Make no mistake about it; the Model Y is the hottest EV right now because it’s more or less a Model 3 on stilts. The electric crossover also differs from its sedan sibling in terms of seating, namely the seven-seat option that will be introduced in early 2021.
The three-row interior – priced at $3,000 – shouldn’t differ too much from that of the Model X. Or is it the Model S? Nobody knows if we’ll be dealing with forward-facing seats or rear-facing jump seats, but YouTube vlogger and Model Y owner Erik Strait couldn’t help but make a case for the latter layout. As you can tell from the following video demo, the third-row passengers are pretty cramped back there.
Strait a.k.a. DAErik fitted some Model X rear seats he had lying around, and obviously enough, they don’t fit correctly in the Model Y. Far from it, in fact. Professional dismantler Sandy Munro also believes that Tesla will go with rear-facing seats due to the shape of the roof and space limitations, but hey, it seems OK for short journeys.
The only problem with the Model X seats is the bottom, too wide to fit in the cargo area and too long for adult passengers. Tesla definitely has something up its sleeve; otherwise, it would lose a considerable number of customers who would like three rows of seats in a compact-to-mid-size crossover that’s much better suited for five adults.
The Long Range is the most affordable Model Y available at the time of writing, starting at $52,990 excluding potential savings. With an EPA driving range of 316 miles and a zero-to-60 time of 4.8 seconds, it's also better than the extended-range version of the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Performance is costlier at $60,990, and as funny as it sounds, you can get the Performance with… wait for it… the Performance Upgrade.
Those who plan to tow a little caravan or trailer with the Model Y haven’t been forgotten either. Available right now, the high-strength steel tow hitch (Class II) is priced at $1,000 and rated at 3,500 pounds.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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