That’s what the owners think

With these sales figures, Tesla dethroned the Toyota RAV4, which took the honor last year. Owners of this model write mostly positively about their SUV, but note that there are still areas for improvement. He points out that a best-selling car doesn’t necessarily have to be flawless. Owners of the popular Tesla Model 3 also experience annoyance now and then, although positivity prevails here too. Note: This article sometimes refers to “M3”. BMW’s sports sedan may be innocent, that’s how owners like to abbreviate their Model 3. The same goes for “MY,” of course, though that’s less confusing.

Space advance Tesla Model Y

The main difference between the Model Y and the Model 3 is, of course, the space. If we look at the external dimensions, we see that the SUV is about 6 cm longer, 7.2 cm wider and no less than 18 cm higher than the sedan model. As a result, the total luggage space – in the case of rear-wheel drive cars – grows by almost 300 liters. “What a space!” 2021 Model Y Long Range owner gets excited. “Unbelievable, plenty of room for passengers in the back. The seat back can be adjusted in 3 positions. There is plenty of space for luggage, and an electric bike in the back a few times. The race bike even fits without removing the wheels.”

There is also plenty of space for the rear passengers, as this driver describes: “The space available, both for front and (especially) rear passengers, but also for luggage, is enormous. Our girls sat like princesses, spacious in the back.” Speaking of princesses, according to another owner, a girl should never sit on a pea in the middle of the back. “The seats and the back seat do not offer French comfort or German firmness. The seats are short and stiff, especially the middle seat in the back seat is not pleasant.”

The interior is so spacious that Tesla has programmed a special camp mode in the climate control. “It went well and especially with the bad weather outside the camp setting A/C was a relief,” says the long-haul 4×4 driver. For one night of course, because sleeping in his car for a few weeks seems less pleasant.

The parcel rack is also less fun. “I don’t know what to think of the parcel shelf,” Malik writes, seemingly having an opinion. “I think it’s an inconvenience. I have a pushchair, it just doesn’t fit in the box with the parcel shelf. So you have to take that out.”

Seating comfort

No owner complained about the interior space and rear seat comfort was also briefly touched upon. What about the front seats? “Sitting comfort depends on your frame of reference,” wrote the Type Y driver who has previously driven a Volvo XC90. “The seats aren’t anywhere near as comfortable as the XC90’s, but they sure aren’t comfortable.”

The taller driver has clearer reservations about seating comfort. “The length of the seat cushions is on the short side for me (I’m 1.95m). I also think the headrest is tilted a little too far forward, and it’s not adjustable.” By the way, several owners commented on the non-adjustable headrest.

Although most users are comfortable with the seating furniture, one driver was so dissatisfied that he took a drastic step: “Personally I thought the seats were horrible and I couldn’t find the right one, I solved it with ASD seat customization.”

Interiors, controls and assistance systems

Much has already been said and written about the minimalist interiors of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Among ‘our’ Model Y drivers there are also those who have previously driven a Model 3. One writes: “The interior has been vastly improved and quieter than the M3 .” The Model Y Performance driver corroborates this experience. “What a difference this car has from the Model 3 Performance: the build quality is completely different.” one after that? “Compared to my previous Tesla Model 3, the Model Y is now quieter, everything feels more robust, and the Model Y has a nicer finish. When you slam the door hard, there’s no squeak, but it feels solid.”

Well, that’s an improvement. But perhaps most surprisingly little is said about the center screen, which is also the only screen in the car. This seems to work without major problems and you get so used to reading speed paid on this that it’s not worth mentioning. Noteworthy is the parking sensors, or their absence. The first Model Y still had the usual ultrasonic sensors, starting with the 2023 model year they have been removed, so the car now relies on video intelligence.

User confidence in this software is less. wrote a long-term 2023 AWD user. “Tesla really needs to improve on this.”

