Tesla Model Y 2021 Review

If the Tesla Model 3 marked the US start-up’s coming out as a high-volume, mass-market EV manufacturer – cementing its place as a household name – then the new 2021 Tesla Model Y is the electric car the world has been waiting for.

The two models, based on the same platform, might share around 75 per cent of parts, but the Y is more practical, and when it arrives Down Under is likely to be just as appealing as the mid-size sedan that’s become the top-selling EV in Australia by a country mile.

And it’s not far away, either, with Tesla receiving official homologation approval recently from Australian regulatory authorities.

Right-hand drive production is already underway in China, and although orders haven’t yet opened up on Tesla’s Aussie website, we’re expecting deliveries to commence in the first half of next year.

Local approval covers three variants along similar lines to the Model 3.

These comprise a single-motor rear-wheel drive Standard Range variant at the entry level, a dual-motor all-wheel drive Long Range model at the mid-point of the range – which we’re testing here – and a dual-motor AWD flagship that offers tar-ripping 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.7 seconds.

Depending on final specifications, pricing is expected to carry a circa-$10,000 premium to Model 3 variants where the Standard Range Plus starts at $59,900, the Long Range from $73,400 and Performance from $84,900 (all plus on-road costs).

The Chinese-spec Model Y Long Range we’re driving retails for RMB347,900 ($A73,000), and may well be the pick of the bunch considering it benefits from both dual-motor power and the longest range – a WLTP-verified 507km but possibly more depending on the battery fitted at the factory.

There’s a tidal wave of new EVs from prestige brands on the horizon, many of them SUVs, but for now the Model Y occupies a similar space to the Model 3 in that it’s likely to stand as a value proposition against many of its premium rivals and new contenders from mass-market brands.

From the sold-out Hyundai IONIQ 5 (from $71,900) to the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 ($76,800) and incoming BMW iX3 ($114,900), there’s plenty of options in the mix.

The sleek new Polestar 2 fastback is in there as well, lining up primarily against the Model 3 but also with the Y in its sights, matching it almost kilometre-for-kilometre when it comes to driving range of the various models. The Long-Range Dual-Motor Polestar 2 is priced at $69,900 plus ORCs.

Inside, the Model Y has all the kit you would expect from a leading EV producer and a premium brand at that, together with much-vaunted self-driving capabilities. Which takes us straight to Shanghai…

Let’s get this out of the way: While the 2021 Tesla Model Y can drive itself to a limited extent, our test showed it could not be relied upon.

The Long Range model on test came with the latest Beta 10.2 Full Self Driving (FSD) software, and on the highway this proved great for cruising. Default settings, though, require confirmations for each manoeuvre.

This can be switched off on the menu, but in overall terms, navigation on Autopilot (NOA) does not work as well in China as the systems offered by some Chinese competitors and showed little inclination to turn off the highway when directed by the navigation.

Similarly in town the Model Y keeps you guessing for too long as to whether it is going to turn or not, and we didn’t generally wait around to find out.

Key to the system are cameras that provide 360-degree coverage along with 12 ultrasonic sensors and a forward-looking radar with 160m range.

To our surprise for a Chinese-market car we managed to change the system fully into English. While the voice recognition did a great job transcribing what we said, it wasn’t so good at actioning any of it.

Repeated requests to turn up the navigation volume ended in us having to do it manually on the touch-screen menu.

Like the Model 3, almost everything, right down to opening the glove box and frunk, is controlled by that 15-inch screen.

While the menus are intuitive and response times exemplary, it can still be fiddly to manage even basic functions such as climate control.

It might be 1.3 seconds slower than the Performance version when accelerating from rest to 100km/h – 5.0sec compared to 3.7sec – but the 2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range still feels quick, often ‘too’ quick.

The Chill setting is probably advisable.

You really have to keep a light foot on the pedal or else you’ll have passengers spilling oat-milk latte everywhere.

