2023 Tesla Model Y Performance review

2 weeks ago 8

I’d similar to accidental the caller Tesla Model Y Performance is simply a crippled changer, but past that’s similar stating the bleeding evident erstwhile it comes to the American electrical car company.

From the infinitesimal the archetypal Tesla Roadster was revealed to the nationalist for the archetypal clip connected July 19, 2006 ar astatine Santa Monica airdrome successful Southern California; this was going to beryllium the electrical car institution that would constitute the blueprint connected EVs.

The Elon Musk-led start-up past followed up with the big-ticket Model S sedan and past the Model X SUV from 2010, portion the wildly palmy and acold much affordable Model 3 sedan arrived connected the satellite signifier successful 2017 – and it’s inactive going gangbusters successful each marketplace it competes successful six years on.

But for those not yet bitten by the EV bug, oregon inactive mostly unfamiliar with Tesla’s all-too-simple nomenclature, the Model Y is fundamentally the SUV mentation of the Model 3 sedan.

The Model Y Performance tested present has arrived arsenic the decently accelerated version, susceptible of blowing distant each but the world’s fastest cars and yet with capable abstraction wrong to practically telephone it a one-bedroom flat connected wheels.

WATCH: Paul’s video reappraisal of the Model Y RWD

Then there’s Tesla’s outstanding exertion play – capable to entertain kids and older technophiles for hours connected end.

Nevertheless, does it stack up against EVs from accepted marques arsenic good arsenic blase electrical cars from those emerging brands retired of China and Korea?

How overmuch does the Tesla Model Y Performance cost?

While the starting terms is $95,300 positive on-road costs, our tester featured a mates of options; including Red Mutli-Coat overgarment ($2400), arsenic good arsenic the Black and White Premium Interior ($1500).

For definite you request either Metallic oregon Multi-Coat overgarment connected your Model Y, but we’d spell for the all-black interior, particularly if this served arsenic your regular driver.

So, aft options and on-road costs are added, our Model Y Performance is priced astatine $111,306 drive-away.

Note: Pearl White Multi-Coat is modular connected the Model Y Performance, but adjacent Solid Black costs $1500, arsenic does Deep Blue Metallic and Midnight Silver Metallic.

Rival makes and models see the Kia EV6, which ranges from $72,590 for the basal Air RWD, done to $99,590 for the hi-po GT, which goes head-to-head with the Model Y Performance connected test.

Then there’s the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which has been updated for 2023 and beyond. It costs from $72,000 for the basal Dynamiq RWD, done to the range-topping Epiq AWD astatine $85,000. There’s a go-fast Ioniq 5 N connected its mode present excessively with due way capableness – ticker this space.

There are somewhat smaller options too, similar the C40 Recharge Pure Electric, oregon the luxurious Genesis GV60. Or there’s the BMW iX3 from astir $104,000 positive on-roads but it doesn’t person the show of the go-fast Model Y.

2023 Tesla Model Y pricing:

Model Y RWD: $69,300
Model Y Performance AWD: $95,300

Prices exclude on-road costs

What is the Tesla Model Y Performance similar connected the inside?

To unfastened the doors connected your Tesla Model Y Performance, champion to acceptable your smartphone up arsenic a cardinal – but past you’ve besides got a Tesla cardinal paper to unfastened the doors by swiping it connected the B-pillar.

It worked each but once, but mostly I had some successful my pockets and the car automatically unlocked arsenic I walked up to it, and locked itself arsenic I walked away. Wouldn’t conscionable a cardinal fob suffice?

Here’s the thing: portion Tesla is each astir cutting-edge technology, there’s not a batch connected amusement successful the compartment too a singularly-huge, centrally-mounted,15-inch tablet-style touchscreen. Those boffins astatine Tesla fig that’s each anyone needs, and to immoderate extent, they’re right.

There’s an arsenic beardown statement for and against, particularly for those similar this tester, who anterior to driving the Model Y Performance wouldn’t person bought a regular operator without Apple CarPlay oregon adjacent a integer instrumentality show successful beforehand of the steering wheel.

As an avid CarPlay adoptee from its earliest days, I tin archer you it was each alternatively confronting erstwhile faced with a travel without it for the archetypal clip successful years. How was I going to marque calls, connection colleagues, usage Waze oregon adjacent play my freaking euphony without it?

Well, you bash person Apple Music accessed via a QR Code (then motion successful with your Apple ID) but there’s inactive nary CarPlay or Android Auto without going for a Tesla Mirroring App from a 3rd party.

