The Model Y Performance adds zest to this Tesla hatch. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Some very subtle styling cues mark out the ultimate small Tesla hatch, this one, the Model Y Performance. Power's up to 483bhp and the 62mph sprint takes just 3.5s. This is an EV on a mission.

Background

You'll have seen many Tesla Model Ys on the roads; it's the brand's best seller. But very few of them will have been this top flagship 'Performance' version, which has only a few exterior detail changes to mark it out from any normal Dual Motor 'Long Range' Model Y. It goes a fair bit faster though, so it'll be the variant of choice for anyone seeking Model Y motoring to the max. Tesla has gradually been improving its prowess when it comes to R&D development and the result is that its latest cars ride and handle to a significantly higher standard - try the improved Model 3 (this car's saloon counterpart) for proof of that. Can this top Model Y showcase that here?. Let's find out.

Driving Experience

It's the fashion amongst EVs these days for a little combustion-like linearity in the way they accelerate. But Tesla doesn't follow fashion and this car simply hurls itself away from rest, especially in this top 'Performance' form. That's because your right foot is commanding 483 braked horses, 49 more than in the standard Long Range version. As in that lesser variant, electric motors propel you from both front and rear axles, creating the car's 'Dual Motor' AWD system, producing 575Nm of torque and dispatching the 62mph sprint in just 3.5s (1.3s quicker than the standard version). Tesla's also disdained the current fashion for limiting top speed on EVs: this one will cruise on the autobahn at up to 155mph (20mph more than the standard variant). The Model Y doesn't have a 'Sport' drive mode - and it clearly doesn't need one, the ordinary 'Standard' setting quite enough to bring up your breakfast (and attract the constabulary's attention) if you engage too frequently in repeated right foot flexes. Better if you can to chill - quite literally, because that's the name of the second more laid-back setting that'll better preserve that all-important drive range figure. It's officially quoted at 319 miles for this 'Performance' version - 12 miles less than the ordinary 'Long Range' derivative manages, but that's still very good by class standards. It doesn't take many miles behind the wheel of this car to realise that there are clearly things in vehicle development that Tesla prioritises - stuff like drive range and acceleration. And equally obviously, there seem to be areas the brand feels deserve less attention - we would number ride quality and refinement amongst these. High speed undulations don't seem to trouble this Model Y very much, but it struggles much more than a car of this price should at lower speeds over poor surfaces. And unfortunately, it can't be embellished with the kind of adaptive damping system that Tesla doesn't want to offer at this price point.

Design and Build

A 'Performance'-spec Model 3 like this is recognisable by its lowered suspension, carbonfibre rear spoiler and larger 21-inch 'Uberturbine' wheels, through the spokes of which you glimpse the red calipers of the uprated 'Performance' braking system. Otherwise, there are no visual differences between this variant and an ordinary Model Y. Inside, the 'Performance'-spec upgrade is equally subtle; the only real difference over an ordinary model lies with the aluminium alloy pedals. So, as usual on a Tesla, the fascia is dominated by a huge central infotainment touchscreen of upright portrait format. Build quality and material richness might not be quite what you're looking for if you're seeking a premium branded model in this sector but it's quite comparable with a volume maker rival. As usual with a Tesla, there are almost no physical buttons in the cabin - almost everything's controlled via the touchscreen, which is sharp to look at and as easy to use as ever. Getting in and out via the pillarless doors is easier than in a comparable Model 3 Performance because of the taller body. The back seat is comfortable for a couple of adults. And there's a decently-sized 854-litre boot, extendable to 1,869-litres in size if you fold the rear seats. You also get a bit of extra space under the bonnet.

Market and Model

At the time of this test in early Spring 2024, prices were starting at around £60,000 for this top 'Performance' version of the Model Y - around £7,000 more than the ordinary Long Range Dual Motor AWD variant. In our 'Design section, we told you about the exterior and cabin embellishments that come with 'Performance'-spec, while in our 'Driving' section, we referenced this 'Performance' model's extra power and top speed increase (from 135 to 155mph). As on other Model Ys, standard equipment includes all the usual executive niceties. And there's a forward facing radar that scans the road 160-metres ahead as you drive, providing a long-range view of distant objects. A 360-degree camera system making parking easier too. You can certain have plenty of luxury features if you want then, things like a 14-speaker premium audio system, 12-way power adjustable leather front seats and a tinted panoramic glass roof with ultra violet/infra-red protection. Safety should be a strong point. Tesla says the Model Y is designed to be the safest vehicle in its class. The low centre of gravity, rigid body structure and large crumple zones provide strong protection. Like all new Teslas, this one comes as standard with emergency braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and more. And in future, the brand promises that the Model Y will have Full Self-Driving capability, enabling automatic driving on city streets and highways pending regulatory approval, as well as the ability to come and find you anywhere in a car park: brilliant.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the driving range figure for this 'Performance' variant in our 'Driving' section - 319 miles; which is quite a way behind the 331 mile figure of the mechanically almost identical Dual Motor version. Owning a Model Y will of course be very different from owning a conventionally powered compact-to-mid-sized SUV. There'll be no fuel bills of course and servicing costs will be much smaller. The annual service fee covers an annual inspection, replacement parts like brake pads and windscreen wipers, 24 hour roadside assistance, system monitoring, remote diagnostics, software updates and new features sent through the touchscreen. Tesla reckons that from empty to full, an 11kW wallbox would replenish a Model Y's 75kWh battery in about seven and a half hours, but the 7.4kW wallbox more owners are likely to have needs 11 hours and 45 minutes. The Model Y is compatible with the US brand's third generation public Superchargers, which are capable of 250kW charging. Hooked up to one of these, your Model Y will be able to recover 75 miles of range in five minutes, or up to 168 miles in fifteen minutes, with a peak charging rate equivalent to 1000 miles for every hour. Tesla currently has more than 50,000 Superchargers globally across 36 countries.

Summary

The Model Y Performance isn't one of those hot hatch models that feels a completely different animal to its humbler showroom stablemates; maybe it should be, but Tesla's not quite ready to build us a car quite like that quite yet. So don't think of it as a Model S Plaid is to a Model S. It's more a Model Y with a bit more of everything. Well, everything except pavement stand-apart presence. No one will notice that you've bought or leased anything other than a very well specified Model Y. Not until you leave them for dead at the traffic lights anyway. And if that's what you want, then in this car, Tesla offers quite a performance.