that huge of a deal.
The display actually does take some getting used to, as a result of there are seemingly hundreds of various choices and menus so that you can dive and delve into, and whilst you do get used to it – for anybody who hasn’t lived with Tesla – I counsel getting a extremely thorough run by from somebody who is aware of!
There’s nonetheless a simple fast choice bar down the underside along with your local weather, quantity and shortcut buttons on your automobile menus, and a number of different media controls as effectively.
Now the display may undoubtedly put you off, nevertheless it’s probably the most divisive factor in regards to the cabin actually.
Not less than this mannequin nonetheless comes with a gear selector stalk as a substitute of the on-screen gear selector within the up to date Mannequin 3 – although that can nearly definitely be utilized to the up to date model of the mannequin Y due subsequent yr.
You’ve nonetheless received a traditional wiper and indicator stalk as effectively, however if you wish to arrange your steering wheel and all of your mirrors, you’ll have to use the steering wheel dials in addition to the touchscreen to take action.
What’s lacking a little bit bit within the cabin is a few degree of pleasure.
Whereas the wooden trim end on the dashboard and the “open area” idea would possibly nonetheless be interesting, the Mannequin 3 does make this SUV really feel a little bit bit older now as a result of it nonetheless doesn’t get the good ambient mild contact the cheaper automobile does.
Talking of the inside ending, the trim and the eye to element is kind of good, and I like the very fact there’s a pretend leather-based end on the seats and a few Alcantara-ish trimming on the door playing cards, which provides to the worth issue by way of inside really feel.
Add to that you simply’ve received a double wi-fi charging bay, an enormous storage part between the entrance seats, a pair of cupholders, and a coated centre console bin, in addition to massive lined bottle holders within the doorways. It looks like a fairly considerate place.
On high of all that there’s a extremely robust commonplace stereo system on this automobile which has bass and good readability to it.
Within the again there’s a good quantity of area for somebody my measurement – I’m 182cm or 6’0” tall – and I can simply slide in behind my very own driver’s seat place with room to spare.
The entrance seats are fairly skinny within the backrest, which does assist in that regard, and in addition there’s a extremely good quantity of area within the second row for adults and kids alike.
There are ISOFIX factors within the window seats and high tether factors as effectively for all three again seats.
Whereas some folks would possibly discover the glass roof with no shade questionable, I didn’t have any points with it feeling too scorching within the again, and it does add an airiness to the cabin.
There are facilities within the again together with USB-C ports, directional air occasions, and all three rear seats have heating like these upfront. However annoyingly, there are not any overhead seize handles for any seating place within the automobile.
One of many greatest occasion methods of the Mannequin Y although is the quantity of storage on supply. Within the backseat there are map pockets and a flip down armrest with cupholders, in addition to door pockets.
Within the boot there’s a enormous quantity of area. Tesla states there’s 854 litres of cargo capability with the rear seats up, together with the frunk (underneath bonnet storage), or an enormous 2158L with the rear seats folded.
What which means in actuality is the usual boot structure permits sufficient room for baggage for a household of 4 for a weekend away, and for those who want much more you possibly can raise up the ground part within the again and reveal a effectively beneath behind the rear axle that permits you much more storage capability.
In case you want much more, you may put your cost cables or another objects within the entrance trunk of the Mannequin Y, and that looks like a extremely helpful further area for safe storage. However, keep in mind, for those who purchase a Mannequin Y, it’s a must to pay additional on your cables!
Additionally, no spare tyre – for those who get a flat, it’s a must to name roadside help as a result of there’s not even a tyre restore package!
| Dimensions | Tesla Mannequin Y RWD |
|---|---|
| Size | 4750mm |
| Width | 1978mm |
| Top | 1624mm |
| Wheelbase | 2890mm |
| Boot capability | 854-2158 litres |
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
There’s a single electrical motor, and a single-speed transmission with rear-wheel drive.
Tesla doesn’t state its energy and torque figures, however trade knowledge suggests the Mannequin Y RWD has 220kW of energy, and the model itself affords a 0-100km/h declare of 6.9 seconds.
The Mannequin Y RWD has a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, with a claimed WLTP rated vary of 455km. That’s a smaller battery pack than different fashions within the vary, nevertheless it additionally will get the LFP chemistry which is reportedly extra amenable to fixed full charging with out as notable depletion.
The utmost DC charging capability for the bottom mannequin is 170kW, lower than the higher-grade variations (250kW), and it may well recharge in a claimed 27 minutes. On AC energy it may well recharge at 7.4kW on a single-phase electrical supply, or as much as 11kW on three-phase.
The rated effectivity of the Tesla Mannequin Y RWD is 14.6kWh per 100km, which appears distinctive on paper. In actuality, over my few days of testing, I noticed 15.7kWh per 100km on the show – however what shocked me is that the battery vary was depleting method quicker than that effectivity quantity prompt!
I used 67 per cent of the battery to do exactly 140km, that means a full cost was on observe to internet simply 210km, even with probably the most assertive regen braking in play.
How does the Tesla Mannequin Y drive?
The Mannequin Y is usually inoffensive in terms of the drive expertise, though there are some issues that sure patrons would possibly discover a little bit bit irritating at instances.
Firstly the steering, which even in its most lenient resistance mode – Consolation – remains to be very direct, and makes you are feeling such as you type of must be in your tippy toes with the steering.
The advantage of it’s the response of this automobile is superb, with good fast actions to reverse parallel park. It’s additionally very manoeuvrable at decrease speeds. But it surely does really feel a bit like a online game at tempo.
