Tesla Model Y L Premium AWD 88kWh Review

Preferences for body styles may change, but ferrying the whole family around has never gone out of style (we're talking more than five seats). So it's a slight curiosity that for all its perceptiveness of the Singapore market, Tesla had never once fielded something to fit this bill here. 

Internationally, the legacy Model Y was already optionally available with two extra seats; the gull-winged Model X, on the other hand, could have once been purchased as a six or seven-seater here - though only via parallel importers. 

At last, however, Tesla has rolled the red carpet out for its official first three-row model in Singapore. And by most measures, this one's well worth the wait. 

The Model Y L is Tesla's first official six-seater in Singapore, and has a wheelbase that's 150mm longer than the standard Model Y's

Spot the difference

The 'L' in Model Y L feels like it could stand for a multitude of things, really. Luxury levels, for one, have been dialled up. The car is physically larger too, stretching out at nearly five metres now. 

But the focal point here is its wheelbase: 150mm longer than the standard car's. That's pushed the distance between the front and rear wheels over the three-metre mark, pipping even that of most mid-sized MPVs like the Toyota Noah or Maxus MIFA 7. 

Among the variant-specific elements of the Model Y L are its rear spoiler (with an integrated brake light), 19-inch aero rims, and Cosmic Silver paintcoat 

In true Tesla style, the Model Y L would be hard for the undiscerning motorist to distinguish from the standard car apart from a sprinkling of variant-specific goodies. A Gurney-flap style rear spoiler has landed, as have new 19-inch aero rims and a special Cosmic Silver paintcoat. Still, only proper fans would be able to pick these elements out in a quick-fire game of Spot the Difference. 

Spend a bit more time with it, though, and the Model Y L's heft is hard to miss once you've gotten acquainted. Especially prominent is its enlarged rear windscreen, which reaches over the two rear seats; this, in turn, has forced the third brake light downwards into the spoiler. 

The Model Y L's slippery shape may not be to everyone's liking, but it boasts the lowest drag coefficient of any Model Y to date: An incredible 0.216Cd 

Admittedly, those who shun the idea of an amorphous, blobby SUV will still not be the biggest fans of the Model Y L's styling, which is effectively the physical engorgement of the Model Y. 

But there's an upshot to this: The Model Y L's wind-cheating shape apparently makes it the most aerodynamic car in the lineup today, with a drag coefficient of just 0.216Cd (besting even the facelifted Model 3). It's worth reiterating too that it's the facelifted car that serves as the basis here; its minimalist, robotic mien arguably serving as an upgrade from the original. One year on, that rear light bar with its gently diffused lighting is still easy on the eyes.

The Model Y L's third row is surprisingly spacious by the standards of an SUV, and even comes with electrically reclinable back rests 

Almost perfect

Conversely, there will be no debates about the Model Y L's classy interior, which rises far above the heights you'd expect from a three-row SUV of its size. 

The first (pleasant) curveball lands with its commodious and generously-kitted third row. Since there's an always-open aisle between the second-row chairs, getting in doesn't require the dexterity of a contortionist. And while the car retains an unmistakable coupe-SUV shape, Tesla has made sure to raise the roofline for all passengers too. 

Third-row occupants are also treated to their own air vents, cupholders, and neatly-stowed USB-C ports

Head room is consequently fantastic here in the back by the standards of three-row SUVs - certainly enough for average-sized Singaporean adults, much less children. If you're on good terms with those seated in front, you could certainly persuade them into moving their chairs forward too, to stretch out more comfortably. In tandem, even the rearmost back rests can be electrically reclined. 

The experience is far from claustrophobic either, because the Model Y L's rear windscreen goes so far inwards that it effectively doubles up as a sunroof. But therein lies one of the car's blemishes: Riding most rearward in the day can be a scorching affair. 

The second row seats, however, are still the best in the house; they come with heating/ventilation and automated arm rests, which are paired with better-positioned vents on the B-pillars

Extra third row aside, the second row has gotten an upgrade itself too with two individual seats.

It's easy to accept the fact that these fall some way short of the cushy captain's chairs on proper MPVs because they come with ventilation, powered adjustment, and - in typical tech-forward Tesla fashion - automated armrests. Alongside these goodies, the air-conditioning vents have moved upwards into the B-pillars too. Throughout, Tesla's expert packaging continues to show in the way the footwells are recessed, so occupants can rest their feet a bit more naturally.

You could turn your Model Y L into an electric van if you wanted: There's up to 2,539 litres of space in the rear with all the seats folded, along with a roomy 116-litre frunk

The rest of the Model Y L's digital hardware is largely the same. For better or for worse, Tesla's hyper-minimalist ethos of dashboard design hasn't changed; neither has its insistence to stick to its own polished operating system (that means farewell to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). But if you're willing to be swept along in it, it's not hard to find the user experience calming, pleasant and very complete. 

As you'd expect, though, there's more functionality and equipment to be enjoyed in the upsized L.

