Overview

CONTRADICTORY as it could appear, given the conservative tone of the modern political causes preoccupying chief govt Elon Musk, American electrical automobile (EV) specialist Tesla has arguably executed greater than some other producer to entrench battery EVs as a everlasting fixture of the automotive panorama – each in Australia and globally.

Since Tesla launched in Australia in 2014, a restricted variety of related fashions have been bolstered by entry to the in depth (and customarily dependable) Supercharger community, which till lately was unique to Tesla homeowners. The well timed arrival of the Mannequin Y in June 2022 – into Australia’s highest-volume phase, midsize SUVs – solely added gas to the model’s native momentum.

The Mannequin Y was a right-sized EV that arrived in Australia at simply the precise second. Patrons tempted by full electrification usually discovered themselves unexpectedly cashed-up because of pandemic-era financial help, whereas few rival manufacturers had launched convincing options. In 2023 and 2024, the Mannequin Y turned the world’s best-selling automobile; Tesla secured 28,769 native gross sales in 2023 and an extra 21,253 in 2024.

All else being equal, the mid-life replace to the Mannequin Y may need secured a 3rd consecutive yr on the prime of worldwide gross sales charts – however the automobile not codenamed ‘Juniper’ inside Tesla headquarters launches into appreciable headwinds, each exterior and inner. Mainstream patrons stay cool on EVs, whereas Tesla boss Elon Musk’s political leanings is not going to align with all prospects.

Australia is among the many first international markets to obtain the up to date Mannequin Y, greatest described as a heavy facelift of the unique automobile. Minor dimensional adjustments (+41mm in size, -5mm in floor clearance) disguise substantial {hardware} substitution – round 50 per cent of components are new. Extra visually obvious is the economic design, now drawing clear inspiration from the Cybertruck. As earlier than, Australian-market Mannequin Ys are sourced from Shanghai, China.

Battery capacities stay unchanged, however the up to date Mannequin Y provides extra beneficiant specification. Entry pricing has risen by $3000, now beginning at $58,900 earlier than on-road prices for the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) base variant, which makes use of a 60.0kWh usable battery claiming 466km of WLTP vary. The Lengthy Vary All-Wheel Drive (LRAWD) has been lowered by $1000 to $68,900 BOCS, retaining its 75.0kWh pack with a 551km WLTP vary declare.

Each variants obtain substantial {hardware} upgrades, together with frequency-selective dampers and extra cabin insulation. Additionally new are a front-facing digicam, pixel LED headlights, entrance and rear gentle bars, adjustable regenerative braking, silver-layer insulated glass for the roof, redesigned entrance seats with cooling (along with heating), an 8.0-inch rear show, and a bigger 15.4-inch central touchscreen.

Most Australian patrons will discover the 255kW/450Nm single-motor RWD variant greater than enough. Past the brand new additions, the RWD comes geared up with 19-inch ‘Crossflow’ alloy wheels wrapped in 255/45 R19 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tyres, LED taillights, 12-way power-adjustable entrance seats, a heated steering wheel and rear seats, a nine-speaker audio system, twin wi-fi system chargers, surround-view cameras and a feature-rich smartphone app for distant capabilities.

The $10,000 step as much as the 378kW/493Nm LRAWD primarily secures, as its identify suggests, the added surety of all-wheel drive and an additional 85km of vary over the RWD (equating to $117 per further kilometre). Patrons additionally profit from a extra substantial 123kW and 43Nm enhance in outputs—together with a superb 16-speaker premium sound system that, for some, will justify the improve alone.

A refreshed Efficiency flagship is anticipated to be unveiled quickly.

Non-obligatory extras embrace paint (Pearl White is normal; Glacier Blue and Stealth Gray value $2300; Quicksilver and Extremely Crimson appeal to a $2600 premium), 20-inch ‘Helix’ wheels (+$2400), and a white inside (+$1500). Enhanced Autopilot (+$5100) and Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving Functionality (+$10,100) are additionally obtainable, although each stay topic to Australian regulatory approval and subsequently supply strictly restricted performance.

Battery chemistry additionally differs between variants. The Australian-spec RWD makes use of a 60.0kWh (usable) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack, sourced from BYD. As with different LFP batteries, it is suggested to cost the RWD to 100 per cent recurrently. The LRAWD’s 75.0kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack, nevertheless, ought to usually be restricted to 80 per cent – besides throughout highway journeys.

