THIS is the automobile that ought to effectively and really safe Tesla’s place within the automotive panorama – or at the very least, that’s what logic dictates.
As a mid-to-large SUV it’s acquired the shape issue that the majority of household patrons need, and, coupled with an EV powertrain that boasts a extremely usable 455km single-charge vary, its enchantment ought to be apparent in an period the place the price of gas is proving much less secure than a vial of nitro-glycerine in a tumble-dryer.
However the Mannequin Y is a latecomer to our market. It’s been greater than two years between it occurring sale within the US and its arrival on Australian roads, and in that point two Korean intruders have muscled in on the Mannequin Y’s turf: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6.
Each are wonderful – award-winning even – which places the two-year-old Tesla on the again foot from the get-go. Latest value will increase additionally imply it has null value benefit regardless of Tesla’s direct-sales mannequin, with the Mannequin Y presently promoting for $72,300 earlier than on-road prices, or circa-$84K drive-away in NSW, VIC and SA.
For context the Ioniq 5 Dynamiq RWD retails for $69,900 and Kia’s EV6 Air RWD is $72,590 pre-on-road prices.
So the worth battleground is a degree one – if not barely tilted in opposition to the Tesla – so the Mannequin Y wants to supply one thing the Ioniq 5 and EV6 can’t. The place’s the X-factor at? We borrowed the bottom Mannequin Y rear-drive for a number of days to seek out out.
Strolling as much as the Mannequin Y, the preliminary impression is that it’s greater than images would have you ever consider. Its 2890mm wheelbase could also be considerably shorter than the Ioniq 5’s three-metre stance, however an total size of 4750mm means it places the Koreans within the shade by various centimetres.
If the three-row Mannequin X is a big SUV then by rights the Mannequin Y is a mid-sizer, however dimensions like that push it to the higher fringe of that definition. It hides its bulk effectively although, visually talking, due to Tesla’s amorphous-blob design language that, I’ll be sincere, doesn’t actually interact me as a lot because the spaceship styling of Hyundai’s pure EV SUV.
Inside, that is certainly one of Tesla’s extra convincing cabins – at the very least insofar as its utility. A standard centre console sits at hip-height and accommodates deep storage bins, an armrest, two wi-fi cost pads (with a pleasant microsuede anti-slip backpanel) and a pair of cupholders.
The door pockets are generously sized, the boot is huge and deep with huge under-floor storage, and the rear seatbacks fold down on the press of a button.
The design is as sober and streamlined as the outside, but it surely’s trimmed properly with microsuede panels on the door playing cards and supple vegan leather-based on the seats – brilliant white within the case of this tester, however an all-black configuration can be obtainable that’ll prevent $1500 versus the white possibility.
High quality qualms? Tesla has attracted them prior to now, however the match and end of this Chinese language-built Mannequin Y (all Aus-bound Mannequin Ys are inbuilt Tesla’s Chinese language plant) was tight and issue-free.
There are nonetheless some Tesla-isms that make it more durable to like this cabin, nonetheless. The corporate’s insistence {that a} single centre-mounted display screen is adequate for each infotainment and important driver info just like the speedometer is, to place it plainly, simply unsuitable, particularly within the absence of a head-up show.
There’s a very good quantity of display screen actual property at the very least, and Tesla’s newest in-car software program is likely one of the slickest within the enterprise with near-instant response to finger prods and swipes, and nearly no lag when swapping between totally different menu pages. If you will get your head round an iPhone, you’ll have a simple time attending to grips with this 15.0-inch touchscreen.
One other annoyance is the just about whole absence of any management labelling. Do you know the transmission selector stalk can be the factor that prompts cruise management? You’d by no means determine it out by merely taking a look at it. Similar too with utilizing the steering wheel scroll wheels to regulate the mirrors or having to regulate the path of the air vents through the display screen.
Easy options grow to be needlessly advanced when Tesla’s person interface engineers become involved.
However in the case of consolation and house, the Mannequin Y has each in abundance. The entrance seats supply sufficient adjustability and assist to stay snug after hours behind the wheel, and the again seat is equally as roomy.
Rear seat legroom is beneficiant, there’s sufficient headroom even for high hat fanatics to maintain their headgear donned, and the angle of backrest and seat base additionally offers a cushty posture, with an additional step of recline for the backrest for higher street journey snoozability.
Rear air vents, heated outer seats and USB-C energy shops ought to hold your backseaters completely satisfied too, and for those who’re involved about whether or not everybody might be in for a case of extreme sunburn due to that giant glass sunroof (customary tools, amazingly sufficient), it’s made with an optical coating that rejects UV and infrared warmth and retains the highest of your dome cool.
And for those who’re questioning how that correlates to the Tesla Mannequin 3 which sits on the identical platform, there are huge benefits to the Mannequin Y when it comes to not simply headroom, however again seat legroom – within the Mannequin Y, these within the again have 135mm extra distance between their knees and the entrance seats.
Boot house can be a win for the Mannequin Y, with 854 litres when measured to the roof and together with the under-floor space, in comparison with the Mannequin 3’s 561 litres. Underneath the bonnet the Mannequin Y boasts a 117-litre storage space, greater than the Mannequin 3 by 29 litres.
If you happen to’re tossing up between the $65,500 Mannequin 3 RWD and the Mannequin Y RWD, the $7K value differential buys you cabin quantity greater than anything.