Photo: Porsche / Tesla / Jeep
According to the latest estimates, Tesla's Model Y became the world's best-selling automotive nameplate in 2023, dethroning Toyota's RAV4. Obviously, now we should start wondering if there's anything that can stop it.
Many people think Elon Musk is just a wacky businessman who got lucky (on more than one occasion). Others think of him as a Messiah of some sort. However, the truth might be somewhere in the middle, with concepts taken from all sides – he's both quirky and witty, charming (at times), and a workplace dictator who wants his vision to get done and is not afraid to spend countless hours at the headquarters to supervise everything.
One of his ideas that just came to fruition was that a Tesla might one day become the world's best-selling nameplate, even in the face of great adversity from ICE-powered vehicles. Well, according to the latest estimates, that prophecy or desire just came true, and Toyota's RAV4 had to surrender the throne after Tesla's Model Y also placed fifth in America's overall rankings and first on the Old Continent, among others. However, the landscape is changing, and its crown might not last long.
Acura and Honda, for example, launched two mid-size EV crossover SUVs with help from General Motors – ZDX and Prologue. They won't give Tesla's Model Y much trouble, though, as they are both more expensive and less powerful. Plus, there have been so many problems with GM's BEV3 and Ultium models – mostly due to crazy software – that we'd be hard-pressed to gamble our lunchbox money on any of them. Yes, Tesla's software isn't perfect either, but they already have lots of experience fixing things. So, it will be the lesser of two evils.
One thing that could work against it will be if Tesla doesn't learn from the problems signaled by customers regarding the Tesla Model 3 facelift (Highland, according to the automotive world) – one of them being the hated drop of steering column stalks. That could be a deal breaker for many people in the future, especially since this is a logical feature that's been in use for decades. Anyway, over the past few days, a couple of new EVs appeared out in the open, and I really want to talk about them.
First and foremost is the Porsche Macan EV. This second German all-electric model from Porsche is coming as the high-riding Taycan everyone wanted, although it's a bit cramped because it's smaller than a Tesla Model Y. The company had its fair share of trouble with the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that's going to be shared with Audi, but now the Porsche Macan 4 EV and the Macan Turbo EV are finally out in the open. First things first, the design is pretty disjointed – the front fascia adopts that dreaded split-headlight ethos that so few people like, while the rear looks plain and way too generic for a Porsche. Inside, things are a lot better, though.
From the technical standpoint, the Macan 4 EV has over 400 horsepower and can go for no less than 381 miles (631 kilometers) on a single charge, according to WLTP. That's more than a Model Y Long Range, but keep in mind that Porsche will sell the zero-emissions Macan at almost double the price (it kicks off at over $80k) and that EPA's ratings will probably lower the figure closer to Tesla's 310-mile rating. The Turbo version, meanwhile, costs C8 Chevy Corvette Z06 money and has 630 horsepower – a good fit for a brawl with the Model Y Performance at the local quarter-mile dragstrip.
However, don't bet on seeing the Macan EV there too often because the sporty variant is less powerful and more expensive than a Tesla Model X Plaid, not to mention that it's also two sizes smaller. Of course, some will buy it for the modern architecture because it's a Porsche. Unfortunately, I think it doesn't look much better than the Tesla Model Y (which isn't the winner of any beauty pageants in my book); it's smaller and way more expensive. So, there's no jeopardy to dethrone it.
Moving on, I was impressed to see that Jeep is fearless in showing more and more of the mid-size Wagoneer S all-electric crossover SUV while they're still claiming this is merely the teaser campaign. Now we know how it looks both inside and outside, so the only enigma is about the exact technical specifications. Oh, wait, the teasers also revealed there's a zero to 60 mph (96 kph) time of 3.5 seconds, meaning this Jeep means business on the tarmac. But wait, as there is more. The company also promises 4xe all-wheel drive with Selec-Terrain modes based on the STLA Large.
Curiously, the design is sleeker than anyone expected from a model branded with the Wagoneer moniker, and it certainly will give Tesla a run for Model Y's money. Speaking of the latter, I won't bet anything on Jeep bringing it to market with an MSRP to rival the Model Y – I'm not even sure if they will bring it to market with prices close to the larger Model X. But one thing is for sure, with four screens for the cockpit – including two central ones and another for the passenger, it handily beats Tesla in that area and will represent a significant point of interest for anyone who hates Tesla's one-screen-for-everything approach. So, if it comes out with reasonable pricing, the Jeep Wagoneer S is the one to look forward to, frankly.
