Tesla Model Y review

It’s very… Tesla. Almost comically so. If minimalism was a religion, it feels like Tesla is heading down the evangelical route. There’s not much in the way of obvious detail, so the new Model Y feels a bit like a concept car – which is both a good and bad thing.

So there’s the usual blank swathe of dash with some different dash pads and textures to gaze at, but they all contribute to something that just feels that little bit more plush. A 15-ish inch touchscreen in the middle that controls most of the functions, and there’s a single-use indicator stalk to one side of the wheel. Which feels a little strange: we’re quite used to multi-function stalks, so having a couple of other functions on that appendage wouldn’t necessarily have confused anyone.

Still, there’s also a new strip of ambient lighting around the beltline of the car, which is pretty but not exactly unique these days.

The front seats are comfortable, electric, both heated and cooled as standard, and the rear seats get heaters and slightly lengthened squabs. The glass roof overhead now reflects more of the sun’s UV death rays, and there are a pair of very fast wireless phone chargers, plus tonnes and tonnes of storage space in the centre console and side pockets.

And no, the touchscreen still isn’t quite as intuitive as a couple of buttons, but the voice-activation works well and you do get used to the control interfaces after a bit.
But it’s a strangely blank-feeling experience – not an interior you’ll fall in love with, more just appreciate from a distance. The new car also gets options for the stereo – a 16-speaker effort in the launch cars plus subwoofer – and there’s also faster wi-fi, clearer phone calls and better connectivity all round. All nice improvements.

Practicality was always massive with the Model Y. Is it still so?

The one thing that has propelled the Model Y to such ubiquity is probably the fact that it covers a lot of bases. And the new one is no different. Good space for five people, with the rear seats now getting an eight-inch tablet between the two front seats that can be either an air-con controller or gamestation. Very handy for those with kids.

The rear seats electrically recline – though not very far – and that electric operation allows for auto-folding from the boot.

Then there’s the boot space, with its multiple levels. If you open the underfloor, there’s 854 litres of packing space available, and 2,138-litres with the seats folded. That’s massive. In fact, in France, you can buy a Model Y without back seats as a commercial vehicle.

Then there’s the frunk, which weighs in with another 117 litres of space – which is suitcase big, in case you can’t visualise the litreage – now with a drainplug in case you need to hose it out after hiding a body. Or just mucky sports kit. We don’t judge.