Used 2020 Tesla Model Y

The 2020 Tesla Model Y is a premium all-electric crossover/SUV that shares its fundamental structure with the Model 3 sedan. Taller, roomier, and $4,000 pricier than the Model 3, the Model Y adds family-friendly functionality via reclining rear seats, a roomy cargo hold, and a practical hatchback design.

Compared to luxury compact SUV competitors like the BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Model Y’s current $54,190 base price is high. However, an approximately $40,000 base-level Model Y should arrive in 2021.

Price aside, the 2020 Model Y dazzles with intense electric thrust, over-the-air vehicle updates, and a tech-rich driving experience. For Tesla fans who crave the brand’s upscale Model X SUV but cringe at its lofty price tag, the Model Y is a tempting alternative.

If you haven’t experienced the immediate and unrelenting thrust of electric power, you are in for a treat. Like all Tesla vehicles, the 2020 Model Y is propelled solely by electric motors and, mercy, are they fun when jetting from stoplight to stoplight.

The Tesla Model Y is also an adept partner around freeway onramps, where it’s low center of gravity and swift steering ratio impart it with a sporting feel uncommon among family haulers. Ride quality skews firm but not unpleasantly so.

Beyond steering efforts, Model Y owners can customize acceleration, regenerative braking intensity, and vehicle-creep behavior when the driver’s foot is removed from the brake.

Among the stopping modes, we prefer “Hold”. Its heavy regenerative deceleration makes shifting your foot to the brake pedal generally unnecessary, while also bringing the vehicle to a perfectly smooth stop every time.

Upon first peek, the 2020 Model Y’s interior looks impossibly Spartan. There’s no gauge cluster and little adornment. Most vehicle information and controls are presented on a centrally mounted 15-inch display whose interface is vivid and intuitive to navigate.

Material quality throughout the cabin is fine, but with a scrutinizing eye, you can find misaligned components and trim that undercut the Model Y’s premium premise. In fact, our test vehicle exhibited a noticeable rattle from the rear of the vehicle.

Conversely, space management in the Model Y is outstanding. The cargo area is vast and features a large supplemental underfloor hold plus a bonus trunk under the front hood. The rear seats feature a convenient 40/20/40 split allowing long items to pass between two rear occupants. Those rear seats can also be reclined, unlike in the Model 3.

Lacking a traditional grille, the Tesla Model Y’s exterior exhibits a smooth flowing design, hinting at its electrified nature. Simply climbing aboard is a novel experience thanks to flush-fitting door handles and the lack of a traditional key. Owners can either use a hotel-style keycard or their smartphone to access the vehicle.

Nineteen-inch wheels come standard while 20s are a $2,000 option. Tesla also offers a “performance upgrade” for the Model Y Performance trim. Choosing that option adds a lowered suspension, 21-inch wheels, and performance brakes to the exterior roster.

SMART SUMMON
Using Tesla’s smartphone app, the optional Smart Summon feature allows the Model Y to drive itself from a parking spot right to where you’re standing. Users are responsible for any mishaps, but for impressing your friends, it’s a neat trick.

OVER-THE-AIR UPDATES
With most vehicle functions managed through the central 15-inch touchscreen, Tesla is free to add new features via over-the-air updates, just like your phone. Past updates have included dog mode to keep the interior comfortable for pets, Sentry mode that uses the vehicle’s cameras to observe would-be criminals, and a sequencer for making music while your car charges.

In basic form, the 2020 Model Y includes 12-way power front seats, heated front and rear seats, 4 USB ports, a glass roof, and a 15-inch central display that is used to manage most vehicle features and doubles as the driver’s information display.

The Model Y’s display shows navigation and music but also includes a variety of games, novelties, and video streaming abilities for YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix. There’s plenty to distract occupants while their Tesla charges.

Perhaps the most interesting standard item is Autopilot. With an array of ultrasonic sensors, forward-looking radar, and cameras placed around the vehicle, Autopilot can manage the accelerator, brakes, and steering for the driver. The system works well for long commutes, but still demands the driver’s constant attention to the road ahead.

Tesla keeps the options simple with the Model Y. Buyers can opt for larger wheels, a $1,000 tow hitch with a 3,500-pound rating, and a $1,000 Black and White interior. Outside, white is the only free color. If you’d like any of the 4 other colors, you’ll have to budget an extra $1,000 or $2,000.

For $7,000 Tesla will add “Full Self-Driving Capability” to your Model Y. That $7,000 investment adds abilities like automatic lane changes, automatic parking, Smart Summon, stopping assist at stop signs and traffic lights, and the Navigate on Autopilot automatic highway driving feature. While the systems require an attentive driver at all times, watching them work is very cool.

Lastly, a 7-seat interior should arrive for the 2021 model year with an asking price of $3,000.

The Tesla Model Y Long Range offers an EPA-estimated 316-mile range. Moving up to the Performance version knocks that down to 315 miles. Both variants utilize 2 electric motors, delivering all-wheel-drive traction and exhilarating thrust. Powering those motors is a 75-kWh lithium-ion battery pack placed beneath the Model Y’s floor.

While you can connect your Model Y to a standard household outlet, a 240-volt home charger is a much quicker solution for charging up overnight. For longer journeys, Tesla’s vast Supercharger network offers high-speed charging on the go… for a fee. A full charge can take about an hour, but oftentimes adequate range to the next Supercharging facility can be achieved in less time.

Long Range:
AC induction electric motors w/75-kWh battery pack
447 horsepower (estimated)
376 lb-ft of torque (estimated)
EPA fuel economy: 127 MPGe city/114 MPGe hwy/121 MPGe combined
Range: 316 miles

Performance:
AC induction electric motors w/75-kWh battery pack
580 horsepower (estimated)
481 lb-ft of torque (estimated)
EPA fuel economy: 129 MPGe city/112 MPGe hwy/121 MPGe combined
Range: 315 miles