Tesla Model Y review – Range, charging & running costs

Tesla Model Y range & charging 

As well as the standard rear-wheel drive Model Y, like Tesla’s other models, the electric SUV can be ordered in Long Range and Performance versions. Standard single-motor rear-wheel drive Tesla Model Y cars are capable of up to 283 miles on a single charge. Thanks to smaller, 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels and less power from its electric motors, the Long Range is capable of a range of 331 miles. Step up to the Performance version, and 22-inch alloy wheels and more power reduce range to 319 miles.

The Skoda Enyaq has a shorter 249-mile range with its 62kWh battery but just beats the Model Y with up to 348 miles if the largest 82kWh battery is fitted. Meanwhile, the Renault Scenic can travel up to 379 miles between charges, which is slightly ahead of the Ford Mustang Mach-E with a range of 372 miles in Premium RWD Extended Range guise.

Both the Long Range and Performance models take just under 12 hours to charge from empty to 100% using a 7.4kW wallbox, while a rapid charge at 250kW can take the battery from 10 to 80% in just 19 minutes. Another draw is the Tesla Supercharger network of public chargers, which won our Best chargepoint providers survey, coming top in every category. Owners of early Tesla models got free access but all Model Y drivers will have to pay.

As with all EVs, the Model Y is exempt from VED (road tax) until 2025, but the biggest savings will be for business users, thanks to very low Benefit-in-Kind liability. This can save company-car drivers hundreds or even thousands per month compared with petrol and diesel models, and this has fuelled the Model Y’s impressive sales success.

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Insurance groups

The Tesla Model Y is a desirable electric car with a premium image, which places it in high insurance groups, and it’s likely to be expensive to insure as a result. Base models start from group 46 out of 50, and Performance versions sit in the highest group 50. Long Range versions sit just in between in group 48. Check how much it’ll cost to insure before you buy one or choose one as a company car.

Warranty

Tesla offers a four-year/50,000-mile warranty on its new cars, but drivers who cover more miles than average may be better off with Mercedes’ three-year unlimited-mileage warranty. The Model Y’s battery is covered if it drops below 70% of its original charging capacity for eight years or 120,000 miles.

Servicing

Tesla offers a Maintenance Plan for its cars, which makes sure fluids and filters are replaced at set intervals. Servicing should be cheaper than for a petrol or diesel car, though, because there are far fewer moving parts.