Tesla Model Y L 2026 Review

In China, the only market where the 2026 Tesla Model Y L is currently sold, there’s just one variant of the car available, offering dual-motor performance for the equivalent of $72,750. Given the Model Y Long Range in China retails for around $1500 less than it does here, we can assume that prices in Australia would receive a roughly similar price premium, making it marginally more expensive than a flagship Zeekr 7X, but still significantly cheaper than the only equivalent six (actually seven) seater electric model on the market, the Mercedes-Benz EQB.

We’re exempting the likes of the Kia EV9 and upcoming Hyundai IONIQ 9 from this comparison as both are considerably larger, dedicated three-rows SUVs and command a sizeable price premium as a result.

For the most part, the 2026 Tesla Model Y L features much the same equipment as its smaller sibling but gets a couple of upgrades worthy of note.

You’ll find the most obvious changes inside, where the Model Y L replaces the standard model’s three-seat bench in the second row with a pair of heated and cooled semi-captain’s seats.

Squeezed between the rear wheelarches and directly beneath the rear hatch window is the third row; a pair of what can best be described as jumper seats with electronic backrest angle adjustment and integrated seat heating, though curiously you won’t find a switch to activate it – that needs to be done via the 8.0-inch screen in the second row or voice command.

Like on other Teslas, there’s no digital gauge ahead of the driver, nor a head-up display, and drive must be selected via swiping on the left side of the screen, but the previously deleted indicator stalk has mercifully made a return, and we now get twin ventilated wireless phone chargers, one 50W, the other 30W.

Externally, 19-inch aero wheels are the only option available and there’s a small lip spoiler too for keeping things planted.

Each car comes with a four-year/80,000km vehicle warranty (in China) with eight years/192,000km coverage for the battery and drive units.

The 2026 Tesla Model Y L hasn’t been tested by any safety authority yet but given its almost identical overall architecture to the Y, we can fully expect it’ll achieve the same five-star rating on ANCAP if/when it’s tested.

Tesla’s reputation for crash safety remains one of the brand’s greatest strengths so we’d expect nothing less here, and in the Model Y L there are nine airbags providing the passive safety, including side airbags for the third-row occupants.

While Full Self Driving (FSD) isn’t available in China, the service we get in Australia would almost certainly be offered here, although it does come at a not-insignificant premium. As standard, you’ll get adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, but for more than that you’ll pay roughly $1500 for Basic Autopilot, which adds features like active lane change.

You’ll still get the usual slew of standard safety features like AEB, blind spot assist, and road sign recognition on all versions, so there’s no compromise on safety if you opt to drive yourself.

The central screen, through which almost everything bar the windows is controlled, has been upgraded from a 15.4-inch unit in the standard Model Y to 16-inches in the 2026 Tesla Model Y L.

It runs the same slick operating system users will be familiar with and offers a wide functionality, including for items like the ambient lighting and the comprehensive 18-speaker sound system. There’s also a digital assistant built-in so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for many functions.

Passengers in the rear get the same 8.0-inch screen on the back of the centre console which is also quick and bright, if not particularly large. It operates ventilation and temperature for the back seats, seat controls, entertainment via TV and social media apps, and a bunch of built-in games for keeping the kids happy.

All six seats get their own USB-C sockets for phone charging, however the placement for these in the third row – on the front of the base cushion – has to be considered something of an oversight, as any parent with careless and active children will attest.

Elsewhere, you’ll find the same standard hardware package of cameras around the vehicle providing both 360-degree camera capability and auto-parking functionality.

Dual motors – 142kW on the front axle, 198kW on the rear – combine give the 2026 Tesla Model Y L the same overall output as the Model Y Performance: 340kW/630Nm.

In this larger vehicle, that’s enough to manage 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds. While it’s obviously heavier than the Performance, it almost feels a little detuned compared to the Performance which manages to stop the clock a full second faster with the same outputs.

Still, it’s more than enough thrust.

Taking advantage of a larger 82kWh NMC battery from LG, the 2026 Tesla Model Y L actually achieves a marginally longer range than the Model Y Long Range, with a claimed CLTC figure of 751km – you’re looking at closer to 601km of range when tested on the WLTP cycle.

That’s plenty usable, and while the Model Y L doesn’t quite match the CLTC claims of 12.8kWh/100km for energy efficiency, it consistently achieved less than 14kWh/100km during our tenure, marking it as one of the most efficient electric cars out there for daily driving.

Where the Model Y L falls down, at least compared to competition in China, is on the charging, which hits a peak power of 250kW briefly before dropping off fairly sharply after that.

When some Chinese brands are offering 500kW and even 1MW charging, it’s hard not to feel like Tesla hasn’t been investing in their platform in recent years, but the truth is that in most other markets around the world, Tesla remains the charging king.

