2026 Tesla Model Y review

You’re looking at Australia’s favourite electric vehicle (EV).

The Tesla Model Y is a sales giant both globally and in Australia, where EV adoption may not be as fast as in some other countries, yet it still ranks as one of the nation’s most popular mid-size SUVs – electric or not.

What makes it so good? Attainable pricing, benchmark EV technology and the weight the Tesla brand has held for years as a trailblazer have no doubt been driving forces, even if fanfare for its CEO has waned of late.

Still, even with demand slowing, the Model Y remains a very strong seller with 13,310 new examples registered so far this year to the end of August, putting it well ahead of any other electric car currently on sale.

Competition is heating up though, as is the pricing war. More Chinese challengers are coming to cut the Model Y’s lunch, as are fresh players from Europe – including Skoda’s recently announced cut-price Elroq and Enyaq.

Watch: Paul’s video review of the Model Y RWD

Earlier this year the much-anticipated ‘Juniper’ facelift arrived in Australia, bringing a number of developments in response to customer feedback to “make the best-selling car in the world even better”.

Tesla has since announced a new Performance version that’s due Down Under imminently, while at a global level the new three-row Model Y L with six seats has so far been released in China – but remains TBC for Australia.

So, should the top-selling Tessie still be at the top of your shopping list if you’re looking for a new EV?

How much does the Tesla Model Y cost?

Prices for the Model Y went up with the mid-life update, but that also coincided with more equipment as well as upgrades to the drivetrain and battery tech.

On test here we have the entry-level Model Y RWD, priced from $58,900 before on-road costs – though the vehicle you see here was fitted with a number of options.

Stealth Grey premium paint ($1900), 20-inch alloy wheels ($2400) and the optional Black and White interior ($1500) all amount to $5800 in additional kit, bringing the total price to $64,700 plus on-roads.

If you want Full Self Driving (Supervised), that’ll be an additional $10,100. The Enhanced Autopilot option (previously $5100) was discontinued after September.

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Tesla Model Y like on the inside?

Tesla’s pared back, screen-dependent interior strikes again.

With the optional Black and White interior ($1500), the Model Y cabin gives off the vibe of a minimalistic designer lounge. The vibe is clean and simple while also being quite elegant and giving the perception of high build build.

It’s clear Tesla has come a long way since the old US-built Model S and X from last decade, and even early versions of the Model 3. You don’t find poorly fitted trims and the like these days, and it certainly feels almost premium.

No conventional instrument cluster means your attention is quickly drawn to the 15.4-inch central touchscreen, which looks like a big iPad that’s been glued to the dash. Below that are a pair of wireless phone chargers that also double up as storage trays.

The touchscreen is beautifully bright with crisp graphics and vibrant colours. Tesla’s interface is very different to most other brands, and as such can be a little tricky or overwhelming at first – even for millennial me.

A permanent virtual toolbar at the base of the screen allows you to keep key functions and recent apps within reach, as well as quick access to the screen-embedded climate controls.

While it doesn’t take too long to get to grips with the setup, it is difficult when it comes time to adjust things like the position of the steering wheel or mirrors, because you have to dive through a cluttered menu of settings to do so, which we find a little counter-intuitive.

On the topic of fiddly touchscreen controls, I’m not a fan of the drive selector being a ‘swipe up for Drive’ and ‘swipe down for Reverse’. Quick three-point turns and parking manoeuvres take that little bit longer because there’s not a physical selector.

Storage is pretty good, as on top of the aforementioned phone charging trays there are deep cubbies in the centre console, plus big cupholders with grips. Big door bins bolster the storage options further.

The rear seats offer good room for even taller adults like 6’1″ me. Normally a panoramic sunroof would eat into rear headroom, but the tinted glass sans shade scallops out more space in the roof.

If you have longer limbs like me though, you might find the slightly raised floor gives you a bit of a ‘knees up’ seating position, but the flat floor and open glasshouse provides the impression of airiness and space.

