Looks Like a Model Y
The Tesla Model Y L is an evolution of Tesla’s most popular car, stretched and modified to accommodate six passengers. Initially a China-exclusive, it’s now available throughout Asia and Oceania, and I was given a chance to check it out. It’s not an entirely new car, but rather a strategic extension of an already successful model, one that fixes the biggest problem with the standard Model Y: space.
The car has been modified behind the B-pillar. The stretched wheelbase and body allow for a proper third row and a more spacious interior, while retaining the familiar Model Y design. Visually, it’s closer to the Model Y than the soon-to-be-defunct Model X, but functionally, it bridges the gap between the two.
Autoblog / LeRoy Marion
With Specs Like a Model Y
The car features Tesla’s dual-motor AWD setup, producing 450-500 horsepower and about 435 lb-ft of torque. It’s quick, but not too quick, taking 0-60 in about 5.0 seconds. It’s quick enough to feel like a Tesla, but not quick enough to suggest Tesla was trying to make a performance car.
The car’s dimensions make it the biggest differentiator. The wheelbase measures about 5.9 inches, and the car itself is about 7 inches longer. It’s bigger than the standard Model Y but not quite large enough to match the Model X in footprint, and significantly lighter and more efficient. The car has an estimated range of up to 423 miles under WLTP testing, which should realistically mean about 300 miles under EPA testing, closer to the standard Model Y than the heavier, more power-hungry Model X.
Autoblog / LeRoy Marion
Drives Like a Model Y
On the road, the Model Y L feels like a more mature version of the standard Model Y. The extra length helps smooth out the ride and gives it a more composed, less responsive feel on imperfect roads.
It’s inside where the difference is most marked, however. In this version, with its 2-2-2 seating and second-row captain’s chairs, the interior feels properly resolved. Access to the third row is easier, and while it’s still not as spacious as a full-size SUV, it’s a heck of a lot more usable than before.
Compared to the outgoing Model X, there’s a bit less width and luxury, but there’s a lot more sense and simplicity in its packaging, which feels less over-the-top and more practical.
Autoblog / LeRoy Marion
It IS a Model Y—Just Stretched
The Model Y L is a car that doesn’t try to replace either the standard Tesla Model Y or the Tesla Model X, but instead to redefine the space between them. It has the efficiency, simplicity, and driving character of the Model Y, but addresses many of the everyday usability issues that led people to look to larger, more expensive alternatives.
At $46,723 in the Philippines (converted), the Model Y L sits close to the standard Model Y’s typical U.S. starting price in the mid-$40,000 range. If priced similarly in the U.S., it could offer significantly more space and seating for only a modest premium. The standard Model Y still makes sense if you don’t need a third row, but in this version, there’s a lot less reason to choose the standard Y over the Model Y L if you need to ferry more people.
Autoblog / LeRoy Marion