Nevertheless, arsenic idiosyncratic who is inactive learning contempt my age-old-experience, I was pleasantly amazed by however rapidly I learned to unrecorded without it – conscionable a fewer hours down the instrumentality and I wasn’t truly giving it a 2nd thought.

While Tesla dependable commands relation good capable astir times, simply by pressing a alternatively annoyingly-fiddly scroll instrumentality connected the steering wheel; asking it to navigate its mode location to Collaroy connected Sydney’s Northern Beaches instantly had maine heading to Colorado successful the US – immoderate 13,400 kilometres distant arsenic the crow flies.

I tried it respective times and got the aforesaid result, yet calling connected Siri to intervene.

As tech dense arsenic the Model Y Performance is, it’s bully to beryllium backmost and bask the driving acquisition without immoderate specified distractions up of you. There’s not adjacent a head-up show to interruption the single-minded absorption and newfound on-road serenity.

The full dash is wholly devoid of knobs, dials and buttons, but for the touchscreen and those fiddly scroll wheels either broadside of the steering wheel. At this constituent I’m connected the obstruction arsenic to however I consciousness astir each this.

Despite the Model Y Performance’s lowered suspension, the seating presumption astatine its lowest adjustable constituent puts you good into the car, leaving you feeling similar you’ve got a commanding presumption of the roadworthy yet besides braced for immoderate due spirited driving.

The steering instrumentality itself is comparatively tiny successful diameter and nicely tactile, portion the all-vegan-upholstered seats are exceptional for their super-soft feel, comfortableness and support. Easily immoderate of the astir comfy I’ve sat in; though fixed this Model Y’s show credentials, adjustable broadside bolsters mightiness beryllium a utile feature… Elon.

One of the Model Y’s outstanding features is the rather unthinkable 13-speaker dependable strategy – astir apt utilizing Dolby Atmos situation dependable arsenic portion of caller upgrades.

Forget astir high-end Harman Kardon units oregon adjacent Bang & Olufsen, due to the fact that the strategy successful the Tesla produces staggeringly bully dependable – possibly the champion I’ve heard successful an SUV.

While the optional achromatic upholstery looks sensational and claims to beryllium somewhat stain-resistant, we’d beryllium recommending the modular achromatic trim if the Model Y Performance is the household chariot.

Charging phones, laptops oregon Air Pods is practically a free-for-all with nary little than 4 USB-C ports, 2 wireless charging cradles up front, arsenic good arsenic a USB-A larboard and 128GB retention instrumentality successful the glovebox.

Storage holes are virtually everyplace from the triple-console spaces up beforehand including a immense centre console bin with different guardant of the cupholders to large, lined doorway pockets throughout.

Along with wholly level floors successful some beforehand and rear spot rows, oodles of legroom, and plentifulness of headroom contempt the Model Y’s heavily-raked tinted solid roof, there’s an wide feeling of immense spaciousness successful the cabin, which looks and feels larger galore ample SUVs. And that’s earlier we commencement counting the gross luggage capacity.

Behind the 2nd enactment you’ll find an extraordinarily generous 971 litres including an underfloor compartment.

Use the buttons connected the left-hand broadside to automatically fold the rear seats (you’ll person to propulsion them backmost up though), and abstraction grows to 2158 litres.

Wait, there’s more. Hit the frunk icon connected the touchscreen and up pops the bonnet wherever you’ll find different 117 litres of cargo volume. However, there’s nary spare instrumentality – not adjacent a abstraction saver – conscionable a puncture repair kit.

What’s nether the bonnet?

Not much, but signifier immoderate integrative liner with a neatly secured tow hook. There’s abstraction for your charging kit implicit with cables and plugs for location and accelerated charging connections.

But if you’re wondering what powers the Model Y Performance, that’s a small much complex.

It’s powered by dual electrical motors (3D3 – front, 3D6 – rear) making 137kW and 220kW respectively, for combined outputs of 357kW and 659Nm.

It’s fed by a 75kWh artillery battalion and tin spell from standstill to 100km/h successful conscionable 3.7 seconds – making the Tesla Model Y Performance arsenic speedy arsenic the existent Porsche 911 Carrera S with PDK, which has a terms tag of $298,100 earlier on-roads. Top velocity for the Tesla is 250km/h.

You tin complaint the Model Y Performance astatine location utilizing an AC charger astatine up to 11kW, oregon astatine 250kW utilizing a Tesla Supercharger oregon via an Ultra-Rapid charger utilizing a CCS DC plug.

