2026 Tesla Model Y Reviews

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. Of course, the Model Y L is a long-wheelbase version of the ‘regular’ Model Y with six seats across three rows. 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. 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. 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. 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. The 2026 Tesla Model Y L 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. 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. 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

The six-seat Tesla Model Y L has finally arrived in Australia, giving the brand an answer for bigger families making the electric switch. We put it to the test to see if this is the best version of the Model Y yet.

The thing about performance cars – traditionally speaking, at least – is that you always know when you're in one. Sure, you can try to go easy on the accelerator, like if you're trying to sneak away from the house early in the morning without waking your neighbours, but a proper ICE-powered performance model will still never let you get away with it. There is always a tell. Whether it's an exhaust that barks into life with rabid Cujo intensity every time you fire it up. Or suspension so firm it's like the shocks have been filled with adamantium. Or even a big and bulging wing staring back at you every time you glance in the mirror. There's always something that feels like a price to be paid for having access to all that punch. But here's where it gets interesting. Because the Tesla Model Y Performance is one of the fastest cars I've driven this year. And yet, for 90 per cent of my time with it, I forgot I was driving anything other than a placid and friendly electric SUV. And I do mean fast. The Model Y Performance – the latest Tesla Juniper product to arrive in Australia – delivers proper supercar pace. As is always the case with Tesla, the details are a little murky. The brand doesn't quote torque figures, for example, and there are other mysteries. But we do know the brand claims a 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds. That's a lot of outright speed for your $89,400 investment. For reference, the blisteringly quick and super competent Porsche Macan Electric Turbo will knock off the same sprint in 3.3 seconds and asks $184,400 for your trouble. At the other end of the pricing scale is the Zeekr 7X Performance. Its sprint takes 3.8 seconds, and it lists at $72,900. Then there's the Kia GT Line, at $99,590, which also delivers a 3.5-second 0-100 sprint. Delivering the Model Y Performance's punch is a dual-motor AWD system which produces 343kW, which is fed through the big 21-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli P Zero rubber. The set-up feels designed to channel all of that grunt into the tarmac efficiently, and it works, even under flat-footed acceleration, with no squealing or slipping from the tyres. But despite the big wheels and an adaptive suspension system that still feels too firm in places, the Tesla's most surprising party trick is its ability to coast around calmly and (mostly) comfortably when you don't want to unleash the full might of its electric motors. I was at the launch of the regular Model Y Juniper, and with gentle throttle inputs, this Performance feels largely the same. Like the rest of the Y range, this go-fast version carries-over the improvements that addressed most of what I didn't like about Tesla's best-selling model. The steering is far less darty and annoying than in the old Y, and it rides better (though not as nicely as the non-Performance, though that's a pretty understandable by-product of the go-fast add-ons). I'm even getting used to turning my head to the side every time I want to check how fast I'm going, owing to Tesla's steadfast refusal to fit a driver display or head-up projection. I can't abide the silly the gear selector that's now on the screen, though (you slide your finger forwards to select drive, backwards to select reverse, and you tap the screen to go into Park), and the air-conditioning is among the worst and most confounding systems I've ever used. It blows so hard (and yet not so cold) that on a sweltering Sydney day I pulled over and got out to make phone calls. And, of course, there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. I miss it, definitely. But I have to say Tesla's native and Google-powered navigation is probably the best in the business, and the broader tech offering is very strong, too. Using my phone as the key gave me access to all sorts of functions (temp in the cabin etc), and just unlocking, getting in and going is super easy – which, believe it or not, is not something you can say about all of its rivals. But back to the performance of the Performance. It's really something – proper push-you-back-into-the-seat stuff  – and it doesn't feel unsuited to the car. Whether in a straight line or cornering, the power comes on thick and strong, but the rest of the car feels buttoned down, stiff enough through the chassis and ready to respond. Competent across the board, really, and more nimble than its 2.0-tonne weight would suggest. Be warned, though. There is a total lack of fanfare involved here. It feels more like one of those superfast rollercoasters that propel you into the future rather than a properly engaging and emotional experience, like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, for example. But it offers big performance bang for buck, and its ability to putter through traffic – complete with a claimed 580km driving range – before teleporting you into another dimension is one hell of a party trick. For the record, though, a four-year, 80,000km warranty is entriely underwhelming by today's standards, even if the battery is covered for eight years and 192,000km.

Since its mid-2022 launch, the Tesla Model Y has dominated EV sales, driven by affordable prices, easy charging and dynamic performance. But increased competition and image issues have seen rivals muscling in, like the Kia EV5. This is the EV normalised, with user-friendly operation, packaging and ownership benefits. With the much-improved Model Y facelift now here, what is the better family SUV?