Less than £20,000 now buys you a spacious family SUV in a fashionable Tesla package
Like it or loathe it, Tesla's family SUV is one of the most efficient, tech-rich and practical used electric cars you can buy.The Model Y has topped sales charts worldwide since its launch in 2022, with more than 2.5 million examples delivered in the past three years. That's almost half what the original Mini achieved over its entire 41-year production run.The Model Y has now been updated, but if you can swallow a few compromises, the pre-facelift car is beginning to look like a real bargain, with prices starting at £18,000 well under half the price of a new one.The Long Range version is the go-to if you will be using your Model Y as a holiday shuttle, as it can do up to 331 miles on a charge, although figures in the high-200s are more realistic. The Performance trades mileage for beguiling acceleration, hence it's good for only 220 miles.That being said, a modest range figure shouldn't deter you from undertaking longer drives, because you will have access to Tesla's entire Supercharger network. There are more than 1400 such units in the UK and most offer speeds of up to 150kW, some 250kW, meaning you can boost the battery from 10-80% in less than 30 minutes.If you only need your EV to cover short hops around town, the Rear-Wheel Drive model, introduced in 2023, is the answer. Range is up to 283 miles and you can now pick one up for only around £18,000.The Model Y may not be the last word in driver engagement, but it's still a seriously quick car in all its forms. The 434bhp Long Range model offers whip-crack acceleration, and you can opt for the Performance if you want even more shove. With 483bhp, it can sprint from 0-60mph in a scarcely believable 3.5sec - faster than the 552bhp V8-engined F10 generation BMW M5.Jump on the throttle and you will be stunned by its performance - although your kids in the roomy rear and your dog in the super-spacious (845-litre) boot might not be so amused. Despite its tall body and hefty (1979kg) kerb weight, the Model Y handles pretty well: quick steering and stiff dampers make it unusually agile, and it gets decent grip from its standard tyres.The Model Y is generally well mannered and undemanding to drive, be it around town or in the countryside but it scores very poorly for ride comfort. Even on its smaller (19in) wheels, it never seems to settle down, giving a fractious low-speed ride. Tesla did tweak the dampers to improve ride quality in 2023, but the difference is only marginal.Inside, you're greeted by a bare-looking cockpit, exactly like in the earlier Model 3 saloon. But unlike in that car, the 'vegan' innards feel hard-wearing and tactile. The lack of physical controls is a real bugbear, though, and the central touchscreen can be a challenge to operate on the move. At least it's well configured and loaded with features. It can even stream videos and run arcade games to keep you entertained while using a charger.Prices for the Performance model generally start at around £30,000, but we saw a well-maintained example with 45,000 miles under its wheels for just £28,000.Dual Motor Long Range cars are a good chunk cheaper, and you will easily find a tidy car with around 50,000 miles on the odometer for just over £22,000.The Tesla Model Y line-up at a glanceThe Model Y was launched in the UK with two dual-motor versions: the Long Range and the Performance.In 2023, a cheaper Rear-Wheel Drive model was added to the range, and in 2024 it was boosted to 373 miles of range.There are no trim levels; the Model Y just came with lots of equipment as standard.The Model Y competes in an increasingly crowded corner of the used 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 Leapmotor C10.There's a choice of two power outputs, and even the entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive 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 Dual Motor Model Ys is slightly different, with one having a shorter ratio for acceleration and the other slightly longer for more efficient high-speed cruising.
