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You’re Australia’s favorite electrical car (EV).
The Tesla Mannequin Y is a gross sales large each globally and in Australia, the place EV adoption might not be as quick as in another nations, but it nonetheless ranks as one of many nation’s hottest mid-size SUVs – electrical or not.
What makes it so good? Attainable pricing, benchmark EV know-how and the burden the Tesla model has held for years as a trailblazer have little question been driving forces, even when fanfare for its CEO has waned of late.
Nonetheless, even with demand slowing, the Mannequin Y stays a really sturdy vendor with 13,310 new examples registered up to now this 12 months to the tip of August, placing it nicely forward of another electrical automobile at the moment on sale.
Competitors is heating up although, as is the pricing warfare. Extra Chinese language challengers are coming to chop the Mannequin Y’s lunch, as are recent gamers from Europe – together with Skoda’s lately introduced cut-price Elroq and Enyaq.
Watch: Paul’s video evaluation of the Mannequin Y RWD
Earlier this 12 months the much-anticipated ‘Juniper’ facelift arrived in Australia, bringing numerous developments in response to buyer suggestions to “make the best-selling automobile on this planet even higher”.
Tesla has since introduced a brand new Efficiency model that’s due Down Underneath imminently, whereas at a world degree the brand new three-row Mannequin Y L with six seats has up to now been launched in China – however stays TBC for Australia.
So, ought to the top-selling Tessie nonetheless be on the high of your procuring listing for those who’re searching for a brand new EV?
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin Y value?
Costs for the Mannequin Y went up with the mid-life replace, however that additionally coincided with extra gear in addition to upgrades to the drivetrain and battery tech.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Mannequin Y Rear-Wheel Drive | $58,900 |
| 2026 Tesla Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary All-Wheel Drive | $68,900 |
| 2026 Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency All-Wheel Drive | $89,400 |
On check right here we’ve the entry-level Mannequin Y RWD, priced from $58,900 earlier than on-road prices – although the car you see right here was fitted with numerous choices.
Stealth Gray premium paint ($1900), 20-inch alloy wheels ($2400) and the optionally available Black and White inside ($1500) all quantity to $5800 in further package, bringing the whole worth to $64,700 plus on-roads.
In order for you Full Self Driving (Supervised), that’ll be a further $10,100. The Enhanced Autopilot possibility (beforehand $5100) was discontinued after September.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
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What’s the Tesla Mannequin Y like on the within?
Tesla’s pared again, screen-dependent inside strikes once more.
With the optionally available Black and White inside ($1500), the Mannequin Y cabin offers off the vibe of a minimalistic designer lounge. The vibe is clear and easy whereas additionally being fairly elegant and giving the notion of excessive construct construct.
It’s clear Tesla has come a great distance for the reason that previous US-built Mannequin S and X from final decade, and even early variations of the Mannequin 3. You don’t discover poorly fitted trims and the like as of late, and it definitely feels nearly premium.
No standard instrument cluster means your consideration is shortly drawn to the 15.4-inch central touchscreen, which appears to be like like an enormous iPad that’s been glued to the sprint. Beneath which are a pair of wi-fi telephone chargers that additionally double up as storage trays.
The touchscreen is fantastically vivid with crisp graphics and vibrant colors. Tesla’s interface could be very completely different to most different manufacturers, and as such could be a little tough or overwhelming at first – even for millennial me.
A everlasting digital toolbar on the base of the display screen means that you can preserve key capabilities and up to date apps inside attain, in addition to fast entry to the screen-embedded local weather controls.
Whereas it doesn’t take too lengthy to familiarize yourself with the setup, it’s troublesome when it comes time to regulate issues just like the place of the steering wheel or mirrors, as a result of it’s a must to dive by way of a cluttered menu of settings to take action, which we discover a bit of counter-intuitive.
On the subject of fiddly touchscreen controls, I’m not a fan of the drive selector being a ‘swipe up for Drive’ and ‘swipe down for Reverse’. Fast three-point turns and parking manoeuvres take that little bit longer as a result of there’s not a bodily selector.
Storage is fairly good, as on high of the aforementioned telephone charging trays there are deep cubbies within the centre console, plus massive cupholders with grips. Huge door bins bolster the storage choices additional.
The rear seats supply good room for even taller adults like 6’1″ me. Usually a panoramic sunroof would eat into rear headroom, however the tinted glass sans shade scallops out more room within the roof.
When you have longer limbs like me although, you may discover the marginally raised flooring offers you a little bit of a ‘knees up’ seating place, however the flat flooring and open glasshouse gives the impression of airiness and house.
There’s a brand new 8.0-inch touchscreen behind the centre console, which controls second-row local weather and seat heating, and there are additionally extra distinctive options like a video participant and video video games to maintain rear passengers entertained.
It additionally helps Bluetooth for 2 headsets, and beneath it are two USB-C cost ports. The driving force continues to be the boss although, because the rear-facing display screen may be monitored and locked by way of the primary show up entrance.