There’s a new 8.0-inch touchscreen behind the centre console, which controls second-row climate and seat heating, and there are also more unique features like a video player and video games to keep rear passengers entertained.

It also supports Bluetooth for two headsets, and below it are two USB-C charge ports. The driver is still the boss though, as the rear-facing screen can be monitored and locked through the main display up front.

For parents, the optional white leatherette upholstery may not be suitable to messy kids, but you’ll find ISOFIX child seat anchors on the outboard rear seats and top-tether points for all three seating positions. You’ll also find a fold-down armrest in the middle, incorporating two cupholders.

Tesla quotes a capacious 938 litres of cargo volume with the rear seats in play, measured to the roofline of the boot area rather than the top of the seatbacks. It expands to 2022L with them folded.

Still, the slab-sided rear tailgate provides plenty of vertical cargo space inside, even with the load cover in place. Additionally, there are two deeper nooks on either side of the main floor, and a powered tailgate as standard.

Under the boot floor you’ll find a surprisingly deep cubby, which is an ideal space to stow smaller bags or charging cables. As is the case for most EVs, particularly at this price point, a tyre repair kit is all you have in the event of a puncture.

The same can be said for the 88L under-bonnet storage space, which isn’t enormous but is lined with durable plastic, making it appropriate for stowing smaller odds and ends.

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The base Tesla Model Y is powered by a single electric motor driving the rear axle, fed by a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.

For reference, our indicated efficiency figure was obtained after 605.2km of driving across a variety of conditions, including a high portion of freeway and highway driving mixed with suburban commuting to and from the Melbourne CBD.

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Tesla Model Y drive?

This was my first proper experience with a Model Y, so I was eager to know what all the fuss is about, and to see whether Tesla has addressed key criticisms from our previous reviews.

Beyond the revised design, Tesla says the most substantial changes have come under the skin to improve ride, handling and general cabin refinement on the move.

Previous iterations of the Model Y, and to a lesser extent the pre-facelift Model 3 sedan, were widely criticised for their overtly firm ride which really hurt passenger comfort – as you’ll know if you’ve ever ridden in the back of one as an Uber.

Thankfully, the company’s claims aren’t just claims. The new Model Y is notably more compliant and comfortable, both around town and on the highway, even if it still errs on the firmer side – especially on the optional 20-inch wheels fitted to our tester.

It isn’t as outright brilliant as the Model 3 that I recently drove, but it certainly feels nothing like the Model Ys I’ve been a passenger in previously.

What surprised me more, however, was the Model Y’s nimbleness and eagerness to change direction, thanks to its responsive steering rack and small-diameter, video game-like steering wheel.

It’s a very easy car to judge and place despite its substantial size, while that taut chassis tune provides tight body control that resists lateral forces well and provides a general feeling of athleticism.

That said, there’s not a whole lot of life or soul that comes through the driver controls. It’s wonderfully competent for everyday scenarios, but it’s not going to be on my list of SUVs to take up a mountain pass, for example.

Also worth praise is the new Model Y’s excellent noise suppression. Tesla says it has overhauled the suspension to reduce road noise by 22 per cent, and that’s certainly evident behind the wheel.

While my young colleague Max Davies complained about rear visibility due to the slim windshield, it’s certainly no worse than a lot of other coupe-style SUV designs of late.

The side and rear quarter windows are quite large and offer good over-the-shoulder visibility, and when you’re reversing the camera system is fine – though I’d prefer a conventional surround camera system than Tesla’s funky rear and side views which create a sonar-like display of the vehicle’s surroundings.

Now, Tesla’s driver assistance systems and autonomous driving capability claims are often the subject of controversy, but I came away largely impressed with the user-friendliness of the Model Y’s active assists.

We drove the Model Y prior to the availability of Full Self Driving (Supervised), but our test vehicle was fitted with Autopilot (Beta) with Auto Lane Change, which give it most of the same capabilities but not the ability to operate without any driver input whatsoever.