Heating, ventilation and one-touch folding functions can all be controlled via the 16-inch infotainment screen; another highlight is the car's 19-speaker surround sound system

For instance, seat controls for all three rows (folding, ventilation, and heating) can be handily accessed from the 16-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The car's upgraded 19-speaker sound system - which even includes a subwoofer and what Tesla has dubbed 'Immersive Sound X' software - is a sheer delight too, its crispness and high fidelity promising to thrust you right back into 1986 with Freddie Mercury et al. at Wembley Stadium. 

The Model Y L's steering lacks feedback, but more than redeems itself with its speed and accuracy, with the small steering wheel adding a 'sporty' feel 

For both the driver and the family 

On the road, the Model Y L continues to shine brighter than many other electric SUVs by offering up an easygoing yet engaging drive. Outward visibility is excellent, the cabin is impeccably-insulated, and the car's quick steering rack and firmer suspension are compelling invitations to hustle it around a bend when a path through traffic clears.

Credit for how easy it is to place on the road is likely also due to the fact that it's not even a smidge wider than the standard Model Y. Oftentimes, it's easy to forget that you're piloting a nearly five-metre long SUV. Yet such is the agility the car manages. By most measures, the Model Y L still feels manoeuvrable and light-footed in a way that large three-row electric SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 may not. 

Adjusting the adaptive suspension did little to change the ride quality from our experience, but the car's longer wheelbase does enhance its composure on the move

Unlike pre-existing Model Y variants, Tesla also claims to have given the Model Y L adaptive suspension. But truthfully, the differences when toggling between ‘Balanced’ and ‘Rear Comfort’ modes are so minute (at least from our experience) that they feel negligible. Conversely, while the ride still tends to the firmer side, the longer wheelbase does seem to bestow the Model Y L with that bit more composure over rougher roads.

The downsides? The car's extra length does rear its head slightly with an enlarged turning radius you'll feel when making U-turns or parking (though the latter can be circumvented if you wish with Tesla's competent auto-parking system). 

The Model Y L's power is easy to appreciate in isolation, but risks running up a hefty road tax 

Talking about the Model Y L's power also presents a bit of a mixed bag.

While three-row SUVs are expected to be gutsy enough to ferry all on board, the Model Y L overreaches slightly. Utilising the same dual-motor setup as the Long Range AWD variant, it gets a whopping 378kW (507 bhp) and 590Nm of torque - figures that can rocket it to 100km/h from rest in five seconds flat (if you're alone). 

To its credit, the Model Y L accelerates with addictive ease even with six on board, without ever tipping over into the ballistic violence suggested by its output. But given the way road tax sums are calculated in Singapore, it's hard not to wonder if it could do with less power to make that annual bill less palatable. This is ultimately still a family SUV and not a rocketship; topping out at a theoretical 300-ish ponies would still feel plenty.

580km worth of real-world range is fantastic for a two-tonne, six-seater SUV; the seamlessness of Tesla's Supercharger network also remains a marvel today

Where the Model Y L is right-sized, however, is in terms of driving range.

Elongating its wheelbase has also allowed Tesla to stuff a larger-capacity 88kWh battery pack between its front and rear axles, and with our driving patterns, we were on track to achieve the equivalent of about 580km on a full charge. That's some way off the WLTP-rated 681km posted by Tesla, but still an impressive total in its own right.

Tesla's Supercharger network in Singapore also remains peerless in its sheer combination of seamless connectivity and speed. At the Waterway Point station, we logged a peak charging rate of 147kW (the maximum for the Model Y L's battery is 250kW) and a speedy 20-minute top-up to 80%, upon first arriving with a 29% state-of-charge. 

Tesla may have taken its time to field a three-row SUV in Singapore, but the Model Y L's largely right-sized approach feels well worth the wait 

Well worth the wait

Tesla may have been first to storm the electric scene with a bestselling sedan and SUV, but newer names to the scene have diluted its monopoly.

By making a long-awaited move now into electric three-row SUV territory - a still sparsely-filled segment, by the way - the brand seems to have claimed first-mover advantage yet again. The likes of the Volvo EX90 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 are a fair bit larger, after all, while the usual Chinese suspects have yet to field six or seven-seater electric SUVs themselves. 

To be clear, the Model Y L isn't perfect. Tesla's insistence on glass rather than metal roofs will require some strategic tinting to keep your third-row passengers happy in the day; meanwhile, lopping off that front motor would probably make opening road tax calculators a less fearsome affair for would-be buyers.  

But these slight blemishes do little to diminish how accomplished the Model Y L is. By most accounts, the Model Y L's appeal lies in its quiet ability to deliver right-sized doses - of space, comfort, equipment and range. Tesla may have taken its time, but with it, the brand has pieced together a nearly peerless ride for the whole family today that proudly carries forward the brand's tech-y sheen. 

Don't forget to check out these other three-row electric SUVs on the market today! 

Full of presence, the Ioniq 9 - Hyundai's largest electric SUV - is a compelling and cushy new electric flagship for the brand

Big on power, space, and refinement, the Volvo EX90 should have little trouble finding favour amongst those shopping for a family SUV