Your questions answered: Are there changes coming to the Tesla Model Y?

The interest in EVs is clearly ramping up following the federal government’s announcement to exempt more affordable electric cars from fringe benefits tax. And it’s Tesla that’s at the top of the list for interest.

Finding out what’s going on with future Tesla models is not always easy though…

It also appears that budgets are tightening, with some carsales readers looking at lower-priced models.

There’s also someone trying to decipher the latest SUV additions to the Toyota showroom and another wondering whether they really do need to buy a whole new set of tyres after getting a puncture.

Plus, there’s one reader ready to find a new tow vehicle after their caravan upgrade.

Question:

Answer: Figuring out what Tesla is doing and when is tricky stuff. They don’t engage with the media or give their salespeople any clues as to what might change or when. It’s a bit like trying to figure out what’s happening with the next generation Apple iPhone.

The only inkling most get of changes coming to Teslas are when Elon Musk fires up on Twitter or someone gets an informed leak from inside the company. Which is a roundabout way of saying we don’t really know what’s happening with the Model Y or when updates are likely to arrive.

That said, first deliveries of the Model Y only arrived in Australia in August, so from a pure timing perspective we wouldn’t be expecting significant changes in the near future. But, again, anything can happen with Tesla!

There are, however, two additional models in the Model Y line-up that haven’t yet arrived in Australia. The only variant that has been delivered so far is the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive, which is the single-motor entry-level model.

Tesla has also begun taking orders for the Performance, which is the fastest model that comes with two electric motors and all-wheel drive. Those Performance models are running late (it’s a familiar theme with Tesla) but are expected early in 2023.

In between them is the Model Y Long Range. That’s the version you may have been thinking of when referring to a longer-range battery pack. It also gets a dual-motor set-up but has less power than the Performance, with the emphasis instead on extending its driving range.

Tesla isn’t taking orders for that car yet and we don’t know when that will happen. We could wake up tomorrow and find it can be ordered on the Tesla website, or we might wake up in a year and still not have Aussie availability.

Question:

Answer: The biggest negative with a dealer demo is its age and how far it has travelled. Check the build date (when it rolled off the factory, not the compliance plate) and make sure it hasn’t been sitting around for too long.

Also be aware that a car’s warranty usually starts from the time it was registered. So if the car has number plates then the warranty period will already have started.

Another consideration is what it is exactly you’re buying. Car-makers often do annual updates that could introduce new features or tweak the design. So check whether the car you’re looking at is the current model.

And in an era of global semi-conductor shortages, some manufacturers have temporarily removed features to reduce the number of microchips required to produce it. So it’s worth checking with the dealer that the car you’re looking at has all the advertised features.

Question:

Answer: The 323 (which preceded the Mazda3) was a thoroughly practical car that could be very reliable and easy to live with.

But the models you’ll now be looking at will be something like 20 years old. Any time you’re looking at a car that old you need to be prepared for things to go wrong.

Sure, you may get lucky and buy a car that gives you another decade of mostly trouble-free motoring. But you could also buy something that ends up costing you more than you shelled out for the car in the first place.

It’s also worth remembering that dealers don’t have to provide a statutory warranty for a car that old. In most states and territories a statutory dealer warranty only applies to vehicles less than 10 years old that have travelled less than 160,000km.

So you need to ensure the car you’re looking at has been well looked after and is in good condition. If you don’t know what you’re looking at then consider an independent inspection from RedBook Inspect. It’ll at least give you some peace of mind.

Also, don’t lock yourself into the Mazda 323.

Sure, it was a decent car that had a reputation for reliability, but it was by no means alone. To play it safe we’d be sticking with Japanese brands, but cast your car buying net wider to vehicles such as the Suzuki Swift, Honda Civic, Nissan Pulsar and Toyota Corolla. You may also find an early Mazda3 (which replaced the 323) could be as affordable as some of those 323s.

Question:

Answer: As you may know, the tare mass is the weight of the trailer with minimal fluids and no extras (such as knives and forks, bedding, gas bottles, etc). It’s arguably less relevant than the ATM, or aggregate trailer mass, which is what the total weight can be when you’ve loaded it up.

Okay, so many people may not load their caravan to the limit, but we’re guessing plenty will get close, so best to be prepared.

Which brings us to the tow vehicle. Let’s assume you need it to tow 2100kg. Any time you’re towing 2.1 tonnes you need a sizeable vehicle with a reasonable amount of grunt to get the job done.

Mid-size SUVs won’t cut it because of their tow limits (usually between 1500kg and 2000kg).