One of his ideas that just came to fruition was that a Tesla might one day become the world's best-selling nameplate, even in the face of great adversity from ICE-powered vehicles. Well, according to the latest estimates, that prophecy or desire just came true, and Toyota's RAV4 had to surrender the throne after Tesla's Model Y also placed fifth in America's overall rankings and first on the Old Continent, among others. However, the landscape is changing, and its crown might not last long.
Acura and Honda, for example, launched two mid-size EV crossover SUVs with help from General Motors – ZDX and Prologue. They won't give Tesla's Model Y much trouble, though, as they are both more expensive and less powerful. Plus, there have been so many problems with GM's BEV3 and Ultium models – mostly due to crazy software – that we'd be hard-pressed to gamble our lunchbox money on any of them. Yes, Tesla's software isn't perfect either, but they already have lots of experience fixing things. So, it will be the lesser of two evils.
One thing that could work against it will be if Tesla doesn't learn from the problems signaled by customers regarding the Tesla Model 3 facelift (Highland, according to the automotive world) – one of them being the hated drop of steering column stalks. That could be a deal breaker for many people in the future, especially since this is a logical feature that's been in use for decades. Anyway, over the past few days, a couple of new EVs appeared out in the open, and I really want to talk about them.
First and foremost is the Porsche Macan EV. This second German all-electric model from Porsche is coming as the high-riding Taycan everyone wanted, although it's a bit cramped because it's smaller than a Tesla Model Y. The company had its fair share of trouble with the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that's going to be shared with Audi, but now the Porsche Macan 4 EV and the Macan Turbo EV are finally out in the open. First things first, the design is pretty disjointed – the front fascia adopts that dreaded split-headlight ethos that so few people like, while the rear looks plain and way too generic for a Porsche. Inside, things are a lot better, though.
From the technical standpoint, the Macan 4 EV has over 400 horsepower and can go for no less than 381 miles (631 kilometers) on a single charge, according to WLTP. That's more than a Model Y Long Range, but keep in mind that Porsche will sell the zero-emissions Macan at almost double the price (it kicks off at over $80k) and that EPA's ratings will probably lower the figure closer to Tesla's 310-mile rating. The Turbo version, meanwhile, costs C8 Chevy Corvette Z06 money and has 630 horsepower – a good fit for a brawl with the Model Y Performance at the local quarter-mile dragstrip.
However, don't bet on seeing the Macan EV there too often because the sporty variant is less powerful and more expensive than a Tesla Model X Plaid, not to mention that it's also two sizes smaller. Of course, some will buy it for the modern architecture because it's a Porsche. Unfortunately, I think it doesn't look much better than the Tesla Model Y (which isn't the winner of any beauty pageants in my book); it's smaller and way more expensive. So, there's no jeopardy to dethrone it.
Moving on, I was impressed to see that Jeep is fearless in showing more and more of the mid-size Wagoneer S all-electric crossover SUV while they're still claiming this is merely the teaser campaign. Now we know how it looks both inside and outside, so the only enigma is about the exact technical specifications. Oh, wait, the teasers also revealed there's a zero to 60 mph (96 kph) time of 3.5 seconds, meaning this Jeep means business on the tarmac. But wait, as there is more. The company also promises 4xe all-wheel drive with Selec-Terrain modes based on the STLA Large.
Curiously, the design is sleeker than anyone expected from a model branded with the Wagoneer moniker, and it certainly will give Tesla a run for Model Y's money. Speaking of the latter, I won't bet anything on Jeep bringing it to market with an MSRP to rival the Model Y – I'm not even sure if they will bring it to market with prices close to the larger Model X. But one thing is for sure, with four screens for the cockpit – including two central ones and another for the passenger, it handily beats Tesla in that area and will represent a significant point of interest for anyone who hates Tesla's one-screen-for-everything approach. So, if it comes out with reasonable pricing, the Jeep Wagoneer S is the one to look forward to, frankly.
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