Tesla Model Y 2026 review: L long-term | Part 1 | Kia EV9 rival tested

There is no escaping the 2026 Tesla Model Y L.

All you have to do is look around on our roads and you will see the massive impact the fully electric SUV has had in a short amount of time.

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Yep, there is a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, so the occupants are getting similar treatment to the driver and front passenger.

And there is the two-seat bench in the third row, which is handy when you’ve got more than five passengers to drive around.

This turned out to be a very in-demand configuration, with zero-emissions drivers having largely been left in the cold when it comes to three-row options – but not anymore.

That said, does the Model Y L deserve to be so popular?

We are going to find out in this two-part long-term review, with this first instalment set to detail its pricing, features (including safety), powertrain, driving range, charging, warranty, servicing and design.

The second and final part will deep dive the Model Y L’s practicality, my driving impressions and all-important final verdict.

How much does the 2026 Tesla Model Y L cost?

The 2026 Tesla Model Y L Premium All-Wheel Drive is priced from $74,900 plus on-road costs, which makes it $6000 dearer than the equivalent ‘regular’ Model Y, the Long Range All-Wheel Drive.

The Model Y L only has few three-row EV rivals, with the new Mercedes-Benz GLB electric (from $74,990) almost matching it on price, while the Kia EV9 (from $97,000), Hyundai Ioniq 9 (from $119,668) and Volvo EX90 (from $124,990) are larger and much more expensive.

Go broader and similarly sized and specified three-row SUV rivals include the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid (from $77,150), Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid (from $85,065) and Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV (from $86,115).

Point being, the Model Y L is very well positioned, which is why our roads are flooded with examples since its March 2026 launch.

What does the 2026 Tesla Model Y L come with?

The 2026 Tesla Model Y L comes with an impressively long list of standard equipment,  including:

• Dusk-sensing LED lighting
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• 19-inch Machina 2.0 alloy wheels with aero covers
• Multi-link suspension with adaptive dampers
• Tinted glass roof
• Keyless entry
• Rear privacy glass
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Keyless start
• Artificial leather and suede upholstery
• First-row 16-inch touchscreen multimedia system with over-the-air updates
• Digital radio
• 18-speaker sound system (three more speakers than any other Model Y)
• Heated steering wheel
• Power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation and thigh extension
• Dual-zone climate control
• Second-row 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system
• Power-adjustable and -folding second-row seats with heating
• Power-folding third-row seats
• Ambient lighting

Meanwhile, the Model Y L’s standard safety features impressively include:

• Forward collision warning
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection
• Lane-keep assist
• Steering assist
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Cross-traffic alert
• Surround-view cameras with dash cam and Sentry Mode
• Front and rear parking sensors

Note the Model Y L has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on the 2025 protocols, matching the regular Model Y despite its larger frame.

For $149 per month, the Model Y is optionally available with Tesla’s hyped Full Self Driving (Supervised), which upgrades its autonomous capabilities to a staggering degree, with the driver inputs not required when active.

I will soon be publishing a standalone article on FSD with all of my thoughts on its real-world use cases and performance, so stay tuned for that.

But it is fair to say that my passengers and I have been astounded by how effective it is on Australian roads, which makes you wonder what the not-too-distant future will look like.

So, what is the Model Y L missing?

Well, there is still no smartphone mirroring of any description, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are expected these days.

And then there is the inexplicable lack of a driver’s display, be it a digital instrument cluster or a head-up display.

In case you are wondering, the speedometer is in the top right corner of the first-row touchscreen, which is something you will get used to despite it lowering your eye line from where it should be: firmly on the road.

The Model Y L also does not come with an onboard Type 2 charging cable, which is what you will need if AC charging at home or on the road.

Tesla sells a mobile charger kit for $600, but it should be included in the purchase price. Disappointing.

Similarly, Tesla sells a roof sunshade as an accessory for $180, but it should be standard in Australia, where the UV is known to punish locals.

Speaking of the sun, a sunglasses holder is also missing in action.

What is the 2026 Tesla Model Y L’s powertrain?

