Tesla Model Y Performance | The Big Brother
A little while ago I tested the Tesla Model 3 Long Range and in many ways this big brother, the Model Y Performance, looks and feels the same. So voilà we are done here, thank you for reading the shortest review ever. No just kidding, there's much more to say! One thing before we can start our Model Y journey, I would ask/recommend you to read the Tesla Model 3 Review so we can compare the two brothers. It'll also be a lot easier for you to understand the amazing and awesome world of Tesla.
Copy-Paste?
First things first, one thing your eyes immediately see is that the Model 3 and the Model Y are very much alike, I would almost say a copy-paste version pumped up with some air or helium, you decide which one of the two. Please choose helium so there would be another Tesla in space! Somehow I really loved the Model Y a lot more than the Model 3, but why? Let’s take a look at what the Model Y has in store for us so you can tell me which one of the 2 is your favorite.
In Good Shape
Let’s start with the outside. For an SUV it looks super sporty and streamlined, it definitely has the lines I missed with the Model 3. You see that the Y is higher and bulkier, which I like a lot more as an SUV fan. The front is still very round, but it bothered me less, it suits the car very well. A pretty little carbon spoiler is applied at the back and the nice 21” Überturbine wheels make the big car a lot sportier. But that’s not the only thing why this is a performance car, you’ll also get performance brakes with red calipers, lowered suspension and aluminum alloy pedals. The back looks a lot more brutal because this model is much higher, that’s what makes the difference in choosing between a model 3 or Y. This is also why I personally loved it more. When you look at the doors you’ll notice that the doorknobs are hidden in the door itself. They don’t stick out and ask for a little bit of practice to open. It’s always fun when people try to open the door for the first time.
Let's Take A Seat
When we take a look at the interior, it’s also a total copy of the Model 3, but I had the feeling it suits the model Y better. The interior is really “less is more”, some people like it, others dislike it. I’m a fan, but it takes some time to get used to the bare interior. In the middle of that bare interior, we have a big 15” screen which is just perfect to fill up this spacious car. Talking about that amazing screen, it’s still the best infotainment system on the market. It’s so fluent and once you get the hang of it, it’s super user-friendly. Every single function can be controlled with this screen. But it's not only the infotainment system that works so smoothly, you also have an amazing Tesla app Which is also your primary car key! It's super safe and easy to use, you just need your phone in your pocket and that's it. The car unlocks and locks automatically. You can control the temperature, open the trunk or frunk, open the charge port, turn on the lights, etc. Just amazing how much you can control with a single touch on your phone.
I already said that the car is very spacious and we can thank that to the higher & bulkier build and the huge full panoramic roof that lets a lot of natural light into the car. The backseat gives more than enough space for 3 grown-ups and the trunk is also very big. Behind the first row with the second row seats folded you have 1923L to fill up. Need extra storage? Don't forget the 117L frunk! Btw, don't be shocked when you try to close that frunk, it feels quite cheap because the hood is built so lightly.
When The Pre-Workout Kicks In!
The one thing that was completely different from the model 3 long range, was driving this car. I drove the performance version this time and believe me, the difference is gigantic. With its 562hp (413kWh) and 660Nm torque this car was a true pleasure to drive in. You sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3,7 seconds and up to 250km/h. We can thank that to the dual motor setup that powers the all-wheel drive.
Tesla is known for its full self-driving capability, but this one didn’t have the enhanced autopilot function like I had with the model 3. Although, on the small Belgian roads, it’s not much of a use so I didn’t really miss it. On the highways the other hand, it’s really a pleasure to have this option. I’m also still in love with the amazing adaptive cruise control and the one-pedal drive. It’s the only car where I actually use the one-pedal drive with love instead of getting frustrated.
For a performance car, it takes you pretty far. With a full battery you can reach 514km (WLPT) and as a real-world experience, I would say about 480km. Tesla is one of the only brands where you can trust the range you see on your dashboard. When you charge at a Tesla supercharger, the car is 100% charged in less than an hour. Even In 15 minutes, you can recharge up to 260km! Although, when driving an EV, you never charge the car for 100% when on the road. That’s because charging the battery will be the fastest between 20% and 80% SOC (State of Charge). Charging more than 80% will be very time-consuming. Okay but it’s still a lot of waiting, yes but that isn’t that boring in a Tesla. You can play a game, watch your favorite movie or series on Netflix or Disney+, watch some clips on YouTube or just enjoy some music on Spotify.
The Best Brother In The World?
So everything together, the model Y and model 3 are similar in many ways, but the model Y could impress me just that little bit more than its little brother. The Model Y performance drives amazing and has the perfect look because of its higher and bulkier build. So for me, it would be an easy decision but which one would you choose? The model Y performance has a starting price of €70.000 (Belgium) which seems justifiable to me.
