Elon Musk unveiled the Model Y electric compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) on March 14, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Until recently, the only crossover of California-based Tesla electric car manufacturer was Model X. Car has impressive technical characteristics and looks no worse than SpaceX launch vehicles, but the base price of $ 90 thousand makes it inaccessible to the mass consumer.
Instead, the “budget” Model 3, which can be purchased for $ 35 thousand, turned out to be Tesla’s striking force.
Instead, the “budget” Model 3, which can be purchased for $ 35 thousand, turned out to be Tesla’s striking force.
Given the success of Model 3, Tesla decided to make a knight's move - the company planned to produce an affordable all-electric crossover
CEO of the company, Elon Musk, stated that Model Y will receive 76% of the total parts with Model 3, and the crossover body is only 10% more than the Model 3.
Acording to CleanTechnica the clearance appears to be around 6” in most places and closer to 5” where body panels are curved downward to decrease drag. It should be clean and smooth underneath, especially considering the 0.23 drag coefficient Elon Musk gave during the unveiling.
Model Y will get the same wheelbase with Model 3. But the height of the roof and seats will be higher than that of Model 3.
Also, if we look at Model 3 and Model Y, placed side by side, we can clearly see that they differ in ground clearance and body height.
Wired reporters collected indicators of battery volume, range and acceleration from zero to 60 mph of the most popular electric crossovers on the market and compared them with Model Y.
As in the case of Model 3, Tesla’s direct competitors ask for almost twice as much money for their cars, and among the models available at the same price, they are only options from average brands.
For example, the basic Model Y Standart model, which the company plans to sell for $ 39 thousand, has two main competitors in its price segment - Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro. In this configuration, Tesla promises a range of 230 miles, while South Korean manufacturers say 280 miles for the Kona and 235 miles for the Niro.
At the same time, as independent tests show, the claimed mileage from Tesla is more consistent with reality than data from other manufacturers.
A definite plus for Model Y in the competition with cheap Hyundai and Kia is dynamics. 5.9 seconds of acceleration from zero to 60 mph leave no chance for the 6.6-second Kona and 7.8-second Niro.
Do not forget about the car class, because comparing these three crossovers for which you need to pay the same amount of money, Tesla offers its innovative brand, with all the features of advanced software designed exclusively for electric cars, while Hyundai and Kia just starting to feel the market.
A definite plus for Model Y in the competition with cheap Hyundai and Kia is dynamics. 5.9 seconds of acceleration from zero to 60 mph leave no chance for the 6.6-second Kona and 7.8-second Niro.
Do not forget about the car class, because comparing these three crossovers for which you need to pay the same amount of money, Tesla offers its innovative brand, with all the features of advanced software designed exclusively for electric cars, while Hyundai and Kia just starting to feel the market.
Even better is the Model Y Long Range version with maximum mileage. For $ 47 thousand, the company offers 300 miles range on a full battery and acceleration from zero to 60 mph 5.5 seconds.
The closest competitor in this price range is the recently unveiled Polestar 2 electric crossover from a subsidiary of Volvo. In it, the Swedes promise a range of 273 miles and an acceleration from zero to 60 mph “in less than five seconds”. At the same time, for Polestar will need to pay from $ 55 thousand.
The closest competitor in this price range is the recently unveiled Polestar 2 electric crossover from a subsidiary of Volvo. In it, the Swedes promise a range of 273 miles and an acceleration from zero to 60 mph “in less than five seconds”. At the same time, for Polestar will need to pay from $ 55 thousand.
As for the fastest Model Y Perfomance, here competitors will certainly lose. The maximum version of the new Tesla crossover costs $ 60 thousand, have a range 280 miles on a single charge and makes acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. In comparison, the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron, which have a range about 242 miles and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 and 5.5 seconds, respectively, cost $ 10 thousand more.
We do not need to compare the top Model Y with far from budget Porsche Mission and Mercedes-Benz EQC. The Germans are asking for their cars from $ 75 thousand to $ 80 thousand. And the electric crossover from Mercedes accelerates from zero to 60 mph almost an one and a half seconds slower with the same range, and Porsche loses as much as two seconds, but it have a range 31 miles more.
We do not need to compare the top Model Y with far from budget Porsche Mission and Mercedes-Benz EQC. The Germans are asking for their cars from $ 75 thousand to $ 80 thousand. And the electric crossover from Mercedes accelerates from zero to 60 mph almost an one and a half seconds slower with the same range, and Porsche loses as much as two seconds, but it have a range 31 miles more.
And if we add the Tesla Superchargers network to everything that is described above, which allows you to quickly charge your cars almost throughout the United States, then there will be no thoughts at all about Model Y competitors.
About the Author
Eva Fox
Eva Fox joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover breaking news as an automotive journalist. The main topics that she covers are clean energy and electric vehicles. As a journalist, Eva is specialized in Tesla and topics related to the work and development of the company.