Claimed effectivity is spectacular (12.8kWh/100km for the RWD and 13.6kWh/100km for the LRAWD) however charging efficiency is common for the phase. Each variants help 11kW AC charging. Whereas the LRAWD’s NMC battery can attain increased DC peak speeds (250kW versus 175kW), common freeway top-ups from 10 to 80 per cent are related: the RWD prices at a median 110kW over 24 minutes to regain 326km, whereas the LRAWD averages 124kW over 27 minutes to recoup 385km.

In a stark reversal from the Mannequin Y’s preliminary launch, direct rivals are actually quite a few. Costs vary from the Leapmotor C10 (from $45,888 BOC) to the BMW iX3 (from $91,000 BOC), with rivals together with the Audi This autumn, BYD Sealion 7, Cupra Tavascan, Deepal S07, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV5 and EV6, Skoda Enyaq, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, Volkswagen ID.4 and XPeng G6.

But regardless of most rivals providing at the very least 5 years of guarantee protection – if no more – the Tesla Mannequin Y continues to face out for its restricted four-year/80,000km automobile guarantee. The battery and drive unit are at the very least lined for eight years/160,000km (RWD) or 192,000km (LRAWD), with pack capability assured to retain at the very least 70 per cent of unique well being.

Driving Impressions

Tesla has lengthy positioned the Mannequin Y’s options, specs and value squarely in the midst of the midsize SUV phase. Its runaway international success helps the concept it’s a real mid-market providing – which makes it all of the extra shocking that the Mannequin Y’s dynamic character is sort of overtly sporty, reasonably than bland or inconspicuous.

The truth is, the suspension calibration of the unique Mannequin Y (even after a hasty ‘consolation’ suspension improve in late 2022) noticed its tuning needle set thus far in the direction of firmness and management that the expertise as a driver or passenger was characterised by uncouth trip high quality throughout poorly surfaced Australian roads.

Inexperienced shoots appeared with the Australian launch of the mid-life improve of the Mannequin Y’s sibling mannequin, the Mannequin 3 sedan, in 2024. Whereas the lower-set Mannequin 3’s suspension was by no means as compromised because the pre-facelift Mannequin Y, final yr’s ‘Highland’ replace to the previous mannequin concerned a worthwhile swap to succesful frequency selective dampers, noticeably enhancing that automobile’s bandwidth.

Headlining mid-life alterations to the Mannequin Y’s {hardware} are the substitution of absolutely passive dampers for a similar frequency-selective tech loved by the Mannequin 3 (in addition to rivals just like the Ioniq 5 and EV6—they don’t seem to be a Tesla unique). It’s value noting that merely swapping in a brand new damper not often fixes trip by itself; right geometry and a deft tuning contact are additionally required.

Fortunately, for patrons and for individuals who trip in Mannequin Ys through Uber, et al, these elements have mixed to ship a marked enchancment in trip high quality. A agency edge and extra pronounced highway really feel stay in comparison with most rivals, however influence compliance is noticeably improved. The up to date Mannequin Y fairly actually ‘takes the sting off’; briefly, it’s a extra mature automobile in each respect.

Enhancements lengthen to total refinement. The outgoing Mannequin Y wasn’t simply bumpy, it was additionally noisy, with overdamped suspension booming into an echoey cabin. Tesla claims a 20 per cent discount in such noises, although we suspect the advance could also be even higher. A beforehand irritating rear-end resonance additionally seems to have been eradicated.

Correcting the Mannequin Y’s management–compliance steadiness has not come on the expense of agility. A back-to-back take a look at of outdated and new on a closed course revealed that the ultra-firm, flat-cornering pre-facelift Mannequin Y retains a slight edge in some bends. Nevertheless, the extra measured tuning of the up to date model nonetheless permits brisk progress. To our tastes, the steering stays overly frenetic (and largely devoid of really feel), whereas conservative traction management dulls engagement throughout zealous cornering.

Our Lengthy Vary tester’s wise 19-inch wheels nearly definitely contribute to its composed dynamics, whereas the 255/45 Hankook tyres proved a effective match in dry circumstances – although moist grip was merely common. In damp climate, we observed a bent for the automobile to skip over bumps beneath braking and a discount in front-end suspension journey throughout deceleration was noticeable.

Like most of its EV rivals, the Mannequin Y, no matter variant, delivers brisk, seamless acceleration off the road, as anticipated from an electrical drivetrain. For patrons transferring from a combustion or hybrid automobile, the refinement and efficiency will come as a welcome shock. These acquainted with different EVs will admire the exact throttle pedal calibration, and now, the brake pedal really feel is equally well-tuned.

