- First look at the new Tesla Model Y
- Revamped SUV really stands out next to old model
- UK offering now live on Tesla UK website
- We'll get behind the wheel for a proper test soon
If you’d told me ten years ago that the world’s best-selling car would be an all-electric Tesla SUV, I’d have said you’d need your head examined.
But here we are with Tesla having sold over 3.5 million Model Ys, making this replacement model a big deal. And I’ve been invited to have a poke around.
Those kind folk at Tesla have also put a current Model Y next to the new one so I can really see what the differences are – and it’s fair to say they are quite significant.
The new Model Y has been known as “Juniper,” a name coined by Tesla enthusiasts rather than the company itself. It’s set to arrive in Europe and the UK this March, with the Launch Series version – based on the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model – priced at £60,990. These limited-edition models will only be offered in Black or Quicksilver, paired with an all-black interior.
The new Model Y boasts several styling updates with the standout feature its sleek, full-width LED light bar at the front, inspired by the Cybertruck and Cybercab – it looks a whole lot better in the metal than in the pictures and really dates the original car sitting next to it in the studio.
There’s a smoother, more aerodynamic front bumper that features a new camera, complete with its own washer, for better performance in Tesla’s Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving modes (although we can’t use the latter in the UK).
The new Model Y is slightly longer than the original at 4,790mm due to its more aerodynamic front and back ends, though its width and height remain unchanged. That means passenger space is exactly the same as before – which is still generous enough, with that full-length panoramic sunroof and deep front windscreen favourite features of mine.
At the back, the changes are just as big as the front, with redesigned C-shaped LED taillights and a fantastic full-width bar that reflects light rather than displaying it directly. There’s a slightly bigger rear spoiler, and a smart tailgate that opens automatically as you approach. Boot space totals 2,130 litres, actually 20 litres less than before, but I couldn’t notice the difference.
Inside the car improvements include better soundproofing (it’s noticeable when you get in and shut the door), upgraded materials with cloth across the dash and doors, and ambient lighting for a more premium feel.
The front seats are new and now heating and ventilation, while passengers in the back get heated seats, too, and a new 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity so they can watch movies or play games without disturbing anyone. The rear seats are new and can now be adjusted or folded flat electronically.
The Model Y’s 15.4-inch touchscreen is the same as before, although there is a technology boost with improved connectivity, sound systems, and app features such as phone or watch key functionality.
New Model 3 owners just haven’t got on with that car’s stalkless interior, so the Model Y retains a single stalk for indicators. Gear selection, wipers and lighting are all taken care of on the touchscreen, although there are programmable buttons on the steering wheel, too.
Tesla says that the car’s handling and ride quality have also been enhanced, thanks to a stiffer body (which also improves safety), new suspension, and better tyres. Hopefully that will address complaints about the previous Model Y’s overly firm ride.
Aerodynamics and efficiency have also improved with the Launch Series offering a 22-mile increase in range over the original Long Range All-Wheel Drive Model Y, now reaching up to 353 miles.
The new Model Y will initially only launch as the Long Range All-Wheel Drive car, with other options likely to follow, including a Standard Range, a seven-seat configuration and a performance model.
The Launch Series Model Y at £60,990 is likely to be a steep increase over what we would expect to see a normal Long Range All-Wheel Drive car costing – that’s the price of being first with an all-new Tesla Model Y in the UK, I guess.
We don’t know when the normal models will filter through, but it shouldn’t be long. There’s not a standard rear-drive Model Y on sale in the UK. The range currently starts at £46,990 for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive car. A standard rear-drive Model 3 costs £5,000 less than its Long Range Rear-Drive cousin, so I would reckon a new standard Rear-Drive car should kick off the new Model Y range at around £43,000. A Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive car will probably add another £10,000.
So, will I be putting my name down? The thing that’s put me off the Model Y in the past has been the dreadful ride quality. If Tesla has really sorted that, then the Model Y really could be the perfect family EV SUV.
** Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automotive journalists and currently EV Editor of The Independent and a regular contributor to The Guardian. He’s the only person to have edited three of the UK’s biggest car titles – Auto Express, Autocar and What Car? – and has interviewed the biggest names in the car world from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley. Steve has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four and is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on TV and Radio. He’s a World Car of the Year juror and a judge on both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards. Read more of Steve's work at stevefowler.co.uk.
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