The EV Crossover Wars Are Heating Up, and Tesla May Have Delivered a Knockout Blow

Tesla, the one American company that does and undoes the very fabric of existence in the EV sector, has again introduced a base version for its best-selling Model Y crossover SUV. The new RWD version is mainly similar to the variant sold in China or on the Old Continent, but the new model will probably be produced in Giga, Texas, rather than imported from overseas.

We really can't tell if this arrival has anything to do with the Q3 earnings call where the 453k Tesla deliveries missed expectations or if it is just a reaction to repositioning the top seller closer to the Tesla Model 3 sibling's entry price. Ultimately, nobody cares if you're a simple EV customer with no interest in Tesla's rise or fall. What is more important is that Tesla is catering to all sectors of the market and that the competition is not sitting idle.

And by rivals, we don't mean the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is currently priced at $42,995 with RWD – it uses a standard 72 kWh usable capacity battery and targets an EPA range of 250 miles on a charge. This is not too shabby, considering the Tesla Model Y RWD starts from $43,990, has 260 miles of range, and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 6.6 seconds. They're almost on par, right? Well, time will tell which one is more popular – though I bet Tesla doesn't need to be too worried about this particular Blue Oval.

Instead, Tesla needs to worry about the upcoming Ford F-150 Lightning versus Cybertruck confrontations, but that's a story for when the latter finally comes out to party with the first market deliveries. Back to the Model Y, the good thing is that the new RWD version is $3,750 cheaper than the recently discontinued standard-range Model Y AWD and also unlocks the full $7,500 tax credit. And it needs every bit of help because the performance is a bit sluggish compared to the discontinued Y AWD – though if it indeed uses LFP cell chemistry, it's also better in terms of unlocking the magical 100% range status.

Of course, seeing how Tesla rocked the American car market with the best-ever sales during the first three quarters of the year and how it's in route to becoming the number one manufacturer with this nameplate in Europe by the end of the year, the competition hasn't dwindled or stood still. Instead, right around the same time Tesla introduced the Model Y RWD to the US market, four major automakers also moved their zero-emissions chess pieces across the EV board.

First, the 2024 Kia EV9 pricing was finally confirmed for the US market, and it's lower than we anticipated. So, the starting MSRP for the boxy three-row EV9 Light (RWD) is $54,900. That's a lot more than a base Tesla Model Y, but Kia probably wants us to believe the extra space for all three rows will compensate. It might, but only until you find out about the technical specifications of the entry-level EV9 - 215 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, plus a 76.1 kWh.

Unfortunately for the Koreans, the Kia EV9 has only 225 miles of range compared to 260 for the Tesla Model Y RWD, not to mention less horsepower. From every angle you're looking at it, unless you have a huge family, a Tesla Model Y Long Range with 330 miles is still way cheaper ($50,490). Not to mention, the Model Y Performance is $410 less, too! So, this one counts as a win for Tesla.

Next up, the 2024 Honda Prologue, which is a General Motors-based Ultium vehicle in Japanese disguise, also debuted on the US market with 288 horsepower, 300 miles of range, and a great MSRP. The good mileage is thanks to an 85-kWh battery pack, and the starting price is estimated at around $45k. That's right up the Tesla Model Y alley, and because there are still quite a few variables to discuss, like the exact pricing for each version (FWD and AWD), I am just going to call it a tie and leave this comparison open-ended until we have more information.

Thirdly, the Tesla Model Y will have to face stiff competition from below its segment orientation – the 2024 Volvo EX30 and Genesis GV60. The Swedes might have an ace up their sleeve with the subcompact crossover EV, but note the class and size difference between the EX30 and Model Y – if you're mainly driving with the significant other and around town, you'll be fine; otherwise, less so. However, the primary allure of this China-built Volvo is its suggested retail price of $34,950!

Last but not least, the chain reaction triggered by the new version of the best-selling American EV also impacted Genesis, which swiftly introduced a cheaper GV60 with an RWD version starting from $52k. It's also a premium compact CUV, features a 77-kWh battery pack borrowed from the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 cousins, and can drive up to 294 miles on a single charge with help from the cells and single electric motor outputting 225 hp. Of course, the size constraints remain in place, so the Tesla Model Y is pretty safe from these two if you're on the lookout for a jack-of-all-trades EV crossover.