Tesla Model Y: everything there is to know before the arrival of Tesla’s SUV

The Tesla Model Y, presented in March 2019, landed in France more than two years after its introduction. This Model 3 XXL has everything to conquer customers looking for a practical electric vehicle, capable of cutting the road and which does not sacrifice occupant comfort. Let’s see all the details of the Californian star.

When does the Tesla Model Y arrive in France?

The most anticipated electric vehicle of the year will soon arrive in France: it is of course the Tesla Model Y. The Californian manufacturer’s SUV based on the Tesla Model 3 begins to travel the roads of the Old Continent, fresh off the Shanghai Gigafactory.

Many potential customers are waiting for the first feedback before deciding, and we’ll be sure to tell you more about them in our future test. In the meantime, here is a summary of everything we know about the Tesla Model Y, in the summer of 2021.

Tesla Model Y technical sheet

Interior and exterior design

The Tesla Model Y takes on the exterior design cues of the Model 3 up front, with similar lights and bumper. Naturally higher (1.62 meters), the ground clearance is greater than its little sister the Model 3 (17 cm against 14 cm).

The window trims and flush handles are satin black, and the rear windows are factory tinted. Benefiting from an electric tailgate, the total space available once the rear seats are folded down reaches 2100 liters.

If you know a little about the Tesla Model 3, the interior will not surprise you: it is in all respects similar. The leatherette seats are identical to those found in Tesla’s sedan, and up front they are simply raised. For the rear, they are more spacious. Two small buttons on the left of the trunk allow the seats to be folded down effortlessly.

Finally, the standard glass roof brings an increased feeling of space in the passenger compartment. It is made up of a single pane of glass between the end of the windshield and the rear trunk, unlike the Tesla Model 3.

Autonomy, consumption, performance

The first Tesla Model Ys arriving in France did not come from Fremont in California, but from the Gigafactory in Shanghai. They are therefore probably equipped with LG batteries with a useful capacity of around 74 kWh, as was the case for the Tesla Model 3 at the end of 2020, and in the third quarter of 2021.

Therefore, autonomy WLTP currently displayed in the Long Range version is 505 kilometers. This means that at an equivalent battery, in the WLTP cycle, a Tesla Model Y travels 87% of the distance of a Model 3. This is consistent, considering the overweight of 160 kilos and the less optimized aerodynamics of the SUV.

A Performance version is also in the catalog, but will be delivered later, at the beginning of the year 2022. The displayed WLTP autonomy is 480 kilometers, and the 0 to 100 km / h is announced in 3.7 seconds, against 5 seconds for the long-range version.

Battery and recharge

The Tesla Model Y, in Long Range or Performance version, offer essentially the same batteries. As explained above, the first deliveries will – no doubt – give pride of place to LG batteries with a useful capacity of around 74 kWh, with 507 kilometers of WLTP autonomy.

Tesla’s SUV will be equipped with a CCS Combo 2 port, of course making it possible to take advantage of the Tesla Superchargers throughout Europe, but also to recharge at third-party fast-charging stations, such as Ionity or Total Recharge.

With peak charging power of up to 250 kW, you can recover up to 270 kilometers in 15 minutes, according to the manufacturer.

Driving assistance

Tesla offers the same options as the rest of the range in terms of driving assistance. Autopilot is standard, and combines adaptive cruise control with active lane maintenance. For most customers, this functionality will be sufficient, but two other options exist in the catalog.

Autopilot Improved

The first, called Improved Autopilot and billed at 3,800 euros, adds several skills to the standard Autopilot. The first concerns automatic lane change, which allows the turn signal to change lanes on a motorway or other lane with limited access, without the driver having to take control. Autopilot navigation is also part of the game, with the ability to navigate automatically from an insertion lane to a motorway exit.

Finally, automatic parking in battle and parallel parking functions, as well as the intelligent auto exit are part of this package, allowing you to move your Model Y forwards or backwards from the Tesla application on a smartphone.

Fully autonomous driving capability

You can also opt for the Fully Autonomous Driving Capability for 7,500 euros, which takes everything that the Improved Autopilot offers, while adding the rknowledge and reaction to traffic lights and stop signs. Your vehicle will then be able to stop at lights and stop signs when you are in Autopilot, and will alert you when the light is green.

Of course, purchasing this option today will allow you to benefit from all of Tesla’s future autonomous driving options, at least when they are deployed.

Prices and options

Tesla cleverly positioned itself under 60,000 euros to benefit from the ecological bonus of 2,000 euros. Thus, the cheapest Tesla Model Y is offered at 57,990 euros (bonus included). The Performance version starts at 66,990 euros, and is therefore not eligible for the ecological bonus.

If the white color is free, the other colors are charged 1190 euros (black, gray, blue) or 2100 euros (red). On the Long Range version, you can change the standard 19 ″ rims to 20 ″ Induction rims, which will cost you an additional 2,100 euros. 21 ”Überturbine rims are standard on the Performance model.

The black interior is standard, but the white interior is priced at 1,190 euros. Finally, the driving assistance options are respectively 3,800 and 7,500 euros, which can lead to a total bill of 77,780 euros for a Tesla Model Y Performance, red, white interior and equipped with the capacity of fully autonomous driving. .