It would be remiss to focus on electrified vehicles without acknowledging the volume seller in the New Zealand market – Tesla. In 2022, Tesla Model 3 sold double the total of all other electric vehicles combined: 176 for Jaguar, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Polestar versus 352 Tesla Model 3s.
Times have changed, the field of competition has opened up, but Tesla has also introduced a new model in the form of the Tesla Model Y, which year-to-date in 2023 has outsold the Tesla 3 almost two to one with 130 Model 3s going against 230 Model Y’s.
Reason? We’d suspect two things. First, the Tesla Model Y is new and appeals to those who purchase with their fingers on the pulse of the latest tech and second; the Model Y – as an SUV – has an arguably more popular design which has lifestyle advantages over the small sedan that is the Tesla 3.
While the 3 and the Y share the same platform, the Model Y has a 4751mm body length, is 1921mm wide and stands 1624mm high on a 2890mm wheelbase.
The Model Y has an 854-litre boot which can expand to 2158 litres, and it has the (almost) Tesla patented ‘frunk’ – an additional 117 litre cargo space where a petrol engine would normally reside.
Towing – yes, the Model Y can haul 750kg of unbraked trailer and 1600kg if said trailer is braked. These figures are pretty much at the top of the tree for electric SUVs.
How long to charge? The biggest question from those most interested in EVs, and it should be said that a Tesla vehicle is best served by a Tesla charger.
You CAN use other charging options, but they will not be as efficient as a Tesla Supercharger. Case in point, domestic 230-volt wall plugs of 2.3kW for example, will supply a 12km per hour rate of charge, so your Model Y is going to be fully juiced in about 29 hours.
That’s a worst-case scenario; most Tesla owners will have at the very least, a Tesla wallbox of either 7.4kW for 11 hours 45-minute charging or an 11kW unit for seven hours and 45 minutes charge time.
A Tesla Supercharger at a dealer or public charging station can have your Tesla fast charged – using direct current – from 10 percent to 80 percent of charge in just under an hour from a 50kW charger, 39 minutes from a 75kW charger or 27 minutes if you can find a 150kW charger.
How far to run? Tesla says a Model Y (rear wheel drive) should get 455km WLTP assessed range. Real world from independent sources suggests its range is closer to 345km with the liquid fuel equivalent of 1.4 litres per 100km and 1.9 litres per 100km respectively.
Is it a good vehicle? Very subjective but in the main, the Tesla Y does what it should and is well put together and yes, it has a very sophisticated on board ‘Mission Control’ with that very impressive tablet being at the heart and soul of how to operate your Tesla.
It drives well, has minimal body roll despite its comparatively high body and is ultra quiet as well as having that hallmark Tesla acceleration even with the single motor.
It’s roomy, comfortable and the interior in our test vehicle indicated Tesla is not going for the luxury shock value of white leather trim everywhere but has taken a more – conservative is too strong, let’s say ’moderate’ – approach to interior trims.
But… what we find challenging to forgive is the complexity of the screen functionality. Yes, we only had the car for a number of days, but certain functions should be intuitive and/or easy to manipulate.
There were functions I wanted to access, and felt I needed to have my navigator handle for me, like climate adjustment and other on-the-fly changes to the way the car was set up before I set out.
The big one though, is the lack of heads-up display. I intensely dislike (and I’m not alone in this) having to look down and across to find the speed I am driving at on the corner of that tablet. It takes my attention from the road and that is not a good thing for any driver.
Still, the Tesla Y is popular, and will no doubt continue to be so, especially with the newly landed Performance model which I get to drive next month. Stay tuned.
