Exterior Design
Let’s kick things off with styling. Up front, the 2020 Tesla Model Y draws from the Model 3 compact sedan for the fascia design, and includes a flat, contoured nose, a low-sloping hoodline, a slim lower
fornt intake, horizontal LED corner fog lights, and teardrop-shaped headlight housings. However, move over to the profile view, and the Model Y looks more like the X, with a sloping roofline that leads into a flat rear end. Speaking of the tail, the Y mimics the X with a similar flat rear end and curved trunk line that terminates in an upturned flick. The taillight housings also mimic those of the Model X. A set of automatic dimming, power folding, heated side view mirrors come as standard.
Wheel sizing is set at 18 inches as standard, with 19-inchers and 20-inchers offered as an available option. Paint options include Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, and Red Multi-Coat.
Finally, we have yet to get exact exterior dimensions for the 2020 Tesla Model Y, but the brand points out that it’s approximately 10-percent larger than the Model 3 sedan. For reference, the Tesla Model 3 is 184.8 inches long, 76.1 inches wide, and 56.8 inches tall.
Comparatively speaking, the 2019 Tesla Model X is more stylized than the Y. The front end incorporates an upper grille element, while the corner lights utilize a more intricate design. The headlights are also placed horizontally on the fascia.
The rest of the design is quite similar to that of the Y, expect for one big feature – the doors. On the X, rear ingress and egress is facilitated by a pair of “Falcon” style openings, with the doors opening up and out as opposed to the side-hinged rear doors on the Y.
Like the Y, the Model X also features power-folding side-view mirrors with a heating function. In the corners, the X mounts 20-inch wheels as standard, while 22-inchers are optional. Exterior paint options mirror those of the Y.
As for the exterior dimensions, the X is classified as a mid-size SUV, measured at 198.3 inches in overall length, 78.7 inches in overall width, and 66.3 inches in height.
Interior Design
The dash stretches from door to door in a thin, horizontal design, with no hard buttons or knobs to speak of. Rather, there’s a 15-inch touchscreen that seems to float above the center console, which provides all the inputs for the infotainment and various vehicle features.
Standout features include 12-way power adjusting front and rear seats with a heating function, a three-way split for the second row seating, a 14-speaker stereo with a subwoofer and two amps, satellite navigation, streaming media, an Internet browser, four USB ports, two smartphone docks, and Bluetooth streaming. There’s also a large panoramic glass roof up top.
Color schemes include all black as standard, and black and white as an available option.
Further technology feature include Tesla’s popular Autopilot feature, followed by the Full Self-Driving Capability feature, both of which are available options. Tesla also states that it expects the highest possible safety ratings across the board for the 2020 Y.
In terms of space, the 2020 Tesla Model Y offers seating for five, but the option for a seven-passenger capacity. There’s also a split-folding function for the second row, which folds down to provide as much as 66 cubic-feet of cargo space.
Just like the exterior, the 2019 Tesla Model X interior offers a similar design as the Model Y, but with a number of “extras” tacked on top.
The center touchscreen is integrated directly with the dash in a vertical arrangement, and measures in at a larger 17 inches, two inches more than you get with the horizontally oriented 15-inch screen in the Y.
Standout features include a “self-presenting front door,” custom 17-speaker audio system, satellite navigation, LCD instrument cluster, voice command, XM satellite radio support, heated seats front to back, and a heated steering wheel. The Model X also features a unique medical-grade HEPA cabin air filter and selectable “Bioweapon Defense Mode” HVAC setting, which removes pollutants like bacteria, viruses, and pollen with remarkable efficiency. Tesla claims the filer is so effective, the air quality inside the X rivals that of an operating room. Up top, the panoramic glass roof once again returns with the X.
Upholstery color options include All Black as standard, while Cream plus Black and White are both optional.
Like the Y, the Model X offers both Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability as available options. Safety ratings are top-notch from the NHTSA.
Seating capacity is capped at five as standard, but Tesla also offers options for a seven-seat layout, which adds an additional row in the rear, and a six-seat layout, which adds two seats in the rear and replaces the second row with two captain’s chairs.