Driving Range connected the WLTP modular is simply a claimed 511km.

How does the Tesla Model Y Performance drive?

The large happening astir driving an EV is there’s nary warming thing up similar you should bash successful an combustion-powered car.

You conscionable hop in, determination the right-hand instrumentality stalk up oregon down and disconnected you blast – it’s that easy. When you get astatine your chosen destination, simply propulsion the fastener astatine extremity of the stalk, get out, and locomotion away.

There’s nary handbrake to interest astir oregon cardinal fob to propulsion – each of that worldly is automatic successful the Tesla.

There’s truthful overmuch instant torque connected pat that tiny gaps successful postulation are dealt with ease. And don’t fuss astir joining the queue of cars astatine the adjacent acceptable of postulation lights, either – arsenic agelong arsenic there’s a escaped lane, usage that, and you won’t adjacent request to punch it.

Just a speedy prod of the throttle and you’ll beryllium 50 metres down the roadworthy earlier the remainder of the mob adjacent get rolling.

With the implicit lack of a driver’s instrumentality display, you evidently don’t person a speedometer up of you. Instead, it’s connected the top-right-hand country of the touchscreen astatine eye-level.

You’ll get utilized to it successful nary clip astatine each – but it’s inactive not the perfect presumption for a speedy glance.

There’s lone 1 level of brake regen successful the Model Y Performance, and it’s perfectly calibrated and arsenic bully successful consciousness arsenic the strategy you’ll find successful a Porsche Taycan. You’ll get the bent of it successful nary clip astatine all, truthful that genuine braking isn’t thing you request to interest astir each that often.

The science down the instrumentality of this go-fast EV is interesting. You’ve got truthful overmuch grunt astatine your disposal and yet you thin to cruise astir successful a much relaxed, assured mode knowing afloat good you tin fume beauteous overmuch anyone connected the roadworthy – successful implicit and utter soundlessness of course.

It mightiness extremity the scales astatine conscionable nether 2.0t, but the Model Y Performance feels agile and airy connected its feet acknowledgment to speedy steering that’s nicely weighted, astatine slightest successful Sport. That’s beauteous overmuch what I near it successful whenever I was driving it – the lone different thrust mode is Chill for motorway cruising.

There’s not overmuch of an EV dependable though, similar that successful BMW’s iX – which get astonishingly emotive show sounds, albeit man-made by Hollywood composer, Hans Zimmer.

The large betterment implicit the modular single-motor Model Y is the new-found thrust comfortableness acknowledgment changes to the car’s double-wishbone beforehand and five-link autarkic rear suspension dubbed ‘comfort suspension’.

Technically, Tesla has improved enactment stiffness astatine the apical of the daze absorbers by 50 per cent, portion adjusting their compression damping to trim the damping unit of low-speed impacts.

Previously, I recovered some the Model 3 and modular Model Y to beryllium mostly unbearable successful the thrust department, truthful let’s anticipation each Tesla models get this upgrade erstwhile facelifts arrive.

I made definite to deed arsenic galore patches of breached roadworthy and unsmooth edges, and not erstwhile was determination immoderate jarring done the chassis. It’s a monolithic measurement up for Tesla and different crippled changer for the brand, successful my view.

Overall, the Model Y Performance is an fantabulous handling SUV, displaying minimal rotation and with coagulated composure erstwhile cornering astatine the velocity limit.

It’s besides got an fantabulous value equilibrium and inherent debased centre of gravity and doesn’t caput being hustled along. It’s rather awesome and tons of amusive erstwhile conditions permit.

That said, the turning ellipse isn’t great, with U-turns adjacent connected wide roads requiring a three-point turn.

What bash you get?

Model Y RWD highlights:

19-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive LED headlights
Black vegan interior
5 seats
15-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Side and rear-view cameras
All-around parking sensors
Satellite navigation incl. complaint web mapping, unrecorded pricing
Dual wireless telephone chargers
4 x USB-C ports (2 x front, 2 x rear)
128GB portable retention for Sentry camera system
13-speaker dependable system
12-way powerfulness adjustable beforehand seats
Heated beforehand seats
Heated rear seats (all three)
Heated steering wheel
Tinted solid roof
HEPA aerial filtration
Dual-zone clime control
Power folding, auto-dimming, heated broadside mirrors
Custom operator profiles
Key paper entry
Smartphone app connectivity
Electronic fold-flat rear spot releases

Model Y Performance adds:

21-inch Uberturbine wheels
Performance brakes
Lowered suspension
Aluminium pedals
250km/h Top velocity (up from 217km/h)
Carbon-fibre spoiler

Options

Enhanced Autopilot ($5100) adds:

Navigate connected Autopilot
Auto Lane Change
Autopark
Summon
Smart Summon

Full Self-Driving Capability ($10,100) adds:

Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control
Upcoming: Auto steer connected metropolis streets

Full Self-Driving Capability ($10,100) bundles Basic Autopilot (incl. adaptive cruise power with steering assist) and Enhanced Autopilot packages, and past adds further functionality with Stop Light and Stop Sign Control.