I’m not one to embellish or give faint praise, but the Model Y’s adaptive cruise and lane centring systems are among the best I’ve tested, with the exception of them disengaging if you apply steering intervention.

It’ll handle just about any scenario or manoeuvre with almost human-like smoothness and intuitiveness, and the real-time graphics on the touchscreen provide good context about what’s around you.

The lack of clear labelling on the steering controls is my main gripe, though you get accustomed to the computer mouse wheel-like controls that are used to toggle numerous functions.

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

2026 Tesla Model Y RWD equipment highlights:

• 19-inch ‘Crossflow’ wheels
• Full-width LED front and rear lights
• Automatic high-beam
• Acoustic glass with UV protection
• Low and standard regenerative braking modes
• Power-folding, auto-dimming and heated side mirrors
• Black leather upholstery 
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Power-reclining rear seats
• Heated rear seats
• 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Nine-speaker sound system
• 8.0-inch rear touchscreen
  • incl. support for two Bluetooth headsets
• Ambient interior lighting
• Panoramic glass roof
• Dog Mode (maintains cabin temperature)
• Power tailgate

Model Y Long Range adds:

• 15+1 speakers
• Acceleration boost

Model Y Performance adds:

• 21-inch ‘Arachnid’ alloy wheels
• Unique front and rear bumpers
• Black mirror caps and rear spoiler
• Adaptive suspension
• 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Carbon-fibre interior trim
• Front sports seats
  • Thigh extenders
  • Heating
  • Ventilation

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Options

Enhanced Autopilot: $5100

• “Driver-initiated assisted driving from highway on-ramp to off-ramp, lane changes and overtaking”
• Autopark
• Dumb Summon and Actually Smart Summon (available later, pending regulatory approval)

Full Self-Driving (Supervised): $10,100

• Read about this here

Single-item options include:

• Diamond Black or Glacier Blue paint: $1500 (RWD, Long Range)
• Stealth Grey paint: $1900 (RWD, Long Range)
• Quicksilver or Ultra Red paint: $2500 (RWD, Long Range)
• Black and White interior: $1500
• 20-inch Helix 2.0 wheels: $2400

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Tesla Model Y safe?

The pre-facelift Tesla Model Y received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022, based on tests conducted by Euro NCAP. It’s not yet clear whether this rating carries across to the updated model.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 7 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Forward, reverse
  • Car, pedestrian, cyclist detection
  • Junction assist
• Tesla Autopilot
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Autosteer
• Blind-spot assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Front, side and reverse parking cameras
• Front, rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Intelligent speed limiter

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Tesla Model Y cost to run?

The Tesla Model Y is covered by a four-year, 80,000km warranty in Australia. During the warranty period, Tesla Australia guarantees the battery will retain a minimum of 70 per cent of its capacity.

Tesla also offers a Parts, Body and Paint Repair warranty for one year or 20,000km, whichever comes first.

To see how the Tesla Model Y lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Tesla Model Y

I’ve personally never been that enamoured by Teslas, but after driving the latest Model Y and Model 3 recently it’s very clear why both vehicles have been so enduringly successful – they’re brilliant examples of the EV breed.

The Model Y offers so much for a great price, even after the facelift brought price rises. Tesla has done a great job with the range of revisions it implemented with this facelift, making a very good and very popular car even better.

Add to this a long list of standard equipment, benchmark real-world efficiency and a solid all-round drive experience, and you have an EV that is not only better than most other EVs, but also a host of more conventional combustion- and hybrid-powered alternatives too.

Objectively, should you be ready to make the jump to battery-electric, it’s pretty excellent. But would I buy one for myself if I was shopping in this segment? Probably not. It’s a bit lacking in soul and excitement, which are important things that keen drivers yearn for and which most EVs still don’t quite possess.

Still, if you’re in the market for an electric SUV and you aren’t concerned about whether it will light up your world, the Model Y remains a top pick.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Tesla Model Y. Click here to get a great deal.

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