Tesla Model Y Review

Photography: Saidatta Naik

Tesla Model Y, a breath of American air, which seems like an idea crafted in the alleys of Silicon Valley, where a passionate engineer, software kind, wanted his car to have more tech, and once he started, he could not stop. And then came Elon Musk, who took this engineer’s idea and made it a global phenomenon. In fact, his business practices make for an interesting case study. Sorry, I digress, re-routing back to the Model Y, which is an interesting American take on the electric automobile and here is what my investigation unearthed.

Firstly, Tesla calls it an SUV, but it looks like a crossover even from a mile away. Minimalist exterior design extends to the interior as well, and there is hardly any element on the Model Y that looks decorative. The exterior is sculpted to cut through the air; the camera units on the front quarter panels have aerodynamic housings; and the rear-end is also designed with the Cd in mind. No wonder its Drag Coefficient stands at 0.22, quite commendable. But being minimalist is not what we Indians like; we love to display our wealth, and if a Tesla Model Y Long Range costs almost ₹70 lakh, it better be a head-turner. And surely, it does turn heads, but not because it is loud and glittery, but because it is rare and unique on our roads. But you may ask, what about the cabin?

Well, it draws inspiration from Scandinavia as it is minimalistic to say the least and spacious enough for five adults. On the inside, there is a glaring truth that faces the front passengers. More on that later. I saw this alleged SUV, yes, I say alleged because average SUVs don’t have a Cd of 0.22; for the first time, late last year at the Tesla Experience Centre in Gurugram, and I was amazed at what a ₹70 lakh cabin from America looks like. It comes with two front seats with heating and cooling, a steering wheel with Tesla written on it, a fabric-coated dashboard, a large glass roof, a rear bench, a few buttons on the steering wheel, a single indicator stalk on the steering column and a few buttons on the doors. But what takes the cake inside the cabin is the glaring truth – the massive 15.4-inch touchscreen that is brilliant and works just like an iPad.

Now Tesla designs and engineers everything that sits within this screen and inside the Model Y, including the chip that powers the car’s entire software. And Tesla has done a commendable job on the interface. But what I refuse to understand is why Tesla integrated traditional controls into this screen? Elements like the instrument console, tri-zone AC controls, headlamp switches, steering adjustment controls, frunk and trunk opening, and even the glove box have their own tap within the detailed menu. The only interactive things that do not sit within the touchscreen are the indicator stalk, hazard switch, window controls, door handles, a few buttons on the steering wheel, and the brake and throttle pedals. Rest, whatever you can imagine is operable via the touchscreen. I told you this is an example of tech meeting the automobile, where tech is the more influential player with deep connections to policymakers. I digress again, coming back to the Tesla.

The Model Y scores top marks for tech, and space isn’t bad either. The front seats feature heating and cooling, along with enough support for people with larger frames. There is plenty of space in the centre console to store six one-litre bottles of aerated drinks, as there are no buttons or controls there, just two wireless charging pads chilling under the massive screen. But I must confess one thing: I love the way Tesla designers have hidden the AC vents into the dashboard, because I like the clean look, but at the same time, I also miss having an actual instrument pod. Well, you win some, you lose some. The boot is massive as well and can hold 938 litres worth of luggage, and when you fold the rear seats, it can extend by 1,162 litres. Everything in the Tesla Model Y is American-sized.

Coming to the crux of the story, the powertrain – in this case, the motor that sits on the rear axle and sends 340PS to the rear wheels. Tesla sent over the long-range version of the Model Y, which has more power than the standard variant and is powered by an 83kWh battery pack of Tesla’s very own design. Now Tesla claims a range of 661km (WLTP), and we can tell you that it can easily cover 500km on a single charge in our conditions. We nearly hit that mark while testing it over three days. Not bad for a ₹70 lakh SUV. However, that single motor powering the rear wheels is more than adequate for a 5.6-second 0-100kmph sprint. Unfortunately, Tesla locked our Model Y at 120kmph, so we couldn’t really test how fast it could go.

But acceleration was quick; it gathered pace rapidly, and before I knew it, I was already at 100kmph. Even the standard regen works well, giving it single pedal driveability. There is another regen mode called reduced, which does what it says and with full conviction. The drive, however, feels slightly boring because the NVH levels are excellent, and since the only sound you hear is either coming from the speakers or the speakers sitting in the passenger seats, you might get bored after a while, just like I did. But then, as soon as I saw some corners, I pointed the Model Y in that direction, and it obliged with gusto. I loved the way it handled the corners on smooth tarmac, thanks to the firm suspension setup, which makes the Model Y a good handler, but this setup also hampers ride quality. The firmness made communication between my spine and the road direct, which might bother someone who would spend ₹70 lakh on the Model Y.

What you get at that price is an Americano in a tall, white glass with nine cameras for safety and driver assist, a minimal cabin that looks and feels good, but for us Indians, it might be missing too many things. An SUV with good handling, space, a tonne of features and a tablet to control every aspect of the car. But that is what makes the Tesla Model Y unique, different, the odd one out, but in a good way. The Model Y may be an EV that looks and feels futuristic, but we Indian’s love glitz and glamour, which it lacks; however, it can still be considered an option if you wish to stand out among peers.