The Tesla Model Y has appeared in the ‘Back to basics’ section twice before. The first time, the cheapest version cost a whopping 65 mille, later that became 51 and now you pay ‘only’ €46,000 for the most affordable version of the completely renewed and especially improved Model Y. What do you get for that?
Tesla Model Y Rear Wheel Drive – €45,990
Tesla and price reductions, you could write a book about it. The price reductions of the Model Y certainly have not only to do with the direct relationship that seems to exist between the sales figures and the selling prices of this brand (down=down) but also with the availability of versions. At the launch of the higher Model 3 alternative, it was only available as Long Range AWD, and that costs something. That fast four-wheel drive is still there, however, and costs €53,990, which is still a lot less than the €65,010 we noted for its predecessor in 2021.
The same goes for the final basic version, with smaller battery and rear-wheel drive. In 2022 you still paid €50,995 for it, now the counter is at €45,990. That price is not entirely new, because just before the facelift you had to pay at least that amount for a Y. Now you simply get more for that money. More speed, for example, because the sprint time from 0 to 100 went from 6.9 to 5.9 seconds. More range, too, because that went from 455 to 500 kilometers.
Every Model Y also benefits from more refinement, more comfort and a better finish thanks to the renewal round, which is always a nice bonus. The equipment was already generous, but also improved. For example, the Model Y – including the basic model – received an extra touchscreen for rear passengers, there is ambient lighting, there are extra cameras and the Tesla is equipped with heated and ventilated front seats and an electrically adjustable and foldable rear seat. It all comes on top of the generous equipment that the Model Y already had, including an electrically adjustable rear seat, 19-inch light-alloy wheels (with hubcaps), hands-free opening and driving away via the app, a large and fast infotainment system, autopilot with adaptive cruise control and steering wheel heating. So plenty of luxury, and that completely standard.
Audio
Actually, there is only one area in which the Model Y falls short of its predecessor, and that is audio. Previously, every Model Y had the extensive audio system with subwoofer as standard, now that is reserved for the Long Range All-Wheel Drive. All versions with rear-wheel drive, including the more expensive Long Range, have been ‘downgraded’ to 9 speakers without a separate subwoofer. Now that sounds good too, but you miss the overwhelmingly great sound of the most extensive variant.