Tesla may have officially killed off the Model S and X globally, three years after production of right-hand-drive versions stopped, but the recently updated Model Y remains a UK top-seller. Al Suttie tests it for a week up north of the border.

Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD

List price (BiK): £48,925 (3%)  Economy: 387 miles  Test efficiency: 273 miles

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Monday

As a rule, I reckon the original version of a car is the most successful when it comes to looks and appeal. With the Tesla Model Y, we have the exception to the rule as this updated version that arrived in 2025 is a much better looking car to my eyes. It also promises more range and better cabin quality, the latter being an area where Tesla has taken some flak.

Tuesday

In Long Range Rear Wheel Drive spec for this car, we have the ideal model for fleet drivers as it offers the potential for 387 miles of range. That puts it firmly in the top tier of EVs for driving distance between charges, though this being Caledonia raining, rather than California dreaming, that shows as a more realistic 273 miles till we run out on this morning’s drive.

Wednesday

Credit where it’s due to Tesla, the company has greatly improved the overall fit and finish of the Model Y. It’s not so much that it was bad beforehand, just that it was up against some of the classiest cars company drivers can choose from. Now, the materials feel more substantial and there’s more support from the front seats. And, thankfully, there is now an indicator stalk – hurrah!

Thursday

Tesla has not so much improved the driving dynamics of the Model Y as transformed them. Where it used to be quite twitchy due to its overly quick steering response and rode like there was granite in the suspension, now it flows on every type of road. There is more road noise than you might expect at motorway speeds, so it does now feel middle ranking rather than cutting edge in its overall driving manners.

Friday

With 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds for this model, and more than enough punch for overtaking on A-roads, the Tesla Model Y in this form finds the sweet spot. It’s quicker than its pre-facelift equivalent but doesn’t strain passengers’ necks when you need to get a shift on to join a busy roundabout. There’s also ample traction and good modulation of the accelerator pedal.

Saturday

Almost a week into using the Model Y and I thought I would get more used to the 15.4-inch touchscreen that operates almost every function of the car. But, and it’s an important one for me, it just doesn’t have the intuitive nuance of many rivals’. Too many functions are at the end of menu trails, while the on-screen gear selector just proved to be an irritant. A few simple physical controls would make a world of difference.

Sunday

The Model Y has been a huge success for Tesla and continues to hold a good deal of appeal for business users. This updated version sorts many of the niggles levelled at the car in the past, but time has marched and this means too many of the Tesla’s rival now outdo it in many key areas. However, pricing keeps the Model Y relevant for fleet drivers.