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I drove a Tesla for the first time and was impressed with the heavily touted brand.
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The Model Y’s refined interior, quick acceleration and innovative technical features set it apart.
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But its oversized touchscreen and lack of physical buttons isn’t for everyone.
Tesla created and dominates the burgeoning electric vehicle market. But will the startup’s popular car stand up to fierce competition from big players like Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen?
That’s the big question I set out to answer when I got behind the wheel of the new Tesla Model Y SUV earlier this month. After testing a dozen battery-powered vehicles over the last year, which had never been made by Elon Musk, I wondered if Tesla would live up to the hype. In other words, are the company’s die-hard supporters right, or are their cars anything but special?
I borrowed a friend’s Tesla and looked it up myself. (The company doesn’t offer press loans, so journalists have to get creative.)
First, basic
The Model Y is Tesla’s small SUV and its most popular offering. It costs $65,990 and has two motors that offer all-wheel drive. A performance version that sacrifices range for more speed is available for an additional $4,000, but the base model is sporty enough.
Tesla has no dealers and sells directly to consumers online. Buyers can choose to have their vehicle delivered at a Tesla store or have the vehicle delivered to their home.
Highlights: cutting-edge technology, sporty driving, effortless charging
Step into your Tesla and you’ll find a clean, uncluttered interior without traditional buttons, vents, or gauges. The cabin’s sleek design and understated wood he trim are more reminiscent of an Apple store than a car.
This minimalist look is made possible by a large touchscreen that controls virtually all essential vehicle functions except stop, go and turn. This command center includes door locks, A/C settings, speedometer and navigation system. It’s also packed with creative features like games, a digital whoopie cushion, and Netflix, allowing owners to pass the time while charging.
The display is very responsive to taps and swipes and features crisp graphics. Plus, Tesla regularly adds new features through software updates, making the Model Y’s cockpit a tech geek’s paradise.
Both the front and rear seats have plenty of room thanks to the full-flat floor and tall glass roof. The Model Y also offers plenty of cargo space, including a spacious trunk up front and an underfloor storage area in the rear. They are not on all EVs.
While not a performance model, the Model YI sample accelerated surprisingly quickly and, like any high-powered EV, pushed forward with every nudge of the gas pedal. And, more like a sports car than a sluggish SUV, it offered quick, precise steering that pointed exactly where you wanted to go.
Tesla’s advanced Autopilot features confidently kept the SUV centered in the lane and followed traffic flow. The system isn’t autonomous, but it could help on long highway stints.
After a long day of exhausting the Y’s 330 miles of range, recharging is easy. After loading the credit card into the Tesla app, he simply pulls into one of the 1,500 Supercharger locations in the country and plugs in.
Using a Tesla-dedicated fast-charging station is pretty seamless compared to the often cumbersome process of charging a non-Tesla at a public plug.
What’s Not Good: Overly complicated controls and a bumpy ride
The Model Y is a tech enthusiast’s dream, but a nightmare for the non-tech savvy.
Basic functions such as opening the glove box, changing wiper speed, and manipulating the air vents require the use of the touchscreen. This is not only inconvenient, but also a distraction while driving. Someone like my mom needs help using a DVR and shudders at the thought of navigating a new app while thinking about how she would be overwhelmed by a fully digital driving experience. I couldn’t help it.
Additionally, the Model Y lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Y’s stiff suspension makes it more agile, but it doesn’t do much to protect passengers from bumpy roads. I also noticed a lot of wind and road noise in excess of 60 mph.
Our Impressions: Excellent Choice, But Not the Only Choice
After all, Tesla fans have a point. The Model Y packs a dazzling array of tech, drives better than most SUVs, is granted access to Tesla’s convenient charging network, and generally feels different from other cars. There are many advantages in that regard.
However, it is not without its flaws. In addition to what I’ve pointed out, widely-reported issues like inconsistent build quality and difficult repairs are important considerations, though I haven’t experienced either directly.
The Model Y is a great option for many buyers, but Tesla is no longer the only game in town. With companies like Audi, Rivian, and BMW entering his EV space, those interested in EVs have more attractive options than ever before. And the competition is getting tougher by the day.
Read the original article on Business Insider