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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot2024 Tesla Model Y Review
Tesla’s best-selling SUV offers lots of great technology and range. Is it the right SUV for you? We look at options, interior quality, and more.
Tesla Model Y – tesla.com | Shop 2024 Tesla Model Y on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2024 Tesla Model Y?
Slotted below the automaker’s Model X SUV, the 2024 Tesla Model Y is the company’s best-selling vehicle and #5 overall vehicle by sales volume across the auto industry as of 2023. Clear-cut updates are hard to define as Tesla doesn’t follow industry norms, instead rolling out changes as they see fit.
This first-gen model has been on sale since 2020 and, according to Bloomberg, an overhaul is due to land in 2025. Notable recent changes include a revised 4680-cell battery pack and the addition of a RWD base model to the lineup, which previously was AWD-only.
Carsforsale.com Score
8.25/10
Powertrain
Score
9/10
Interior
Score
8/10
Technology
Score
8.25/10
Value
Score
8/10
The Breakdown
Plenty of standard creature comforts
Tesla charging infrastructure
The Performance model is a rocket
What third-row legroom?
No Apple or Android integration
Touch-based everything
An EV with plenty of range
Tesla Model Y Specs
- 384 horsepower from base motors
- 276 lb-ft of torque from base motors
- 3 available trims
- 30 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 72 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Top marks from both safety agencies
- 12-speaker audio system
- Towing capacity of 3,500 lbs
- 120,000-mile battery coverage
2024 Tesla Model Y Powertrain 9/10
Base models come in single-motor RWD layout with Long Range and Performance models offering two battery-powered electric motors – one at either end. While the range-topping Performance variant will run the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds according to Tesla. It offers 285 miles of driving range and a 111 MPGe combined rating.
The Model Y Long Range can go as far as 310 miles on a full charge and deliver 122 MPGe combined, while the base Model Y has up to 260 miles of driving range and takes 6.6 seconds to hit 60 according to Tesla. A single-speed direct-drive transmission is lineup standard as is a fully independent suspension.
With the optional $1,000 tow hitch, the 2024 Telsa Model Y can tow up to 3,500 pounds. And when connected to its proprietary Supercharger network, the Model Y can inhale 160 miles of driving range in just 15 minutes. This is a major Tesla selling point as the rest of the EV market grapples with the build-out of a national charging infrastructure anyone can use.
2024 Tesla Model Y Interior 8/10
Tesla uses vegan leather upholstery across the 2024 Model Y in all-black with the option for a black-and-white style that adds $1,000 to any model. Most versions seat 5 passengers, but the Long Range Model Y offers a third row of seating. It’ll cost you $3,000 and though it technically has space for 2, the 26 inches of legroom back there is tight.
As for creature comforts, the Model Y is generously appointed. Every trim line comes with heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Seat ventilation is notably absent, but the all-glass roof is standard and promises an airy feel.
Like many EVs, the 2024 Tesla Model Y has space for cargo where an internal combustion engine would normally reside. This front trunk, or frunk, measures 4 cubic feet in the Model Y. In the cabin, there are 34 cubes of space behind the second row and a maximum of 72 when that row is folded down.
2024 Tesla Model Y Technology Features 8.25/10
The Model Y’s tech-forward cabin features a 15-inch central touchscreen that controls virtually all vehicle functions. Buttons are non-existent, so even controlling the side mirrors requires diving into the screen’s menus. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also unavailable here, replaced by a standard Bluetooth connection. On AWD models, a 13-speaker audio system provides what Tesla calls “immersive sound”.
Every 2024 Model Y comes with adaptive cruise control – or Basic Autopilot – forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, and a lane-keeping system. It helps the Model Y earn top marks from both the NHTSA and the IIHS, the latter of which awarded the 2023 model a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
2024 Tesla Model Y Trims & Pricing
Standard Range RWD – $45,630
The entry-level 2024 Tesla Model Y rides on 19-inch wheels and has heated side mirrors plus a hands-free liftgate. Inside, amenities include vegan leather upholstery, DZACC, power-adjustable front seats, heat for the steering wheel, and the first two rows of seating.
Tech highlights include 4 USB ports, dual wireless phone charging pads, a 7-speaker stereo system, a navigation system, and a surround-view monitor. As with all trim lines, the Enhanced Autopilot system offers automatic lane change and the ability to navigate, self-parking, and a summon feature for an extra $6,000.
Long Range AWD – $50,630
Long Range trim adds LED fog lights, a cabin parcel shelf, and a 13-speaker stereo along with a second motor and more driving range. 20-inch rims can be optioned for $2,000 and like any Model Y, you can buy the Full Self-Driving Capability computer upfront.
One day, it might mean your Model Y can drive itself, but for now, you can spend $12,000 to be a participant in Tesla’s experiment on getting there. A recent hiccup in this plan was the NHTSA Autopilot recall that impacted some 2 million Teslas.
Performance AWD – $54,130
Red brake calipers, 21-inch rims, a lowered suspension, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler are exclusive to the Model Y Performance variant. Upgraded brakes are also on hand, which is nice considering the blistering speed of this crossover.
2024 Tesla Model Y Overall Value 8/10
For the money, a base model 2024 Telsa Model Y strikes me as good value. It offers a usable 260-mile driving range and, aside from a bigger stereo, has the same features as the Long Range model that costs an extra $5,000, but only adds 30 to 50 miles of extra range.
But be sure to check out the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It has similar pricing and driving range to the Model Y, but far more style, physical buttons in the cabin, and 10 years of powertrain coverage plus 3 years of complimentary maintenance. Granted, EVs require less maintenance than gas-powered cars, but Tesla’s 4-year/50,000-mile comprehensive coverage is still lacking.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 8.25/10
Tesla Model Y – tesla.com | Shop 2024 Tesla Model Y on Carsforsale.com
As the EV marketplace heats up, the 2024 Tesla Model Y, with its bland potato-on-four-wheels style and spartan cabin feels tepid at this point. Certainly, the available 300 miles of driving range and access to the automaker’s Supercharger network make the Model Y compelling. However, as Tesla continues to open up that network to other companies, the advantage diminishes.
The need to use the touchscreen for even basic vehicle functions is not for everyone and those accustomed to mirroring their smartphones onto this screen in most modern vehicles will be disappointed. Hopefully, the rumored 2025 overhaul will make the Model Y more interesting. While you’re waiting, read up on the latest EV federal tax credit details.
2024 Tesla Model Y FAQ
How much is a Tesla Model Y?
The 2024 Model Y starts at $45,630, but Tesla changes their pricing regularly.
How many kWh does it take to charge a Tesla Model Y?
According to EnergySage.com, a Model Y requires around 91 kWh to charge.
Does the Tesla Model Y qualify for federal tax credit?
Yes, according to FuelEconomy.gov, the 2024 Model Y qualifies for the federal tax credit.
