THIS is the automobile that ought to nicely and actually safe Tesla’s place within the automotive panorama – or not less than, that’s what logic dictates.
As a mid-to-large SUV it’s obtained the shape issue that the majority of household patrons need, and, coupled with an EV powertrain that boasts a extremely usable 455km single-charge vary, its attraction needs to be apparent in an period the place the price of gas is proving much less secure than a vial of nitro-glycerine in a tumble-dryer.
However the Mannequin Y is a latecomer to our market. It’s been greater than two years between it occurring sale within the US and its arrival on Australian roads, and in that point two Korean intruders have muscled in on the Mannequin Y’s turf: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6.
Each are wonderful – award-winning even – which places the two-year-old Tesla on the again foot from the get-go. Latest value will increase additionally imply it has null value benefit regardless of Tesla’s direct-sales mannequin, with the Mannequin Y at the moment promoting for $72,300 earlier than on-road prices, or circa-$84K drive-away in NSW, VIC and SA.
For context the Ioniq 5 Dynamiq RWD retails for $69,900 and Kia’s EV6 Air RWD is $72,590 pre-on-road prices.
So the worth battleground is a degree one – if not barely tilted in opposition to the Tesla – so the Mannequin Y wants to supply one thing the Ioniq 5 and EV6 can’t. The place’s the X-factor at? We borrowed the bottom Mannequin Y rear-drive for a number of days to search out out.
Strolling as much as the Mannequin Y, the preliminary impression is that it’s larger than photographs would have you ever consider. Its 2890mm wheelbase could also be considerably shorter than the Ioniq 5’s three-metre stance, however an general size of 4750mm means it places the Koreans within the shade by quite a lot of centimetres.
If the three-row Mannequin X is a big SUV then by rights the Mannequin Y is a mid-sizer, however dimensions like that push it to the higher fringe of that definition. It hides its bulk nicely although, visually talking, because of Tesla’s amorphous-blob design language that, I’ll be trustworthy, doesn’t actually interact me as a lot because the spaceship styling of Hyundai’s pure EV SUV.
Inside, that is one in every of Tesla’s extra convincing cabins – not less than insofar as its utility. A standard centre console sits at hip-height and accommodates deep storage bins, an armrest, two wi-fi cost pads (with a pleasant microsuede anti-slip backpanel) and a pair of cupholders.
The door pockets are generously sized, the boot is extensive and deep with large under-floor storage, and the rear seatbacks fold down on the press of a button.
The design is as sober and streamlined as the outside, but it surely’s trimmed properly with microsuede panels on the door playing cards and supple vegan leather-based on the seats – vibrant white within the case of this tester, however an all-black configuration can also be accessible that’ll prevent $1500 versus the white possibility.
High quality qualms? Tesla has attracted them previously, however the match and end of this Chinese language-built Mannequin Y (all Aus-bound Mannequin Ys are inbuilt Tesla’s Chinese language plant) was tight and issue-free.
There are nonetheless some Tesla-isms that make it tougher to like this cabin, nonetheless. The corporate’s insistence {that a} single centre-mounted display screen is adequate for each infotainment and demanding driver info just like the speedometer is, to place it plainly, simply fallacious, particularly within the absence of a head-up show.
There’s an excellent quantity of display screen actual property not less than, and Tesla’s newest in-car software program is without doubt one of the slickest within the enterprise with near-instant response to finger prods and swipes, and virtually no lag when swapping between totally different menu pages. If you will get your head round an iPhone, you’ll have a simple time attending to grips with this 15.0-inch touchscreen.
One other annoyance is the virtually complete absence of any management labelling. Do you know the transmission selector stalk can also be the factor that prompts cruise management? You’d by no means determine it out by merely taking a look at it. Similar too with utilizing the steering wheel scroll wheels to regulate the mirrors or having to regulate the route of the air vents by way of the display screen.
Easy options change into needlessly complicated when Tesla’s person interface engineers become involved.
However in the case of consolation and house, the Mannequin Y has each in abundance. The entrance seats provide sufficient adjustability and assist to stay comfy after hours behind the wheel, and the again seat is equally as roomy.
Rear seat legroom is beneficiant, there’s sufficient headroom even for prime hat lovers to maintain their headgear donned, and the angle of backrest and seat base additionally gives a cushty posture, with an additional step of recline for the backrest for higher street journey snoozability.
Rear air vents, heated outer seats and USB-C energy retailers ought to hold your backseaters glad too, and when you’re involved about whether or not everybody will probably be in for a case of extreme sunburn because of that giant glass sunroof (normal gear, amazingly sufficient), it’s made with an optical coating that rejects UV and infrared warmth and retains the highest of your dome cool.
And when you’re questioning how that correlates to the Tesla Mannequin 3 which sits on the identical platform, there are massive benefits to the Mannequin Y by way of not simply headroom, however again seat legroom – within the Mannequin Y, these within the again have 135mm extra distance between their knees and the entrance seats.
Boot house can also be a win for the Mannequin Y, with 854 litres when measured to the roof and together with the under-floor space, in comparison with the Mannequin 3’s 561 litres. Below the bonnet the Mannequin Y boasts a 117-litre storage space, larger than the Mannequin 3 by 29 litres.
In the event you’re tossing up between the $65,500 Mannequin 3 RWD and the Mannequin Y RWD, the $7K value differential buys you cabin quantity greater than anything.