Regardless of Tesla’s advocacy for one-pedal driving, the up to date Mannequin Y now features a new ‘Decreased’ regenerative braking mode, clearly benefitting from bespoke tuning, as a result of it really works exceptionally nicely. Whereas many EV drivers want a full one-pedal setup, we don’t (regardless of proudly owning an EV); the pure engine braking really feel, mixed with the well-weighted brake pedal in Decreased mode, suited our preferences completely.

As anticipated, the LRAWD is faster than the RWD – regardless of weighing extra (1992kg vs 1921kg) –because of its further grunt. The RWD accelerates from 0–100km/h in a claimed 5.9 seconds, whereas the LRAWD completes the dash in 4.8 seconds. A paid Efficiency Enhance is out there to shave that to 4.3 seconds, although pricing for the improve is but to be confirmed.

Along with being noticeably quieter on the transfer, the Mannequin Y’s cabin advantages from a number of considerate updates following its mid-life refresh, beginning with considerably improved entrance seats. Beforehand gentle and unsupportive, they’ve been changed by firmer, extra ergonomic chairs that includes efficient sweat-wicking air flow (alongside heating) to counter the thermal downsides of vinyl trim.

Ahead and lateral visibility from the comparatively high-set, 12-way power-adjustable entrance seats stays glorious, because of the Mannequin Y’s expansive ‘fishbowl’ cabin design. Nevertheless, the rear window’s slender aperture nonetheless hampers rearward visibility. Customary blind-spot cameras, displayed through the marginally enlarged 15.4-inch touchscreen, assist ease lane adjustments.

The touchscreen has acquired person interface enhancements over time, and Tesla’s in-built software program performs nicely. Navigation and apps for Spotify, Apple Music and podcast platforms spotlight the readability and energy of the LRAWD’s 16-speaker sound system. Nevertheless, there’s no help for Waze, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, neither is there a standard instrument cluster or head-up show.

Rear seat passengers additionally profit from a subtly reshaped and lengthened bench, though the shallow thigh angle nonetheless limits help for taller occupants. Plush supplies carry over from the primary row to the second, and a brand new 8.0-inch centre-mounted rear display screen permits entry to Netflix and video games, although most passengers will want the ergonomics of utilizing their very own gadgets.

An influence tailgate now opens routinely when a Tesla app-equipped smartphone is detected close by, because of the addition of ultra-wideband Bluetooth. The ensuing cargo house is beneficiant, Tesla seems to measure the 854 litres to the roof, in contrast to most different producers—although there’s spectacular underfloor storage. Up entrance, a sealed 117-litre frunk with a brand new drain gap provides additional practicality.

Not like most different automobiles on sale, the Mannequin Y’s adaptive security programs rely solely on its 9 onboard cameras, there’s no radar or lidar. For probably the most half, they work nicely, with a stage of tuning sophistication usually missing in each new and established manufacturers. On take a look at, the adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping programs carried out nicely, other than just a few notable exceptions, the place harsh distinction between solar and shadow confused the front-facing digicam.

Setting apart the political backdrop, the opposite elephant within the room is Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving (FSD) characteristic. At $10,100, it’s a pricey choice that might signify groundbreaking expertise, if absolutely realised and authorized to be used in Australia. Because it stands, neither milestone has been reached, and most patrons will discover the usual tech suite, and five-star ANCAP score, greater than enough.

We haven’t but examined the refreshed Mannequin Y RWD, however we had been impressed by the real-world vitality consumption of the LRAWD. Regardless of its efficiency and different take a look at circumstances, from stop-start visitors to 110km/h freeway cruising, the dual-motor Mannequin Y returned 13.8kWh/100km, equating to a variety of 543km, falling simply two per cent shy of the WLTP declare.

The rise of extra inexpensive, price-leading electrical crossovers, many from China, has arguably created house for Tesla to place the Mannequin Y extra comfortably as a semi-premium SUV. And in up to date kind, that’s precisely what it seems like: a extra full and resolved providing.

This SUV nails the temporary on effectivity and real-world vary whereas offering a extra measured and mature every day driving expertise characterised by noticeably much less frenetic trip high quality, which makes it a little bit of a disgrace that the Mannequin Y has, for higher or worse, been reworked right into a daring political assertion, at the very least in the meanwhile.