That’s primarily down to relatively poor public charging networks in other markets that can’t even support the few Chinese cars that are bringing the high-end goodies. When compared to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network in Australia and the seamless experience of using them, Teslas remain the most attractive choice when it comes to the overall ownership and charging experience.

Despite its extra size and weight, the 2026 Tesla Model Y L remains every bit as engaging and dynamic as the standard Model Y, with precise, go-kart-like steering and outstanding body control.

It’s a car that you’ll want to drive quickly by sheer virtue of the playfulness it exudes from the moment you grab the wheel, and you’d be forgiven for finding the more scenic route home in order to enjoy it.

Lightning acceleration coupled with excellent traction and solid steering feel can give the impression you’re playing a live version of Mario Kart when combined with the slightly higher, somewhat curious driving position of the Y L, and that’s no bad thing.

When enjoyed in full Sport mode with brake regen at its highest setting, the Model Y L becomes a fantastically intuitive car to drive.

That said, it’s not all good, because while the Model Y refresh brought improved ride quality and damping, it still feels far from optimal, with the Model Y L sending tremors through the cabin on coarse and choppy surfaces, and just about kicking your teeth out over reasonably harsh bumps and bridge connections.

Coupled with notably audible road noise at highway speeds, it’s very much an experience where you feel you’re compromising one pleasure in favour of another.

If you’re not comparing the Model Y L to its often dual-chamber air suspension-shod rivals in China, it’s likely an issue you’ll notice far less acutely, but any suggestion that the Model Y L rides like a premium product seems far from the truth.

It’s fair to say Tesla hasn’t always had the greatest reputation for interior build quality and materials that its premium billing suggests, but the improvements made to the Model Y earlier this year have at least lifted the cabin experience considerably, with a notable boost in premium materials throughout, including soft-touch artificial leather, fabric, Alcantara, and wool.

Where plastic does surface, it’s generally of a good quality and neither brittle or industrial to the touch.

That makes for a generally pleasing ambience on the whole, despite the somewhat dour nature of an all-black interior, and does a good job of distracting you from the areas where Teslas often fall foul – notably the door shut gaps, which in the case of the rear doors leave, enough room for an adult to push their finger two joints deep into the cavity.

Stylish one-piece front seats are particularly comfortable and adjustable in every desired dimension, meaning getting comfortable behind the wheel is no issue.

In the second row, things are also impressive with good levels of adjustment and cavernous foot, knee and headroom. The seat base itself can feel a tad narrow to those with larger hips, but not prohibitively so, and the base cushion could do with slightly more tilt, but overall they’re comfortable.

The third row is where things fall apart, particularly so for adults. Access is via either the channel between the second row seats or via a quick electrical folding of the second row seat, and while the adjustable positioning of the second row gives scope for improving knee room, the floor in the third row is so high that adults will find zero thigh support, with knees angled upwards.

Headroom is equally tight, and with no sun protection for the rear hatch, occupants here are likely to cook on hot days. They at least get their own vents for support, but only small children will be comfortable spending long periods of time sat here.

On the plus side, the Model Y L remains as practical as the standard Model Y.

Boasting a 116-litre frunk and sizeable boot with a huge underfloor storage area, the Model Y L will swallow enough luggage for a family weekend away, and for larger hauling requirements, both the third and second rows will fold down at the flick of a few switches to unlock a staggering 2539 litres of space.

At the moment you can’t, at least not here in Australia, but if it does arrive, it’s undoubtedly going to catch the eye of many eco-conscious buyers looking to transport a three- or four-child household.

How big those children are will ultimately make the decision on how useful a 2026 Tesla Model Y L will be to each family, such is the compromised nature of the rearmost seats.

It’s important to judge the Model Y L based on that metric, because while there’s much to recommend about the Model Y L, including its efficiency, safety, practicality, and driving engagement, not to mention the added benefit of the excellent Supercharger network, in practice it adds little to the already brilliant Model Y and nothing at all if your circumstances don’t match.

Given Tesla’s vast wealth and history of innovation, it’s hard not to feel the Model Y L was merely the bare minimum the brand could have done to appeal to larger families.

Right now, however, that’s probably all they need to do before the international expansion of China’s flagship models begins in earnest, and picking the world’s best-selling car to do it with means it already has a headstart.

2026 Tesla Model Y L at a glance:
Price: $72,750 in China
Available: Unconfirmed but likely in 2026
Engine: Dual electric motors
Output: 340kW/630Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 82kWh NMC
Range: 751km (CLTC, likely 601km WLTP)
Energy consumption: 12.8kWh/100km (CLTC)
Safety rating: Not tested, but expected 5-star (ANCAP)

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