The owner of the black Model Y has reservations, too. The neighbors’ “old” M3 has ultrasonic parking sensors, which work fantastically. My MY has a few HD cameras and an Elonesque promise that software will one day do great things with them. But until the Tesla Vision actually starts working properly, it’s It’s just like old-fashioned backwards with your head pointed and an arm wrapped around the co-driver’s seat.”

Self-driving?

Tesla became famous—or infamous—with its Autopilot driving assistant, with which the brand made big promises and largely delivered. This system will also rely on cameras from 2021 only and will not be supported by a radar sensor as before. There is no fun, according to many drivers. “Take phantom braking (sudden braking, ed.), for example, when driving on autopilot. Very annoying, you get a shock and if someone is driving close to you, it’s also dangerous, ”is what the driver experiences. “Unfortunately, it still doesn’t run flawlessly. Occasionally it slows down unnecessarily. It’s an unpleasant surprise every time,” another driver describes.

“After 12,000 km in two months, I now know the distinguishing characteristics and I also know where the program gets lost in the Netherlands. Like this morning in a light haze in the north. It doesn’t take much to throw the autopilot off course. Bing: do it yourself.” A little nuance from this Model Y RWD driver: “It’s a great travel companion on all other days since you can easily cover many kilometers with one hand on the wheel.”

ride

When it comes to driving, people are quite enthusiastic about the Model Y, especially in terms of comfort noise. Compared to older Teslas, this seems to be a huge improvement. However, several owners have reported nervous behavior at (increased) highway speed. One such driver wrote: “The car is very nervous and sensitive to wind, which is especially annoying on a long trip.” “I solved that by driving a lot on autopilot, then holding the steering wheel loosely and never having to correct it.” Another car with new tires: “The Michelin tires have added real comfort and at high speeds (over 150 km/h) the car is less snappy in the steering and feels less light in the nose.”

By “extra comfort,” it also refers to the chassis, which many drivers describe as stiff or rigid and detracts from comfort. Tesla seems to have heard those complaints, because from 2023 the Model Y’s chassis has been tuned a little softer. The owner of this newer car also experiences this: “The handling is great due to the low center of gravity and all-wheel drive. The chassis and suspension are perfect. It was sometimes written that the first Model Ys were hard and jerky, but this is not the case.”

power consumption and range

Owners are generally happy with the Model Y range, especially if they opt for the Long Range or Performance variant. Rear-wheel drive owner, with built-in battery pack: “Today in sleet from Leeuwarden to Eindhoven, during the day. That went down from 100 per cent to 15 per cent in 150 miles. Warning right away I had to charge, but where I was 20 charging stations in the parking lot.”

What can you expect from long range? This owner offers insight. “We drive alternately city and highway, my estimate is 40/60 percent. Consumption is not too bad. From October to mid-February it’s still a little wintry and from November with winter tires, 16.7 kW / 100 km. If you drive about 130 km / h, consumption will rise to 19 to 20 kWh / 100 km. Tesla’s advice is not to charge the battery more than 90 percent if not necessary. Theoretically, you’ll then get 450 km, but for now I’m sticking to 400 to 425 kilometers.

Another 4WD long-range driver: “The range to be achieved is more than acceptable and is heavily influenced by my mood and the song playing on the radio. From 135 – 180 W/km in summer to 180-220 W/km in winter. He and others don’t like different radii: The turning radius is the radius of the tanker.

Model Y makes a lot of gains over 3 years

With the Model Y, Tesla not only seems to be saving more space, but gains have also been made in other areas. It seems that the final level is higher than that of the Model 3, also in the technical area, the owners do not complain (yet) about the noise from the chassis. However, until recently it was a bit harsh, as it is supposed to be smoother with newer cars. Against all these pluses is the lack of ultrasonic and radar sensors, which leads to irritation in practice. Sometimes the car brakes out of the blue, the effect of weather on driver assistance systems is great, and when parking, cameras prove incapable of replacing conventional parking sensors.