What We Know About Tesla’s Model Y

Tesla recently revealed its latest vehicle, the highly anticipated Model Y. Fans of the electric automaker have waited for a few years to hear details about the electric car company’s second SUV and its fifth production car ever.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled this new compact crossover at an event at the company’s Los Angeles design studio in March, and shared specs and features of the new model.

What’s the Buzz About the Model Y?

The Model Y is the smaller companion to Tesla’s Model X SUV, built on the same platform as Tesla’s entry-level Model 3 sedan and boasting a best-in-class 66 cubic feet of cargo space. While the Model Y has a similar profile to the Model X, the new crossover replaces the top-hinged “falcon-wing” doors with standard ones.

Like the X and the S, the Model Y will be available in a version that seats seven adults, though the additional seats will cost $3,000. Each second-row seat will be able to fold down independently for versatile storage and hauling solutions. Due to its lower center of gravity, Musk has promised the Model Y will handle like a sports car.

Drive Longer — and More Safely — Between Charges

Notably, Tesla will offer the Model Y with available rear-wheel drive, with a Long-Range version coming in fall 2020 promising up to 300 miles of real-world driving on a single battery charge. The Standard Y, which will hit the streets in spring 2021, will offer 230 miles of range between charges and will go from 0 to 60 in under six seconds.

For those who prefer all-wheel-drive vehicles, Tesla will offer a base Dual-Motor model and a top-spec Performance version of the Model Y, both of which will be available when the crossover launches in fall 2020.

Safety features of the Model Y include large crumple zones, a rigid body structure and a low center of gravity. As with all new Tesla vehicles, the Y will come standard with advanced driver assistance systems such as emergency braking, collision warning and blind-spot monitoring and more. Tesla promises the Model Y will also come equipped with full self-driving capability.

Pricing and Availability

Musk has said he expects the Model Y to outsell the Model S, X and 3 combined, which isn’t surprising, considering how popular compact luxury crossovers have proven to be among drivers. Pricing starts at $39,000 for the Standard version, the Long Range will cost $47,000, the Dual-Motor AWD will cost $51,000 and the Performance will cost $60,000. As Musk originally noted, each of those base prices is about 10 percent higher than a comparable Model 3.

While deliveries won’t begin for more than a year, drivers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium and Spain can design and pre-order a Model Y on Tesla’s website with a $2,500 (USD) deposit. Drivers in other countries will be able to pre-order a Model Y soon.