December 23, 2024 at 12:30 PM A new Tesla Model Y is due next year, but before then a new seven-seat version has been launched with a new Quicksilver colour (Tesla) The Tesla Model Y may be about to be replaced by a new model codenamed Tesla Model Y Juniper, but for now if you need more space and a larger boot than the Model 3, then Tesla’s Model Y is the car for you. The Model Y now comes with the added bonus of an extra couple of seats as an option: for £2,500 you can get two small seats that fold out of the boot floor for a little extra practicality. The Model Y doesn’t ride as smoothly as its close relative, we’d recommend a test drive over familiar roads to make sure you can live with the bumpy ride (which is even worse in the back), but the Model Y still has access to the best charging network there is, while offering good range and efficiency, plenty of performance even in its base specification, and a host of technology that betters just about every other car on the road. We recommend avoiding the Performance version, since it is more expensive and has less range than the less powerful dual-motor car. But also because this family-orientated SUV isn’t an EV that benefits from ballistic acceleration. Save your money and go for either of the long range models and enjoy a car that nails almost every aspect of being an EV. How we tested We’ve driven many different Model Ys, most recently the seven-seat Long Range All-Wheel Drive model which we put to the test with seven people on board - including adults in the third row. We drove in and around London and the South East, taking in motorways, A- and B-roads plus plenty of town work. Tesla Model Y: From £44,990, Tesla.com The Model Y’s interior is vast, with masses of space and now seating for up to seven people (Steve Fowler) Independent rating: 8/10 — Steve Fowler (@SteveFowler) December 21, 2024 Assuming you’re only going to allow kids to use the third row, things will be fine – they’ll probably find it easier to clamber over the middle seats, which slide and tilt forward with electrical assistance. You’ll still have to move the middle row forward using the bar underneath the seat, though, to give anyone in the back row at least a little legroom. It’s best to think of the rearmost seats as for occasional use only. Otherwise, the spacious interior feels even more so thanks to the standard-fit panoramic glass roof, and how Tesla’s minimalist design ethos strips the cabin back to the basics. It’s smart without feeling sparse, with a good amount of storage including cubby holes, cup holders (in the third row, too) and a couple of wireless phone chargers below the large, central dashboard display. There is no driver diaplay or instrument panel behind the steering wheel and, in an unusual move for a tech-first carmaker, no head-up display either. Interior trim options are limited to black seats with wood details, or white with silver for an extra £1,100. To get any legroom in the rearmost seats of the Tesla Model Y you have to move the middle row forward (Steve Fowler) Technology, stereo and infotainment This is where the Model Y really gets into its stride. The single, 15-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard handles everything from mapping and music, to the air conditioning, windscreen defrosting and vehicle settings. It also gives access to games and video streaming services to use while parked at a charger. Tesla cars do not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which can be frustrating if that’s what you’re used to, but their own operating system works very well. This is especially true of the navigation, which tells you which Tesla Supercharger stations to stop at, and for exactly how long, to reach your destination – your car will be prepped to accept an immediate fast charge, too. How the Supercharger network is integrated with the car (along with its low cost and ease of use) will for many be a good enough reason to buy a Model Y over its closest rivals. Although unbranded, the 14-speaker stereo is also pretty good, and there’s a whole range of music streaming apps built in, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal, plus Apple Podcasts, Audible and a conventional radio. There are also numerous games and fun things to do through the infotainment system to keep you amused while you’re waiting for a charge. Prices and running costs The build quality issues of Teslas seem to be in the past now that most UK cars are built in the brand new factory in Germany, so the cars represent better value than ever. This remains true with the Model Y, which starts at £46,990 for the single-motor model with 373 miles of range. The all-wheel-drive (331 miles) version costs an extra £5,000, while the much quicker Performance variant is priced from £59,990. As always, electric cars can be very cheap to run if you charge them at home on a low-cost energy traffic. Tesla’s Supercharger network costs more, but can still be significantly cheaper than most other high-speed networks, at around 30p to 50p per kWh, depending on location and time of day Build quality of latest Teslas is much improved. Model Y gets black or optional white leather interior (Steve Fowler) Tesla Model Y rivals