Practical experience Tesla Model Y: this is what owners of the best-selling car in the world think

With these sales figures, Tesla knocks the Toyota RAV4 off the throne, which took the honor last year. Owners of that model wrote mostly positively about their SUV, but indicate that there are still areas for improvement. It indicates that the best-selling car does not necessarily have to be flawless. Owners of the popular Tesla Model 3 also experience an annoyance now and then, although positivity predominates here too. Note: This article occasionally refers to an ‘M3’. BMW’s sports sedan may be innocent, it’s the way owners like to abbreviate their Model 3. The same goes for ‘MY’, of course, although that is less confusing.

Space offer Tesla Model Y

The main difference between the Model Y and Model 3 is, of course, space. If we look at the outside dimensions, we see that the SUV is almost 6 centimeters longer, 7.2 centimeters wider and no less than 18 centimeters higher than the sedan model. As a result, the total luggage space – in the case of rear-wheel drive vehicles – grows by around 300 litres. “What a space!” enthuses the owner of a 2021 Model Y Long Range. “Unbelievable, lots of room for the passengers in the back. The rear seat can be adjusted in 3 positions. There is a lot of luggage space, had an electric bicycle in the back several times. The racing bike even fits in without removing the wheels.”

There is also plenty of room for rear passengers, as this driver describes: “The space available, both for the front and (especially) rear passengers, but also for luggage, is enormous. Our daughters sat like princesses, so spacious in the back.” Speaking of princesses, according to another owner, the one on the pea should not sit in the middle of the back. “The seats and back seat do not offer French comfort or German solidity. The seats are short and hard, especially the middle seat in the back seat is not pleasant.”

The interior is so spacious that Tesla programmed a special Camp Mode into the climate control. “Sleep went well and especially with the stuffy weather outside the A/C camping mode was a relief”, this Long Range AWD driver experienced. For one night, of course, because sleeping in his car for a few weeks seems to be a less pleasant experience.

The parcel shelf is also less pleasant. “I don’t know what to think of the parcel shelf,” writes an owner who appears to have a clear opinion in the following sentence. “I think it’s a nuisance. I have a pushchair, it does not fit in the boot with parcel shelf. So you have to take that out.”

Seating comfort

No owner complains about the interior space and the comfort of the rear seat was also briefly touched upon. What about the front seats? “The seating comfort depends on your frame of reference,” writes the Model Y driver who previously drove a Volvo XC90. “The seats are nowhere near an XC90’s, but it’s certainly not uncomfortable.”

A taller driver has clearer reservations about the seating comfort. “The length of the seat cushions is on the short side for me (I’m 1.95 meters). I also think that the headrest is tilted a little too far forward, and it is not adjustable.” Incidentally, several owners have commented on the non-adjustable headrest.

Although most users are comfortable with the seating furniture, one driver was so dissatisfied that he took a drastic step: “Personally I thought the seats were terrible and I couldn’t find the right seat, I solved this with an ASD seat customization.”

Interior, controls and assistance systems

Much has already been said and written about the minimalist interior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Among ‘our’ Model Y drivers, there are also those who previously drove a Model 3. One of them writes: “The interior has improved considerably and is considerably quieter than the M3.” A Model Y Performance driver endorses this experience. “What a difference this car is from the Model 3 Performance: the build quality is of a completely different order.” One more then? “Compared to my previous Tesla Model 3, the Model Y is now a lot quieter, it all feels a lot more robust and the Model Y has a nicer finish. When you slam a door, there is no tinny sound, but it feels solid.”

OK, so an improvement. But perhaps even more striking is that little is said about the central screen, which is also the only screen in the car. Apparently this works without major problems and you get used to reading the speed driven on this so quickly that it is not worth mentioning. Worth mentioning are the parking sensors, or the lack of them. The very first Model Ys were still equipped with the usual ultrasonic sensors, from model year 2023 these have been removed, so that the car now relies on video intelligence.

User confidence in this software is less. “The camera-based parking assist is more inaccurate and unreliable than the parking assist in the 2019 Model 3. No doubt this will be improved with over-the-air updates, but right now it’s just not good enough,” writes the user of a 2023 Long Range AWD. “Tesla really needs to improve on this.”

