Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Rear-wheel drive Standard Range models with 19-inch wheels carry driving range estimates as high as 260 miles. The all-wheel-drive Long Range offers 310 miles of range; the Performance model's estimated range drops to 285 miles. But the latter comes with 20-inch wheels, a lowered suspension, a higher top speed (155 mph), quicker claimed acceleration, and a dedicated Track mode.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA estimates that the Long Range model is good for 127 MPGe in the city and 117 MPGe on the highway, while the Performance model's fuel economy estimates are 115 MPGe city and 106 MPGe highway. The Long Range model that we tested over our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route recorded just 94 MPGe and an estimated highway driving range of 220 miles, while the Performance model delivered a result of 98 MPGe and 230 miles of driving range.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Model Y doesn't come with the larger Model X crossover's complicated Falcon Wing doors; its interior is largely free of buttons and relies mostly on a large infotainment display positioned at the center of an uncluttered dashboard. A heavily tinted, all-glass roof lends an airy ambiance to the cabin. The optional third row of seats adds a steep $2500 to the Model Y's price. This cramped two-passenger setup is of limited use as the two seats cannot comfortably fit adult-size passengers.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Accessing almost every function of the Model Y—from the climate controls to the speedometer—requires users to interact with the large, slim infotainment display in the middle of the dashboard. The Model Y offers the same entertainment functions as the Model 3, including embedded Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube apps, as well as video games, all perfect for killing time while waiting for the battery to charge at the public charging station. Don't worry, Tesla locks drivers out of using these distractions while the vehicle is moving.