For fogeys, the optionally available white leatherette upholstery might not be appropriate to messy children, however you’ll discover ISOFIX youngster seat anchors on the outboard rear seats and top-tether factors for all three seating positions. You’ll additionally discover a fold-down armrest within the center, incorporating two cupholders.
Tesla quotes a capacious 938 litres of cargo quantity with the rear seats in play, measured to the roofline of the boot space quite than the highest of the seatbacks. It expands to 2022L with them folded.
Nonetheless, the slab-sided rear tailgate gives loads of vertical cargo house inside, even with the load cowl in place. Moreover, there are two deeper nooks on both aspect of the primary flooring, and a powered tailgate as commonplace.
Underneath the boot flooring you’ll discover a surprisingly deep cubby, which is a perfect house to stow smaller luggage or charging cables. As is the case for many EVs, significantly at this worth level, a tyre restore package is all you have got within the occasion of a puncture.
The identical may be mentioned for the 88L under-bonnet cupboard space, which isn’t monumental however is lined with sturdy plastic, making it acceptable for stowing smaller odds and ends.
| Dimensions | Tesla Mannequin Y |
|---|---|
| Size | 4792mm |
| Width | 1982mm |
| Peak | 1624mm |
| Weight | 1921kg – RWD 1992kg – Lengthy Vary AWD |
| Wheelbase | 2890mm |
| Space for storing | 938-2022L – boot 88L – frunk |
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The bottom Tesla Mannequin Y is powered by a single electrical motor driving the rear axle, fed by a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
| Specs | Tesla Mannequin Y RWD |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single motor, rear-mounted |
| Battery | 60kWh LFP |
| Energy | 255kW |
| Torque | 450Nm |
| Drive kind | Rear-wheel drive |
| Tare mass | 1921kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.9s |
| Vitality consumption (claimed) | – |
| Vitality consumption (as examined) | 15.3kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary (WLTP) | 466km |
| Max DC cost price | 175kW |
For reference, our indicated effectivity determine was obtained after 605.2km of driving throughout a wide range of circumstances, together with a excessive portion of freeway and freeway driving combined with suburban commuting to and from the Melbourne CBD.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How does the Tesla Mannequin Y drive?
This was my first correct expertise with a Mannequin Y, so I used to be wanting to know what all of the fuss is about, and to see whether or not Tesla has addressed key criticisms from our earlier evaluations.
Past the revised design, Tesla says essentially the most substantial modifications have come underneath the pores and skin to enhance journey, dealing with and common cabin refinement on the transfer.
Earlier iterations of the Mannequin Y, and to a lesser extent the pre-facelift Mannequin 3 sedan, have been extensively criticised for his or her overtly agency journey which actually damage passenger consolation – as you’ll know for those who’ve ever ridden at the back of one as an Uber.
Fortunately, the corporate’s claims aren’t simply claims. The brand new Mannequin Y is notably extra compliant and cozy, each round city and on the freeway, even when it nonetheless errs on the firmer aspect – particularly on the optionally available 20-inch wheels fitted to our tester.
It isn’t as outright good because the Mannequin 3 that I lately drove, nevertheless it definitely feels nothing just like the Mannequin Ys I’ve been a passenger in beforehand.
What shocked me extra, nevertheless, was the Mannequin Y’s nimbleness and eagerness to vary route, because of its responsive steering rack and small-diameter, video game-like steering wheel.
It’s an easy automobile to evaluate and place regardless of its substantial dimension, whereas that taut chassis tune gives tight physique management that resists lateral forces nicely and gives a common feeling of athleticism.
That mentioned, there’s not an entire lot of life or soul that comes by way of the motive force controls. It’s splendidly competent for on a regular basis situations, nevertheless it’s not going to be on my listing of SUVs to take up a mountain cross, for instance.
Additionally value reward is the brand new Mannequin Y’s wonderful noise suppression. Tesla says it has overhauled the suspension to scale back highway noise by 22 per cent, and that’s definitely evident behind the wheel.
Whereas my younger colleague Max Davies complained about rear visibility because of the slim windshield, it’s definitely no worse than quite a lot of different coupe-style SUV designs of late.
The aspect and rear quarter home windows are fairly massive and supply good over-the-shoulder visibility, and once you’re reversing the digital camera system is ok – although I’d favor a traditional encompass digital camera system than Tesla’s funky rear and aspect views which create a sonar-like show of the car’s environment.
Now, Tesla’s driver help techniques and autonomous driving functionality claims are sometimes the topic of controversy, however I got here away largely impressed with the user-friendliness of the Mannequin Y’s energetic assists.
We drove the Mannequin Y previous to the supply of Full Self Driving (Supervised), however our check car was fitted with Autopilot (Beta) with Auto Lane Change, which give it a lot of the similar capabilities however not the flexibility to function with none driver enter by any means.
I’m not one to brighten or give faint reward, however the Mannequin Y’s adaptive cruise and lane centring techniques are among the many finest I’ve examined, aside from them disengaging for those who apply steering intervention.
It’ll deal with nearly any state of affairs or manoeuvre with nearly human-like smoothness and intuitiveness, and the real-time graphics on the touchscreen present good context about what’s round you.
The dearth of clear labelling on the steering controls is my major gripe, although you get accustomed to the pc mouse wheel-like controls which are used to toggle quite a few capabilities.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What do you get?
2026 Tesla Mannequin Y RWD gear highlights:
- 19-inch ‘Crossflow’ wheels
- Full-width LED entrance and back lights
- Computerized high-beam
- Acoustic glass with UV safety
- Low and commonplace regenerative braking modes
- Energy-folding, auto-dimming and heated aspect mirrors
- Black leather-based upholstery
- Energy-adjustable entrance seats
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Energy-reclining rear seats
- Heated rear seats
- 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wi-fi smartphone charger
- 9-speaker sound system
- 8.0-inch rear touchscreen
- incl. assist for 2 Bluetooth headsets
- Ambient inside lighting
- Panoramic glass roof
- Canine Mode (maintains cabin temperature)
- Energy tailgate
Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary provides:
- 15+1 audio system
- Acceleration enhance
Mannequin Y Efficiency provides:
- 21-inch ‘Arachnid’ alloy wheels
- Distinctive entrance and rear bumpers
- Black mirror caps and rear spoiler
- Adaptive suspension
- 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Carbon-fibre inside trim
- Entrance sports activities seats
- Thigh extenders
- Heating
- Air flow
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Choices
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Enhanced Autopilot: $5100
- “Driver-initiated assisted driving from freeway on-ramp to off-ramp, lane modifications and overtaking”
- Autopark
- Dumb Summon and Truly Sensible Summon (accessible later, pending regulatory approval)
Full Self-Driving (Supervised): $10,100
Single-item choices embody:
- Diamond Black or Glacier Blue paint: $1500 (RWD, Lengthy Vary)
- Stealth Gray paint: $1900 (RWD, Lengthy Vary)
- Quicksilver or Extremely Pink paint: $2500 (RWD, Lengthy Vary)
- Black and White inside: $1500
- 20-inch Helix 2.0 wheels: $2400
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Is the Tesla Mannequin Y protected?
The pre-facelift Tesla Mannequin Y obtained a five-star ANCAP security score in 2022, based mostly on checks carried out by Euro NCAP. It’s not but clear whether or not this score carries throughout to the up to date mannequin.
| Class | Tesla Mannequin Y |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 97 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Weak highway person safety | 82 per cent |
| Security help | 98 per cent |
Normal security gear contains:
- 7 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Ahead, reverse
- Automotive, pedestrian, bicycle owner detection
- Junction help
- Tesla Autopilot
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autosteer
- Blind-spot help
- Lane-keep help
- Entrance, aspect and reverse parking cameras
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Clever pace limiter
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How a lot does the Tesla Mannequin Y value to run?
The Tesla Mannequin Y is roofed by a four-year, 80,000km guarantee in Australia. Throughout the guarantee interval, Tesla Australia ensures the battery will retain a minimal of 70 per cent of its capability.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Tesla Mannequin Y |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 4 years, 80,000km |
| Battery guarantee | 8 years, 160,000km – RWD 8 years, 192,000km – Lengthy Vary |
| Roadside help | 4 years |
| Service intervals | – |
| Capped-price servicing | – |
| Whole capped-price service value | – |
Tesla additionally presents a Components, Physique and Paint Restore guarantee for one 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first.
To see how the Tesla Mannequin Y strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the Tesla Mannequin Y
I’ve personally by no means been that enamoured by Teslas, however after driving the most recent Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3 lately it’s very clear why each automobiles have been so enduringly profitable – they’re good examples of the EV breed.
The Mannequin Y presents a lot for an important worth, even after the facelift introduced worth rises. Tesla has accomplished an important job with the vary of revisions it applied with this facelift, making an excellent and very talked-about automobile even higher.
Add to this an extended listing of ordinary gear, benchmark real-world effectivity and a strong all-round drive expertise, and you’ve got an EV that’s not solely higher than most different EVs, but in addition a bunch of extra standard combustion- and hybrid-powered alternate options too.
Objectively, must you be able to make the bounce to battery-electric, it’s fairly wonderful. However would I purchase one for myself if I used to be procuring on this section? In all probability not. It’s a bit missing in soul and pleasure, that are essential issues that eager drivers yearn for and which most EVs nonetheless don’t fairly possess.
Nonetheless, for those who’re available in the market for an electrical SUV and also you aren’t involved about whether or not it’s going to gentle up your world, the Mannequin Y stays a high choose.
CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin Y. Click on right here to get an important deal.
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MORE: Discover the Tesla Mannequin Y showroom
