World’s best-selling car receives an improved battery in entry-level form for a 373-mile range
The car industry had never seen a rise like that of Tesla and probably never will see another. Just a decade ago, this was a new firm introducing a car with a novel propulsion method and minimal supporting infrastructure. Today, it’s the maker of the world’s best-selling car: the Model Y.Rivals never rest, though, and so for 2024 Tesla has replaced the 60kWh battery in the single-motor version of its electric crossover. We think it’s the 75kWh pack from the AWD Long Range but Tesla always refuses to discuss capacity, annoyingly.Whatever it is, it has increased the starting price slightly from £44,990 to £46,990 but enhanced the official range from 283 miles right up to 373 miles (or 351 miles on the bigger alloys), with official efficiency remaining at 4.0mpkWh.Meanwhile, the Long Range All Wheel Drive (£52,990, 331 miles) and Performance All Wheel Drive (£59,990, 319 miles) remain as they were – as does the rest of the entry-level package, now named the Long Range Real Wheel Drive.The Tesla Model Y line-up at a glanceThe Model Y was launched in the UK with two dual-motor versions only: the Long Range and the Performance. In 2023, a cheaper rear-wheel-drive model was added to the range – and now in 2024, it has been upgraded.There are no trim levels; the Model Y just comes with lots of equipment as standard.EnginesPowerLong Range Rear Wheel Drive342bhpLong Range All Wheel Drive389bhpPerformance All Wheel Drive426bhpThe Model Y competes in an increasingly crowded corner of the market: the mid-size electric SUV class. In terms of size and practicality, it goes toe to toe with EVs such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Audi Q4 E-tron and Stellantis’s new Leapmotor C10.There’s a choice of two power outputs, and even the entry-level RWD model packs a hefty 342bhp, which is good for a claimed 0-60mph time of 5.9sec. Move up to the Performance and this benchmark figure tumbles to a supercar-humbling 3.5sec, thanks to its muscular 426bhp output.Thanks to the instant torque and high-revving nature of an electric motor, there’s no need for multiple ratios, as in an ICE car. However, the gearing used for the front and rear motors in AWD Model Ys is slightly different, with one having a shorter ratio for acceleration and the other slightly longer for more efficient high-speed cruising.