As per the Model 3, the all-wheel drive Model Y uses two electric motors – one at each axle – that drives all four wheels via a single-speed transmission.

International specs point to a combined 324kW/493Nm for the Long Range AWD, but based on Australian homologation documents (378kW combined) and the latest Chinese MIIT data, we’re tipping that we’ll receive an uprated version now available in China.

In any case, performance is persuasive both in terms of drive and range. Eking out further range, the Y is the first Tesla to employ heat pump technology to help preserve driving range in cold conditions.

True one-pedal driving is only available with one setting on the braking regeneration. Otherwise the car will slow to a roll and you will need to use the brakes for the final halt.

Compared with Chinese competitors, the energy recovery is much stronger and you can truly use the system rather than the brakes in all but emergencies.

As a crossover with a low centre of gravity it feels much more planted than typically higher-riding electric SUVs, and there is only marginally more body roll than in the Model 3.

Other than the extra space, it feels sedan-like from behind the wheel, and measuring in at just 4750mm long the size of the Model Y never becomes an issue.

Compared with rival Chinese-market EVs, the 2021 Tesla Model Y feels tauter, the steering is weightier and better balanced but still it has an electric feel and gives no real feedback.

Even in Long Range guise, the car feels set up for performance and dynamics rather than comfort. That’s not to say the Model Y is harsh, but the Volkswagen ID models we’ve driven, for example, strike a better balance between ride and handling.

Our test model’s optional 20-inch wheels didn’t help.

While the interior is minimalistic the materials are good quality with nicely grained wood trim. Overall, it very much mirrors the look of the Model 3.

Twin wireless phone charging pads, unusually done in a grey velour material, are angled up where the centre console meets the dashboard.

Inside the sliding compartment are two USB-C ports. There are another two on the back of the console for the rear passengers. Under the arm rest is another storage space along with a 12V outlet.

Thanks to the high roofline, rear headroom is good and generous enough for passengers of at least 185cm tall, while legroom is also better than in the 3. And with a large panoramic roof, complete with UV blocking, the interior is light and airy.

One strange omission though is the absence of grab handles.

The extra cargo room is welcome, with 854 litres available, and this increases to 2158L with the rear seats folded. The frunk also offers an extra 117L.

There was no parcel shelf on our test car, and the two wells on either side of the cargo area are large enough for shopping bags or small dogs to fall into.

The Model 3 has 425 litres of boot space, which can be expanded via the 60/40-split folding rear seats.

A third row for the Model Y is available in other markets, designed really only for short trips, but preliminary Australian specs show that only the five-seater will be offered here at launch.

The lack of an instrument panel in the 2021 Tesla Model Y really takes a lot to get used to and you can’t help but feel a head-up display would go far to address the problem of having to look at the centre screen for everything.

Nonetheless, with the larger Model X SUV priced from $161,990 plus on-road costs (and, not to put too fine a point on it, won’t receive any new shipments until at least the end of 2022), the Model Y finds a blend of affordability, practicality and availability that other members of the Tesla range simply cannot manage.

We have to say that compared with the American-built Model 3 EVs – which up until this year were the ones sold in Australia, before production switched to China – the Shanghai-built Y has much-improved build quality.

Everything just seems that much better put together, like it was intended to be.

Our test model had been used as a media car for more than half a year and the only wear it displayed was a ding on the rear hatch!

The Y comes with a high level of customisability, if you can find the right control buried in the menu.

For most drivers it is just a matter of initially setting it up to how you want it. It would though be nice for the voice control to allow more functions to be changed without using the screen.

As an alternative to the Model 3, which is carsales’ Best Electric Car for 2021, the Y is a Yes from us.

But it will need closer examination against an ever-growing bunch of excellent rival electric SUVs when it finally turns up Down Under.

How much does the 2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD cost?
Price: $83,400 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: First half of 2022 (estimated)
Powertrain: Two permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 324kW/493Nm (minimum)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 75kWh lithium-ion
Range: 507km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 16.9kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested