Tesla Model Y review

It’s very… Tesla. Almost comically so. If minimalism was a religion, it feels like Tesla is heading down the evangelical route. There’s not much in the way of obvious detail, so the new Model Y feels a bit like a concept car – which is both a good and bad thing.

So there’s the usual blank swathe of dash with some different dash pads and textures to gaze at, but they all contribute to something that just feels that little bit more plush. A 15-ish inch touchscreen in the middle that controls most of the functions (or 16in with 80 per cent more pixels in the Performance), and there’s a single-use indicator stalk to one side of the wheel. Which is a relief, because they removed it for the Model 3... although you can't dip the headlights with it. Boo.

Still, there’s also a new strip of ambient lighting around the beltline of the car, which is pretty but not exactly unique these days. And if you opt for the entry version that's thrown in the bin anyway, alongside a few other bits.

The front seats are comfortable, electric and heated as standard on all trim levels, and the rear seats get heaters if you go up to the Premium or Performance trims. The glass roof overhead (Premium and up) now reflects more of the sun’s UV death rays, and there are a pair of very fast wireless phone chargers, plus tonnes and tonnes of storage space in the centre console and side pockets.

How useful is the screen?

Depends how you look at it. It's sensationally crisp, with amazing graphics and response times that would make a fighter pilot look like your average sloth. The voice-activation works well and you do get used to the control interfaces after a bit.

But then you get going and... argh! The speedo is tiny and not in your line of sight; the mirrors, steering adjustment and air vents (ugh) are done in the screen, a huge chunk of which is dominated by a 3D animation of nearby cars and pedestrians... like what you see with your own eyes out of the windows. But less accurate. And scrolling through endless menus (not a Tesla-only thing, in fairness), is just plain dangerous when you're driving.

Oh, and you have to slide your finger up and down the right-hand flank to choose forward or reverse... or let the car decide for you based on what it thinks you need. You feelin' lucky, punk?

It's a strangely blank-feeling experience – not an interior you’ll fall in love with, more just appreciate from a distance. The new car also gets options for the stereo – seven speakers in the base car, nine in the Premium RWD and 15 plus subwoofer in the others – and there’s also faster Wi-Fi, clearer phone calls and better connectivity all round. All nice improvements.

Practicality was always massive with the Model Y. Is it still so?

The one thing that has propelled the Model Y to such ubiquity is probably the fact that it covers a lot of bases. And the new one is no different. Good space for five people, with all non-entry versions now getting an 8in tablet for rear seat passengers that can be either an air-con controller or gamestation. Very handy for those with kids. Foot space is tremendous, even in the middle rear seat.

The rear seats electrically recline in those trims too – though not very far – and that electric operation allows for auto-folding from the boot.

Then there’s the boot space, with its multiple levels. If you open the underfloor, there’s 854 litres of packing space available, and 2,138-litres with the seats folded. That’s massive. In fact, in France, you can buy a Model Y without back seats as a commercial vehicle. The parcel shelf is held in place by magnets and while it's fairly solid, it's a bit clumsy to fold up.

There's also a seven-seat version of the Model Y, in case five seats just isn't enough.

Then there’s the frunk, which weighs in with another 117 litres of space – that's suitcase big, in case you can’t visualise the litreage – now with a drainplug in case you need to hose it out after hiding a body. Or just carrying mucky sports kit. We don’t judge.