The Model Y L is fitted with dual electric motors, split across its front and rear axles for all-wheel drive.

Infamously, Tesla doesn’t disclose power and torque outputs, but the Model Y L produces 378kW and 590Nm, according to industry sources.

These outputs enable the Model Y L’s claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.0 seconds, which despite its increased weight, is just 0.2s slower than the lighter Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive it is based on.

What is the 2026 Tesla Model Y L’s driving range, battery and charging specs?

The 2026 Tesla Model Y has a confidence-inspiring WLTP-rated driving range of 681km, which is the longest of any Model Y variant, exceeding the Long Range All-Wheel Drive’s 600km claim.

Tesla also infamously doesn’t publish battery details, but the Model Y L is fitted with an 88.2kWh NMC battery (86.0kWh useable), according to industry sources.

For reference, the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive makes do with a 79.0kWh NMC battery, so the Model Y L’s $6K premium is even more justified.

In my first six weeks living with the Model Y L, I averaged a stunning 14.5kWh/100km over 2142km of driving, which included a high share of usually inefficient highway driving.

This equates to a real-world driving range of 593km, which while 88km short of the Model Y L’s claim, is still a ridiculously good return in reality.

Considering the Model Y L’s hefty weight and powerful dual-motor powertrain, this highlights how Tesla remains one of the market leaders when it comes to electric-motor efficiency.

The Model Y L supports up to 250kW of DC fast charging, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking about 30 minutes, which is on par for most EVs these days.

That said, one of Tesla’s DC fast chargers (aka Superchargers) can add up to 288km of driving range in just 15 minutes, which is pretty good if you are on the go.

Up to 11kW of AC charging is also supported when using a wallbox instead, with a 0-100 per cent charge taking 8.2 hours.

It is worth noting that 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality is also supported by the Model Y L, with drivers able to handily power other devices (e-bikes, power tools etc.) using its battery.

What is the 2026 Tesla Model Y L’s warranty and servicing?

Like all Tesla Australia models, the Model Y comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which, while a year longer than before, is still behind the seven-, eight- and 10-year terms we are now seeing from several brands.

The Model Y L’s battery is covered by a separate eight-year/192,000km warranty, though, which is on par for an EV.

When it comes to service intervals, the Model Y L does not have any. Like other Tesla Australia models, it has a condition-based maintenance plan instead, with the vehicle prompting the driver when something requires attention.

That means capped-price servicing is unfortunately also unavailable, with service pricing dependent on what is involved.

But as we know from years and years of EV ownership, the Model Y L will require more infrequent servicing than an internal-combustion model, which is one of the big benefits of zero-emissions driving.

Why the 2026 Tesla Model Y L design is ambiguous these days

The Tesla Model Y L’s exterior looks like it was designed by three different people.

The front end is very RoboCop following the Model Y’s recent facelift, while the side is overly familiar given it did not change with that update, aside from new wheel designs.

And then there is the rear, which is arguably the Model Y’s coolest angle because of its tail-lights, which are actually reflected onto the tailgate.

The Model Y L distances itself from the regular Model Y with its unique wheels, longer roofline and doors, and more upright tailgate, which integrates another brake light, a lip spoiler and exclusive badging.

Point being, it is pretty easy to tell the difference between the Model Y and Model Y L in traffic.

That said, you are anonymous when driving any Model Y, such is its prevalence these days.

But depending on your point of view, that might not be such a bad thing.

Inside, Tesla’s bare-bones approach has pioneered a generation of basic interiors, whereby large touchscreens dominate up front and, in some cases, are not accompanied by driver displays of any sort.

As mentioned, I am not a fan of this trend, but there is no denying that Tesla interiors have a high-quality feel, with the selection of materials used better than what you see in most European premium models these days.

And with that we have reached the end of my first instalment of this long-term review.

Stay tuned for next month when I will explore the Model Y L’s practicality and driving performance before delivering my overall verdict.

See you then!

Acquired: August 5, 2026

Distance travelled this month: 2142km

Odometer: 2603km

Average energy consumption this month: 14.5kWh/100km