Here’s proof that affordability doesn’t mean you have to make sacrifices - because the cheapest version of the Tesla Model Y still makes for a tantalising lease.
Up until recently, the Tesla Model Y was available in two different forms - the Long Range and the super-rapid Performance.
Both of those versions feature a dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up and compete with the priciest versions of the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
But there’s now another way to enjoy the Model Y.
Tesla recently launched a ‘Rear-Wheel Drive’, or ‘RWD’ Model Y. It jettisons one of the electric motors and all-wheel drive and also shaves eight grand off the asking price to buy outright.
And what you’re left with is a Model Y that sits in the same leasing bracket as moderately-priced versions of the Kia Niro EV, VW ID.4 ,and the MINI Electric - while offering all the kudos that the Tesla badge brings.
Want to know more? Read on to find out what else you can expect with a Tesla Model Y RWD lease:
Range
The first thing you need to know is that the Tesla Model Y RWD gets a 60 kWh battery - which is slightly smaller than the 75 kWh unit installed in the Long Range and Performance Model Ys.
You still get a very decent range of up to 283 miles between charges.
How does that stack up against the costlier Model Ys? Well, the Long Range will see you travel 331 miles between plug-ins and the Performance will journey for up to 319 miles before you need to stop and recharge.
So, you’re talking about a stated difference of around 50 miles.
You also need to look at how the Tesla Model Y RWD fares against the entry-level trims of rivals.
So, the bottom-rung Ford Mustang Mach-E has a lesser range of 273 miles, the cheapest VW ID.5 gets a range of up to 323 miles, and the most wallet-friendly Polestar 2 gets a 322 mile max range.
The Tesla Model Y RWD therefore sits somewhere in the middle among competitors.
Power and Performance
If you want brutal, face-melting speed, the Tesla Model Y Performance is the only lease for you. It comes with power of 527 hp and can silently breeze from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Whichever way you look at it, that’s blisteringly quick.
The most affordable Tesla Model Y RWD is no slouch either.
Power of 347 bhp results in a 0-60 mph sprint time of 6.6 seconds.
That’s pretty much hot-hatch territory and also out-guns entry-level variants of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Kia EV6.
Charging
The first thing to say here is that when you lease any Tesla - including the Tesla Model Y RWD - you automatically get access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
And in case you don’t know what that is, it’s a big deal.
Superchargers are Tesla’s bank of own-branded electric vehicle public charging stations. There are around 1,000 of them in the UK, and many of them are only made available to Tesla drivers.
The Model Y RWD supports rapid charging at speeds of up to 170 kW DC, which will take the battery to 172 miles full in around 25 minutes.
With a 11 kW home wallbox, you’ll get a full replenish in 6 hours and 15 minutes.
Again, how does that stack up against rivals?
The equivalent rapid charge with a Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD takes 40 mins, and a 11 kW takes around 7 hours 30 mins.
So, it’s another win for the cheapest Model Y.
Interior and standard equipment
It’s a Tesla, so it comes fully-loaded - even though it’s cost-of-living friendly.
You can expect a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless phone charging, heated seats in the front and back, a vegan interior, heated steering wheel, a reversing camera, and a panoramic glass roof.
It also gets the same sized wheels - 19-inch - as the more expensive Long Range Model Y.
There are safety systems galore, including the base Tesla ‘Autopilot’ as well as collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking.
The ‘Autopilot’ brings you ‘Traffic-Aware Cruise Control’, which ‘matches the speed of your car to that of the surrounding traffic’, saysTesla.
The system also features ‘Autosteer; which ‘assists in steering within a clearly marked lane, and uses traffic-aware cruise control’.
It means you should arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, rather than frazzled.
The Model Y has been awarded the full five stars from industry safety assessors Euro NCAP, too, with a near-perfect score of 97% for adult occupant protection.
Practicality
Tesla quotes a boot capacity of up to 854 litres - which is ginormous.
But it’s also slightly misleading, because Tesla quotes the capacity when the boot is loaded all the way up to the roof, not just the parcel shelf, which is how other manufacturers state the luggage capacity.
And that’s simply because the Model Y doesn’t actually have a parcel shelf, which means you can cram a whole lot of stuff in the rear.
There’s also a front boot - the ‘froot’, or ‘frunk’ - for added stowage options.
All Teslas now come with a heat pump as standard - including the Model Y RWD - which works to warm the cabin and also helps improve the car's battery efficiency in the coldest months of the year.
You can lease the Tesla Model Y RWD with Select Car Leasing from £407 per month*. That’s on a 48 month contract, with an annual mileage of 5,000 miles, and with a nine month initial payment of £3,671.91.
Use the ‘Motoring on your terms’ selectors when you click on a lease deal to find the contract options that works best for you.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 03/07/23.
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