That leaves you looking at the large ones. The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are two of the better options. They share the same underpinnings and drivetrains, with the main difference being the equipment.

Despite the similarities, though, the Santa Fe is rated to tow up to 2500kg whereas the Sorento tops out at 2000kg.

That extra headroom with the Santa Fe will make it a safer choice to tow with, especially once you factor in the GVM (gross vehicle mass) of the vehicle, which needs to take into account the weight pushing down on the tow ball.

Short story is you’d still be able to carry around half a tonne of people and luggage once you’re towing your caravan.

Question: I have about $50,000 to spend on a car that I will take a novated lease on through my work. I need something that can take two kids regularly and go on some gravel roads, so at this stage I’ve been considering various SUVs. That said, it doesn’t need to be a proper off-roader. Any help is appreciated. – Meryl H

Answer: You’re playing in the sweet spot of the market with plenty of options. There’s a whole range of mid-size SUVs that will do a fine job.

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best on the market and the hybrid version is the pick in the range. Your challenge will be getting hold of one, because Toyota can’t build enough to keep up with demand. Plus, there have been numerous price rises that have eroded some of its value.

Other solid options include the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, both of which share mechanical components. Each is available with a full-size spare wheel, which could be an important consideration for your gravel escapades.

While they have different suspension and steering tunes, the biggest differentiator between them is the price, features and design.

In our recent Best Mid-Size SUV test for 2022 we rated the Sportage just ahead of the Tucson.

As a left-fielder we’d also recommend chatting to your lease provider and/or accountant about an EV. Sure, to get a decent one of the size you’re chasing may mean stepping up in price, but the recent changes to fringe benefits tax for electric vehicles could mean your weekly repayments are less than that of a more affordable model.

Question:

Answer: The Toyota Yaris Cross and Corolla Cross take two familiar nameplates and add some crossover marketing spark to each. Despite the link with the Yaris and Corolla, each has a unique body, with the names more about familiarising people with the relative newcomers. Adding ‘Cross’ is a lot easier than spending big bucks establishing entirely new nameplates.

Think of it as a sign of the times: Toyota is leveraging the heritage of those two models while introducing two new SUVs that take advantage of the never-ending shift towards high-riding wagons. They could one day theoretically replace the Yaris and/or Corolla.

In terms of differences and which is best…

The Yaris Cross is smaller and more affordable, although it’s still a practical size for small families and zipping around town. It’s available for $28,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level GX two-wheel drive hybrid or another $3000 for the all-wheel drive system, which adds another electric motor to drive the rear wheels.

The Toyota Corolla Cross is fresher, having only gone on sale here a couple of months ago. It’s slightly larger, with the biggest benefits in boot space and rear seat accommodation.

The newness also means the Corolla Cross is the first Toyota to get the latest-generation Toyota hybrid system. The biggest benefit is more power for better performance.

Combined with a bigger petrol engine – the Corolla Cross gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder versus the Yaris Cross’ 1.5-litre three-cylinder – it means the Corolla SUV has more grunt, which makes for easier acceleration (there’s 146kW versus 85kW).

But you pay for that space and grunt. The Corolla Cross Hybrid kicks off at $35,500 plus ORCs for the two-wheel drive GX, while the most affordable all-wheel drive is the GXL model (there is no GX Hybrid), priced at $42,250 plus ORCs.

That may well be a deal-breaker because it’s a significant step up to go C over Y. That said, there is more substance in the Corolla Cross. Plus it comes with better tech, including the first application of Toyota Connected Services, which allows basic operation and monitoring from a smartphone app.

So if the budget stretches you’ll get a more convincing car in the Corolla Cross.

Question:

Answer: We’re guessing you have an all-wheel drive. Some cars that drive all four wheels need the tyres to be roughly the same age because of the difference in the rolling radius or circumference.

As a tyre wears down it loses a few millimetres off its outer edge, in turn requiring slightly more turns to go the same speed. It means your speedo accuracy will change by a few per cent from a new set of tyres to a used set.

With all-wheel drives with limited-slip differentials, having those different circumferences can cause heat build-up in one or more of the differentials. So instead of paying for that new set of tyres you could be up for more expensive driveline components.

We’d recommend checking the owner’s manual to see what it says about new tyres with your AWD.

If it does recommend keeping the tyres roughly the same and if you have space at home, you could hold onto a couple of those tyres to use as a temporary spare if you get another puncture – or to start rotating back onto the car once the tread depth is similar to those on the car.

But be aware that if you’re mixing brands there can be differences in the sizes of tyres by up to three per cent – even if the tyres have the same dimensions stamped on the sidewall.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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