The owner of a black Model Y also has her reservations. “The neighbour’s ‘old’ M3 has ultrasonic parking sensors, which work fantastically. My MY has a few high-res cameras and an Elonesque promise that the software will one day do great things with them. But until Tesla Vision actually starts working properly, it’s just like old-fashioned reversing with your head turned and an arm wrapped around the co-driver’s seat.”

Self-driving?

Tesla became famous – or notorious – with the Autopilot driving assistant, with which the brand made great promises and largely fulfilled them. This system will also rely solely on cameras from 2021 and will no longer be supported by a radar sensor as before. No fun, according to several drivers. “Take phantom brakes (sudden braking, ed.), for example, when you are driving on autopilot. Very unpleasant, you are shocked and if someone drives close to you, it is also dangerous”, this driver experiences. “Unfortunately, it still doesn’t work flawlessly. Occasionally it slows down unnecessarily. This is an unpleasant surprise every time,” describes another driver.

“After 12,000 km in 2 months, I now know the peculiarities and I also know where in the Netherlands the software gets lost. Like this morning in light fog in the north. It doesn’t take much to throw Autopilot off track. Ping: do it yourself.” A bit of nuance from this Model Y RWD driver: “On all other days it is a wonderful travel companion with which you can easily cover many kilometers with one hand on the wheel.”

To ride

When it comes to driving, people are quite enthusiastic about the Model Y, especially about the noise comfort. Compared to older Teslas, this seems to have improved considerably. However, several owners report nervous behavior at (increased) highway speed. “The car is quite nervous and sensitive to wind, which is especially annoying on a long journey,” writes one such driver. “I solved that by driving a lot on autopilot, then you hold the steering wheel loosely and you never really have to correct it.” Another had the car fitted with new tyres: “The Michelin tires have added real comfort and at high speed (150+ km/h) the car is much less lost in the steering and feels less light in the nose.”

With the ‘add comfort’ he also refers to the chassis, which is described by many drivers as firm or hard and detracts from comfort. Tesla seems to have heard these complaints, because from model year 2023 the chassis of the Model Y has been tuned a bit softer. The owner of such a newer car also experiences this: “The handling is great due to the low center of gravity and the 4WD. The chassis and suspension are perfect. It was sometimes written that the first Model Ys were hard and jerky, but this one is not.”

Power consumption and range

Owners are generally very pleased with the range of the Model Y, especially if they have chosen the Long Range or Performance variant. The owner of an RWD, with the compact battery pack: “Today in the frost from Leeuwarden to Eindhoven, during the day. That went from 100 percent to 15 percent in 150 miles. Immediately a warning on the spot that I had to charge, but where I was there were 20 charging stations in the parking lot.”

What you could expect from a Long Range? This owner provides insight. “We alternately drive city and highway, my estimate 40/60 percent. Consumption is not too bad. In the period October to mid-February, still a bit wintery and from November with winter tires, 16.7 kWh / 100 km. If you drive around 130 km / h, the consumption will go to 19 to 20 kWh / 100 km. Tesla’s advice is not to charge the battery more than 90 percent if it is not necessary. Theoretically you will then get 450 km away, but for now I am sticking to 400 to 425 km.”

Another Long Range AWD driver: “The range to be achieved is more than acceptable and is strongly influenced by my mood and what song is on the radio. From 135 – 180 Wh per km in summer to 180-220 Wh per km in winter. He, and others, don’t like a different radius: “The turning radius is that of a tanker.”

Model Y makes a lot of gains compared to 3

With the Model Y, Tesla not only seems to offer more space, gains have also been made in other areas. The finish seems to be at a higher level than with the Model 3, also in the technical field, owners do not (yet) complain about noise from the chassis. However, until recently it was a bit stiff, where it should feel smoother with newer cars. Against all these pluses is the lack of radar and ultrasonic sensors, which leads to irritation in practice. The car sometimes brakes out of the blue, the influence of the weather on driver assistance systems is great and when parking, the cameras prove unable to replace traditional parking sensors.