It doesn’t have a correct surround-view digicam system, nor standard blind-spot monitoring (with little icons within the mirrors that mild up when there’s one thing in your blind spot – as a substitute it exhibits a digicam picture within the center display, which is nowhere close to as protected, for my part) and I believe it isn’t fairly as city pleasant consequently.
That centre show additionally tells you if there are folks or cyclists round with illustrated characters close to the automobile if the cameras detect them, and whereas Alex the photographer and I had been out with this automobile, the system seemingly thought that the person photographer was 10 cyclists and pedestrians directly all in a cluster.
The earlier model of the Mannequin Y was unrelentingly arduous by way of its suspension, and whereas this one is best, it’s nonetheless maybe not as effectively balanced by way of journey consolation in comparison with one thing like a Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5. It does, nonetheless, deal with itself effectively in corners, with a low centre of gravity that makes it really feel fairly flat within the bends.
Even this base mannequin single-motor model may be very highly effective, and actually does supply plenty of response from a standstill or at a rolling begin. It’s easy and progressive in the best way it accelerates, particularly for those who take it out of Chill mode and put it into Commonplace.
There is no such thing as a super-duper quick mode on this model, however that’s no unhealthy factor I don’t assume, and it nonetheless has a really speedy response to throttle inputs.
On high of that there’s a really user-friendly and straightforward to handle regenerative braking system, which by no means looks like it’s too abrasive by way of the one-pedal drive expertise. It additionally has among the many finest usability of any EV at low speeds in terms of merely utilizing the accelerator to sluggish you down relatively than having to get on the brakes.
There are three regen modes: Creep – which is able to slowly transfer ahead; Roll – which rolls when pedals launched; and Maintain – most assertive in its motion. I had it in Maintain more often than not.
Now, the following bit may simply be person error as a result of Tesla controls are a little bit bit totally different to get used to, however I had some points with the semi-autonomous techniques on this automobile.
The “Visitors Conscious Cruise Management” (adaptive cruise management) was what I reverted to, as a result of the Auto Steer (Beta) system was vulnerable to decelerate for no motive in tunnels … identical to the Mannequin 3 I examined a few months in the past.
On the freeway, the highway noise suppression on this automobile was a spotlight. There’s barely any noticeable highway noise even on rougher surfaces in comparison with among the rivals on the market.
It nearly feels prefer it has an echo chamber high quality to it within the cabin – you possibly can actually hear your self and others speak, which is a pleasant factor that another reasonably priced EVs don’t prioritise.
What do you get?
On take a look at right here is the entry-level Mannequin Y RWD.
Tesla Mannequin Y RWD highlights:
- 19-inch ‘Gemini’ wheels (now in all black)
- Tinted glass roof
- Energy-folding, auto-dimming and heated facet mirrors
- Ground mats
- Leatherette inside upholstery
- 12-way energy adjustable entrance seats
- 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 13-speaker audio system
- Wi-fi charger for 2 smartphones
- 4 x USB-C ports
- 1 x USB-A port in glovebox
- Energy-adjustable entrance seats
- Heated entrance and rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- HEPA filtration system
- Tesla app connectivity
Choices embody:
- 20-inch induction wheels: $2400 (RWD, Lengthy Vary)
- White and black inside: $1500
- Enhanced Autopilot: $5100
- Navigate on Autopilot
- Auto Lane Change
- Autopark
- Summon
- Sensible Summon
- Full Self-Driving ($10,100) will add (if/when authorised to be used on Australian roads):
- Visitors mild and cease signal management
- Auto steer on metropolis streets
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
Is the Tesla Mannequin Y protected?
The Tesla Mannequin Y wears a five-star ANCAP security score with 2022 datestamp.
It scored 97 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 89 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 82 per cent for susceptible highway person safety, and 98 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security options embody:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Ahead, Reverse
- Automobile detection
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Junction help
- Blind-spot help
- Lane preserve help
- Reverse, facet view cameras
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Automated high-beam
- Clever pace limiter
There are seven airbags fitted – twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance facet, and curtain airbags. Another automobiles on this class supply facet airbags for rear occupants, and/or a driver’s knee airbag.
There is no such thing as a typical ‘{surround} view’ digicam system for this automobile, nevertheless it does have the aptitude to watch its environment utilizing ‘Sentry Mode’ which might function when parked in public or at house.
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin Y value to run?
Purchase a Mannequin Y and also you solely get a four-year/80,000km guarantee in Australia.
The Mannequin Y RWD’s battery is backed by an eight-year or 160,000km guarantee, whichever comes first. The Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary and Efficiency batteries are coated for eight years or 192,000km.
In the course of the guarantee interval, Tesla Australia ensures the battery will retain a minimal of 70 per cent capability.
Servicing? There are not any set intervals, however for those who want one thing checked in your Tesla, you possibly can name the service hotline and so they’ll ship somebody to you.
The model recommends you keep watch over your tyre put on (as you’d), and alter cabin filters each two years, whereas a brake fluid take a look at needs to be completed each 4 years.
The opposite huge consideration for patrons is that being a Tesla buyer will get you entry to extra Supercharger stations throughout the nation. Meaning it may make a much better companion for a single-car household.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Tesla Mannequin Y
The Tesla Mannequin Y RWD is a spectacular EV for somebody who’s after a sensible and pragmatic electrical SUV for his or her household.
It’s clear that is one in every of most well-rounded and interesting EVs in the marketplace, even when it’s not probably the most thrilling EV to take a seat in.
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