Tesla Model Y L review: space and pace

The best seats in the Model Y L are in the second row. Leg room in the second row is good, and because the seats can be moved forward and back, you can adjust it to the amount of space you want. Though they are in the style of captain’s chairs, they can’t match the opulence of those found in some of its rivals. They are not as plush, can’t recline as much, and lack the massaging functions of the seats found in MPVs like the Zeekr 009 and Xpeng X9. However, they feature ventilation and all of the passengers that I gave rides said they were comfortable.

Practicality

Tesla has always prided itself on making highly usable and practical cars, and the Model Y L is no different. Admittedly, boot space is somewhat compromised, but it’s less than you think because the boot floor can be lifted to reveal an under-floor compartment. With this extra space, the Model Y L will accommodate a single medium to large luggage bag – even with the third row seats up. It looks like a medium-sized stroller will fit too.  In that sense, the usable boot space with all the seats up is no different from that of a small hatchback. 

And if you require more space, the second and third row seats can both be electronically folded. With both rows of seats folded, Tesla says the Model Y L has a capacity of a whopping 2,423L. That’s a big number, and it’s absolutely cavernous. To my eyes, it looks like it will even swallow small cupboards. Elsewhere, it has a 116L frunk that I’ve always found to be handy for storing your takeouts, and inside there’s a sizeable glovebox and a spacious cubby hole in the centre console. In short, the Model Y L remains an exceedingly practical car.

How does it drive?

The Model Y L is currently only available in one trim that comes with dual motors. Tesla is coy about the power output, but if we look at its annual road tax, we can tell that it has a power output of 378kW, which translates to 507hp. Unsurprisingly, it’s extremely brisk. Tesla claims 0-100km/h in just 5 seconds, and it feels that quick. However, Tesla also appears to have dulled the power delivery, so there isn’t the neck-snapping acceleration you might expect from a high-power EV.

As is the case with many modern EVs, the Model Y L’s steering is devoid of any palpable kind of feedback, but at least it’s responsive and accurate. Crucially, it goes where you point it at and body movement is well-controlled with minimal pitching and rolling. Despite the extra size and weight, it doesn’t handle all that differently from a standard Model Y. For a car whose priority is to transport people and things, it’s an unexpectedly enjoyable thing to pilot around. It’s one of the best-handling three-row SUVs I’ve driven.

The ride is certainly on the firmer side, but it soaks up bumps well enough without ever being uncomfortable. It’s only on very poorly paved surfaces that it shows its limitations. There’s a “Rear Comfort” mode that is supposed to relax the rear suspension for passengers in the back, but people I gave rides said they didn’t feel a huge difference. Isolation from road and wind noise is good thanks to double-glazed windows, which let you enjoy the impressive 19-speaker sound system.

One thing worth noting is that the Model Y L’s long wheelbase does mean it has a fairly wide turning radius, so make sure to position yourself carefully when executing U-turns. 

How efficient is it?

In my five days with the Model Y L, I travelled 308km and consumed 52.8kWh of energy. The trip computer said it still had 52% charge left, which is probably optimistic considering the car has an 88kWh battery. At any rate, if you do the math, that means an average power consumption of around 17.1kWh/100km. That sounds high, but remember, the Model Y L has dual motors putting out 500+hp

If you have conservative charging habits (meaning you don’t drive until the battery is completely flat), you should be able to easily get around 440km on a full charge. To give these numbers some context, the power consumption and range of the Model Y L are comparable to those of the Model 3 Performance. That said, if you go easy on the accelerator, it’s entirely possible to average a power consumption figure as low as 12kWh/100km, which will increase your range to around 600km.

Final thoughts

The Model Y L is a tempting proposition for keen drivers who have the need to transport six people around in comfort. The third-row seats are genuinely usable, the sound system rocks, and its overall practicality hasn’t been compromised. But perhaps what’s most important for keen drivers is that it’s quick, and despite the extra space and weight, it handles no worse than a standard Model Y. 

The only drawback would be price and running costs. With prices starting at S$267,999 (inclusive COE), it’s the priciest variant of the Model Y. This is understandable given the extra row of seats and its dual motors. The bigger sticking point is arguably its annual road tax of S$5,400. Tesla would probably sell more Model Y L’s if it offered a model with a lower power output. But if pace and space are what you need, this current version of the Model Y L more than answers the call.

Availability and pricing

The Tesla Model Y L is available now, and prices start at S$267,999. You can find out more at Tesla’s website.

Note: Prices are correct at the time of publishing and may change depending on COE prices.