The bundleThe Tesla Model Y is Tesla’s smaller crossover, a two-row, five-seat SUV that takes the fundamental components set forth by the Model 3 and kind of stretches it vertically by just a few inches. There’s some extra headroom, positive, however essentially the most important tweak is within the rear, the place the thin little trunk on the sedan has morphed right into a cavernous hatch. The Model Y provides 76 cubic ft of storage with the rear seats folded down. Seats lowered, the Model Y presents a pleasant, flat ground with a beneficiant storage cubby hidden beneath. Raised, there’s good headroom for rear-seat passengers, thanks largely to the panoramic glass roof.The larger speaking level is up entrance, the place the stark inside is dominated by a single, 15-inch, landscape-oriented contact show. This was fairly a dialog starter again when the Model 3 was unveiled. Today, it is much less distinctive, however nonetheless a serious speaking level. Being the only real show means it is not solely speedometer and general gauge cluster but in addition aggregates the whole infotainment expertise, together with local weather controls and even issues like mirror and steering wheel place. Frankly I’m shocked Tesla hasn’t buried the seat and window controls in there, too.Most of the time it’s very fantastic, and I really do not thoughts the absence of a gauge cluster relating to wanting over to see present velocity. However, wanting on the Autopilot standing and navigation prompts means having to gaze nicely down towards the underside of that show. That means taking your eyes a good distance from the highway. A easy gauge cluster or heads-up show would clear up the difficulty, however none can be found, a curious omission on a automobile costing this a lot.How a lot? Well, that varies extensively and appears to alter each week, however I can inform you what we paid for this one, at the least. The Tesla Model Y Long Range you see right here value us $67,490 together with $1,200 in supply charges. The most outrageous expense was the $10,000 premium for the supposed Full Self-Driving bundle, which actually I do not assume we’ll ever see in our 24-month possession expertise. We additionally paid an additional $1,000 for the Deep Blue Metallic paint, $1,000 for the hidden tow hitch and one other $1,000 for the white vegan inside. White inside on an SUV? Yeah, frankly it is not a call I might have made for my very own automobile, however I’m curious to see how nicely it holds up to make use of and abuse. After three months, the driving force’s seat is already choosing up a definite blue hue from denim, whereas the rear seat is absorbing black dye from the seat cowl I used to be utilizing to guard the upholstery from my canine. Even with out these points, the material feels rubbery at greatest, and whereas all 5 seats are heated not a one in all them are ventilated. That, once more, is a disappointment on a automobile this spendy. Big, beefy brakes aren’t wanted when the regen is that this robust. Tim Stevens/RoadshowThe performanceSo the inside is a little bit of a disappointment. The vary, nonetheless, will not be. Our Model Y Long Range is EPA-rated at 330 miles, getting a 12-mile enhance over the identical automobile on the 20-inch wheels. (Those wheels, by the best way, not solely cut back vary however value one other $2,000 extra and will not do any favors for journey high quality. I do not advocate them.) I’ve discovered the automobile to ship vary fairly near that estimate, usually promising (and delivering) 320 to 340 miles on a full cost — after I wasn’t towing a pinball desk on a utility trailer, anyway. There nonetheless aren’t many different EVs available on the market that may do higher, although that’s altering quick. It’s fast, too. Tesla says the 0-to-60-mph dash occurs in 4.8 seconds, however you’d swear that is an understatement. The Model Y feels keen at any velocity, able to leap ahead into essentially the most petite visitors gaps or to reap the benefits of even very optimistic passing zones. And this, once more, is the Long Range taste of the automobile. You can spend an additional $5,000 for the Model Y Performance for those who actually wish to, however I do not know why you’d. That drops the vary all the way down to 303 miles in change for a 1.3-second lower within the 0-to-60 time, a lift in velocity the automobile would not really want. This is not a efficiency automobile, in any case. It’s positively enjoyable to drive, however that comes largely from the acceleration. The automobile in all fairness nimble however wallows when pushed in corners and even with the smaller, 19-inch wheels the journey high quality is not stellar. But once more, that acceleration is so addictive that it is simply capable of put a smile in your face. Until the