For the record, it’s not truly afloat self-driving capableness arsenic the merchandise sanction suggests, astatine slightest successful our view.

Make up your ain mind, but we deliberation the modular Autopilot is good for Australian conditions arsenic they stand.

Is the Tesla Model Y Performance safe?

Of much than 30 cars tested implicit 2022, the Tesla Model Y was the “top performer” by ANCAP, scoring a five-star information rating but besides managing the highest mean people (weighted crossed the 4 criteria) of each vehicles tested.

It achieved a 97 per cent people for big occupant protection, 89 per cent for kid occupant protection, 82 per cent for susceptible roadworthy users, and 98 per cent for information assist. Unsurprisingly, it is loaded with modular information technology.

Standard features include:

7 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward, Reverse
- Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
- Junction assist
- Backover prevention
Blind-spot assist
Lane support assist
Reversing, broadside presumption cameras
Front, rear parking sensors
Adaptive cruise power with stop/go
Tyre unit monitoring
Automatic high-beam
Intelligent velocity limiter

The Tesla Model Y is besides equipped with Sentry Mode, which uses the car’s 9 cameras (internal and external) to show immoderate undue interference with the vehicle.

It’s reassuring to accidental the least, particularly erstwhile you tin observe the car from each angles some internally and externally, and adjacent beep the horn and flash the lights via the Tesla App connected your telephone erstwhile you’ve acceptable up your profile.

How overmuch does the Tesla Model Y Performance outgo to run?

This is wherever Tesla lags down astir each its rivals – lone offering a four-year, 80,000km warranty.

Still, there’s a artillery and thrust portion warranty than covers 8 years/192,000km for AWD Models, which volition warrant a minimum 70 per cent artillery retention astatine that point.

Tesla does not people circumstantial work intervals, though it recommends a brake fluid cheque each 24 months, compartment aerial filters each 2 years, HEPA filter replacement astatine 3 years and an air-conditioning work each 4 years, successful summation to the modular instrumentality balancing and tyre rotation.

Efficiency-wise the Model Y Performance is somewhat worse disconnected than its modular Model Y sibling by claiming an mean of 15.4kWh/100km – a fig I got precise adjacent to, albeit with the occasional prod of the throttle.

Charging the Model Y Performance astatine an AC charging container astatine location means you tin spell from 0-100 per cent successful astir 8 hours 15 minutes. Using a Tesla Supercharger cuts the charging clip down to 27 minutes.

Tesla is besides unsocial successful its quality to connection entree to its Australia-wide Supercharger web of much than 50 charging stations, on with plentifulness of different fast-charging options, too.

CarExpert’s Take connected the Tesla Model Y Performance

Aesthetically, the Tesla Model Y Performance could beryllium described arsenic hideous; astatine slightest arsenic acold arsenic it’s outer signifier goes and from immoderate and each angles. It’s conscionable not charismatic – subjective arsenic that is.

Inside, determination are tons of idiosyncratic flaws, similar the implicit deficiency of a driver’s instrumentality show oregon HUD, nary Apple CarPlay oregon Android Auto – either of which mightiness beryllium woody breakers for some.

Even the four-year/80,000km warranty isn’t up to scratch these days erstwhile astir carmakers are offering astatine slightest 5 years; with respective offering 7 years oregon adjacent much successful the lawsuit of Mitsubishi.

Never caput each that, due to the fact that the Tesla Model Y Performance has much than capable going for it to wholly alteration immoderate preconceptions you mightiness person had earlier getting down the wheel.

It’s devastatingly quick, extraordinarily comfortable, has innovative exertion which others are inactive playing catch-up to, arsenic good arsenic much rider and luggage abstraction than astir families volition cognize what to bash with.

There’s besides Tesla’s Supercharger network, captious to the wide ownership acquisition and acold superior to that offered by rival makes and models, arsenic good arsenic nationalist charger providers similar Chargefox.

It’s besides a bargain erstwhile compared alongside competitors from premium bequest brands.