Tesla’s design language aims to keep things simple. The shape is rather unique, sitting somewhere between a sedan and an SUV coupe. What you’re likely to first absorb most however, is the sheer size of the Model Y. It might not look like it in pictures, but this electric car is almost up to 5-metres in length depending on the variant you pick. 

Design and Quality

Tesla’s obsession with minimalism reflects in the Model Y’s cabin. Everything you’d think is ‘normal’ has been rethought and mostly scrapped. For instance, the Model Y does not have a headlamp or wiper stalk, no instrument cluster, no physical buttons for the mirrors or even door handles. This is as sci-fi as cars get. It might take you a little time to rewire your thoughts to accept this ‘new normal’, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. 

There are two interior colour themes on offer. A full-black interior is offered as standard, and a white-black two tone interior is a Rs 95,000 optional extra. I’d pick the two toned interior because it makes the cabin feel richer and more luxurious. The contrast of white, grey and black is balanced quite well, adding to the Model Y’s minimalist philosophy. 

The dashboard is practically a horizontal slab with a large 16-inch touchscreen in the centre. There’s absolutely nothing else here. Quality levels are on par with German luxury cars that are offered for similar money. There’s soft-touch material everywhere — from the dashboard to the door pads. The fabric used on the doorpads and dash for contrast feels high quality, and so does the leather used for the upholstery. 

Front Seats

Getting in and out of the Tesla Model Y is fairly easy. Even elders in the family are unlikely to complain. Like most EVs, the floor feels ‘raised’ and in effect the distance between the seat base and floor feels low. In most cars that are ‘converted’ to electric, this results in a direct compromise in headroom. However, the born-electric Tesla does not have this problem. I had no issues with my near 6ft height, and, in fact, even my 6.5ft tall colleague was plenty comfortable here. 

Rear Seats

This came as a genuine surprise to me, as I was able to sit very comfortably behind a 6.5ft tall driver. There was a little kneeroom to spare, and despite the front seat being all the way down, I could comfortably place my feet under the seat too. Given the flat floor and the wide bench, it is technically possible to seat three people in comfort in the backseat of the Model Y. 

Third Row Practicality & Usability

In the third row, there is decent room for short journeys. The lack of proper under-thigh support limits comfort, especially for adults. Access is another area where it falls short, since the second-row seats don’t fully fold or tumble forward, and getting in and out requires some effort. As a result, the third row feels best suited for kids for occasional use. For added practicality, both the rows can be folded down via buttons on the boot.

Storage and Practicality

All door pads have well-sized bottle holders. Front occupants get two massive storage boxes in the floor console, along with a couple of cupholders. There’s a glovebox too (which rather annoyingly can only be opened via the touchscreen) that’s a little shallow and can hold the car’s documents at best.

Key specifications of Tesla Model Y