Fold down all the rear seats and you’ll have 87.8 cubic-feet of cargo room at your disposal.
Powertrain, Performance, And Range
Tesla offers the 2020 Model Y in four trim levels. Listed from slowest to quickest, these include the Standard Range, Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance.
Top speed is rated at 120 mph, while range per charge is rated at 230 miles.
Up next is the Long Range RWD, which, as you can probably guess, is also rear-wheel drive. Sixty mph arrives in 5.5 seconds, while top speed is upped to 130 mph. Range per charge is rated at 300 miles.
The penultimate grade is the Long Range AWD, which adds in another electric motor to the front axle, dropping the sprint to 60 mph down to 4.8 seconds. Top speed sees a small increase to 135 mph, while range per charge drops to 280 miles.
Finally, there’s the Performance trim level, which once again uses the dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and long-range battery pack as the Long Range AWD. However, the Performance trim level can hit 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Keep your foot in it and you’ll see 150 mph in the top end. Range equals that of the Long Range AWD at 280 miles per charge.
2019 Tesla Model X Powertrain, Performance, And Range
The 2019 Tesla Model X is much more limited in terms of powertrain options, with customers given just two to choose from.
Sixty mph arrives in just 4.7 seconds, while top speed clocks in at 155 mph. Range per charge comes in at 295 miles.
The top dog of the X line is once again called the Performance. It too uses dual-motor all-wheel drive, while the sprint to 60 mph takes just 3.5 seconds. However, opt into Ludicrous Mode, and that figure is reduced to an astonishing 2.8 seconds. Top speed with or without Ludicrous Mode matches that of the Long Range at 155 mph, while range per charge is rated 289 miles with or without the optional Ludicrous Mode.
Pricing, Options, And Availability
2020 Tesla Model Y Pricing, Options, And Availability
As of this writing (03/19/2019), Tesla is only offering the Model Y in the Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance trim levels. The entry-level Standard Range trim level will be available to order sometime in early 2021.
Options include four additional exterior colors ($1,500 to $2,500), 19-inch wheels ($1,500), Black and White interior upholstery ($1,000), a Seven Seat Interior ($3,000, available in 2021), Autopilot ($3,000 on order, or $4,000 after delivery), and Full Self-Driving Capability ($5,000 on order, or $7,000 after delivery, requires Autopilot).
Production for the 2020 Tesla Model Y is expected to begin some time late next year, with delivery in the fall of 2020 for the Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance trim levels. The Standard Range has an expected delivery date of
spring, 2021. Orders placed now require a $2,500 deposit.
Order your 2020 Tesla Model Y online here.
2019 Tesla Model X Pricing, Options, And Availability
Tesla is currently accepting orders for both the 2019 Model X Long Range and 2019 Model X Performance trim levels.
Pricing was recently lowered for both trim levels.
Options include four additional exterior colors ($1,500 to $2,500), 20-inch Sonic Carbon wheels ($2,000), 22-inch Onyx Black wheels ($5,500), Black and White interior upholstery ($1,500), Cream interior upholstery ($1,500), a Seven Seat interior ($3,000), a Six Seat interior ($6,000), Autopilot ($3,000 on order, $4,000 after delivery), and Full Self-Driving Capability ($5,000 on order, or $7,000 after delivery, requires Autopilot).
Orders placed today (03/15/2019) have an estimated delivery timing of one to eight weeks. Orders placed now require a $2,500 deposit.
Order your 2019 Tesla Model X online here.
Conclusion
All told, the 2020 Tesla Model Y offers quite a bit of good stuff carried over from the 2019 Tesla Model X. The styling is quite similar between the two, while the Y’s interior is decently practical for the crossover’s size. The optional seven-seat layout is also quite impressive for the compact Y. Throw in all that good tech, including Autopilot, not to mention a number of high-range, quick-accelerating powertrain options, and the Y looks like a very real low-cost alternative to the X.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments section below.
Further Reading
Everything We Know About The 2020 Tesla Model Y
Read our full review on the 2020 Tesla Model Y.
Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model X.
Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.