[Auto] New Tesla Model Y 2021 review

[THē-GHōST]

 

The Model Y fills a niche in the Tesla line-up that means it will appeal to a large number of buyers. It features all of the tech of the Model 3, but the larger body means it's more spacious inside, while overall the car is more manageable than the larger Model X on tight UK roads. You pay a bit of a premium over the Model 3, and the Model Y’s driving range isn’t quite as long, but it’s still an electric SUV front-runner, and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network still gives it a clear advantage over its rivals. With the arrival of the Tesla Model Y in the UK, company founder Elon Musk’s ambition to create a ‘sexy’ line-up of electric cars, alongside the Model S, Model 3 and Model X, has finally been realised. It’s the small SUV of the range, and it’s based on the same platform as the Model 3. Tesla claims that 95 per cent of that car’s tech has been carried over to the Model Y. From the outside, there’s no mistaking the Model Y for a car from any other manufacturer. Its design is a progression of the Model 3’s, with a chunkier body below the window line and a taller roof, which results in more space inside. All versions of the Model Y are four-wheel drive, courtesy of a two-motor set-up with one fitted to each axle. The Long Range model delivers the instant hit of acceleration that’s so familiar from Tesla’s models. Four-wheel drive means there’s plenty of traction, and Tesla quotes a 0-60mph time of 4.8 seconds, which is among the fastest in the class. Grip in the corners is strong, too, but while the Model Y has fast steering, it doesn’t do much more than point the wheels in the right direction. There’s little in the way of feedback, while the car’s two-tonne kerbweight also means direction changes aren’t as swift as the speed of the steering would suggest. 

 

 

The Model Y’s taller body delivers some compromises to the driving experience when compared with a Model 3, too. The suspension has been stiffened to cope with the extra weight and height, so it delivers quite a firm ride. Our car’s 20-inch wheels didn’t help matters, either, and while this stiffness won’t cause issue on smooth tarmac, the UK’s bumpy and potholed roads sees the car crash and thump.Try to avoid big bumps, and refinement is largely as you’d expect from an electric SUV. The Model Y cruises in near silence, with hardly any wind or road noise, while mid-range acceleration is just as responsive as it is from a standstill. Keep things smooth, and you and your passengers can take comfort in Tesla’s typically minimalist cabin. There’s lots of room inside for all five seats, and boot space is generous for a medium-sized electric SUV, too - there's up to 854 litres laden to the roof in five-seat form. A 117-litre 'frunk' also gives some good extra storage space.

Link: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/tesla/model-y/106311/new-tesla-model-y-2021-review