energetic security techniques begin to act up, anyway. Hope you want touchscreens. Tim Stevens/RoadshowAutopilot While Tesla’s energetic security techniques have been bundled beneath the umbrella Autopilot time period since 2014, the techniques themselves, and certainly the very sensors and different elements that make them work, have modified radically in that point. Our Model Y, delivered in August of 2021, was produced fairly quickly after Tesla took the curious choice to take away radar sensors from the Models 3 and Y. Ostensibly this was as a result of the optical sensor-based Tesla Vision system was so good the radar sensors are pointless. I’m inclined to disagree.I am unable to conclusively say that it is due to the lacking radar, however I can say that our Model Y is unhealthy at detecting obstructions forward. Really, actually unhealthy. The massive situation is fake positives, an issue that has grow to be referred to as “phantom braking” amongst Tesla homeowners. Basically, the automobile usually will get confused and thinks there’s an impediment forward and engages the automated emergency braking system. You get an immediate, undesirable and sometimes robust software of the brakes. This will not be an issue distinctive to Teslas. I’ve expertise it on different automobiles, however very, very not often. On our Model Y this occurs consistently, at the least as soon as an hour and typically way more usually than that. In a single hour of driving I caught 5 phantom braking incidents on digicam, two exhausting sufficient to sound the automated emergency braking appeal. This is an enormous downside. It occurs on each the freeway or secondary roads, any time the cruise management is engaged even with out Autosteer. It means the automobile’s cruise management is patently unsafe, which implies everything of Autopilot is unsafe. And that, in fact, means the automobile itself is unsafe.When the system is not panic-stopping for ghosts, Autopilot works fairly nicely. When the system is not panic-stopping for ghosts, Autopilot works fairly nicely. On the freeway it is nigh-perfect, preserving to lanes and even altering with barely any driver intervention with Navigate on Autopilot engaged. It actually is an asset and a possible security boon — as long as you the driving force concentrate. However, on secondary roads, Autosteer simply will get confused by lane markings, particularly within the case of a second lane opening as much as the facet. The automobile is continually eager to swerve to the suitable to take up each lanes, then bounce again to the left once more. I want Tesla would take a cue from Cadillac and easily disable this perform on roads the place it would not work nicely.Phantom braking is essentially the most egregious situation I’ve had with our Model Y, but it surely is not the one one. After operating the factor via the automobile wash forward of filming the assessment video, I popped the frunk to discover a good quantity of water had gathered inside. Definitely do not retailer something you have to hold dry. Additionally, the recessed design of the tow hitch means the decrease diffuser on the rear bumper will get scratched by your security chains when towing, and the taillights present loads of fogging, as nicely. None of those are important points, however once more, for a $70,000 automobile… Maybe subsequent replace? Tim Stevens/RoadshowWrap-upThe Model Y has loads going for it. The efficiency is partaking and the vary loads sufficient to abolish anxiousness. The inside feels low-rent however is eminently sensible and I have never even gotten into the various distinctive options Tesla brings to the desk, like Dog Mode, Sentry Mode and naturally the expansive Supercharger community, the largest and most dependable within the nation. It’s an awesome bundle and, whereas it would not all the time really feel worthy of its ever-ascending MSRP, it does current a straightforward entry into the fantastic world of EVs.Except that it is not fantastic. The phantom braking situation is a whole deal-breaker. Our automobile, which is operating the newest manufacturing model of Autopilot, is unsafe at any time when cruise management is enabled. A $70,000 automobile that may’t even do cruise management is inexcusable and so, for now at the least, I have to advocate in opposition to the Model Y. There is an more and more nice suite of all-electric choices on the market, automobiles just like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID 4. And, for those who’re prepared to attend a bit of longer, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra will all be a part of the enjoyable. In the interim, we’ll hold testing our Model Y and submit updates because the scenario modifications and Tesla strikes the goal once more. For now, spend your cash elsewhere.