Tesla Model Y First Drive Impressions: Perfect Fit for India?

You don’t need to be an auto enthusiast to know Tesla. Elon Musk has made sure that whether you love the brand or hate it, you’re aware of its cars. Then there’s the long-running saga of Tesla’s India entry – after years of ‘will they, won’t they,’ the company finally seems to have stepped into the Indian market. For now, the company’s line-up consists of just a handful of completely built units (CBUs) of the updated Model Y.

We got the chance to pick up a Model Y from Tesla’s Delhi showroom and spend two hours with it. While two hours isn’t enough to properly assess a vehicle, especially one as complex as the Model Y, it’s just enough to answer a few important questions.

Does it look impressive?

Usually, minimalistic design often risks looking bland or odd, but that’s not the case with the Model Y. Despite having very few creases, it carries an understated elegance. Perhaps that’s because we’ve now become accustomed to design elements like the slim lightbar, compact headlights, and aero-style wheels. Tesla has equipped the Model Y with fairly large 19-inch alloys, but thankfully, unlike many other cars, the sidewalls aren’t paper-thin – something that should help it better tackle the rough road conditions of our country.

At the rear, the connected light strip looks sharp, with the Tesla branding neatly tucked underneath. The fastback-style sloping roofline at the rear adds visual flair, although it does compromise rearward visibility by leaving you with a tiny window in the rearview mirror. Now, the Model Y starts at Rs 59.8 lakh (ex-showroom), which is a little on the expensive side of things. And it’s only offered in grey colour as standard. Every other colour costs extra – the striking red you see in the pictures here, for instance, will set you back by an additional Rs 1.85 lakh.

Overall, the Model Y doesn’t feel out of place in today’s EV market. It draws the right amount of attention, without being flashy, and comes across as a clean, smart-looking modern EV.

What about the tech?

Inside, the Model Y follows an almost buttonless approach. The dashboard is dominated by a massive 15.4-inch touchscreen that controls almost every feature. Apart from a few buttons on the steering wheel and a lone indicator stalk, there’s nothing else – not even an instrument cluster. It’s a setup that takes some time getting used to. For instance, even something as simple as adjusting the steering wheel requires you to dive into the screen.

Also Read: Volvo EX30 First Drive Review: Style over substance?

Want to tweak the ORVMs? Well, use the touchscreen. Open the frunk? Touchscreen. Glovebox? Touchscreen. Shift into drive? You guessed it – touchscreen again. The only exception is the powered front seats, which thankfully retain traditional side-mounted controls. To Tesla’s credit, the touchscreen itself is crisp, responsive, and easy on the eyes, with a clean UI that never once lagged during our test.

Tesla is known for offering cars with self-driving capabilities, and true to the brand, the Model Y also packs a full suite of cameras and radars. Standard ADAS features are included, but the much-talked-about Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability remains locked behind an extra Rs 6 lakh. And due to regulation issues, it won’t be usable in India right away. However, it might be available later as an OTA update, depending on the regulations.

Is it practical?

Barring the lack of physical buttons, the rest of the in-cabin experience is well thought out and surprisingly practical. The second row is spacious, with generous legroom even for taller passengers. Thanks to a flat floor and a decently wide bench, seating three adults won’t be much of a problem. The centre passenger even gets a dedicated head restraint, neatly integrated into the backrest when not in use.

A unique touch is the 8.0-inch touchscreen in the second row, mounted on the floor console. It’s slick to use, controls the AC and media, and doubles up as an entertainment hub. Passengers can stream YouTube or Netflix, play popular games, and even pair Bluetooth earphones so the rest of the cabin isn’t disturbed.

There are plenty of storage spaces throughout the cabin, with enough cubbies for bottles or your morning coffee or tea. The boot is generous at up to 2,130 litres with the second row folded. Folding the second-row seats is quite easy, thanks to a pair of buttons in the boot. Even with the seats up, there’s enough luggage room. Plus, there is a parcel tray that neatly stows away under the boot floor. Being an EV, there’s also a frunk, which offers a little over 100 litres of extra space.

What about the drive?

Tesla is offering the Model Y in two trims – Standard Range and Long Range. While the company hasn’t disclosed exact power and torque figures, it does claim a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds for the Standard and 5.6 seconds for the Long Range. Both variants come with a rear-wheel-drive configuration.

Our drive was brief and mostly in traffic. While there are two drive modes to choose from – Chill and Standard – I was only able to experience the Standard mode. The Model Y feels fairly quick off the line, delivering that familiar EV whiplash when you floor it. Ride quality, however, is on the firmer side. Tesla will need to retune the suspension for Indian roads if it wishes their customers to have a comfortable ride. The seats, too, could use softer cushioning. I mostly drove the car on the smooth roads around the airport, but even on smooth tarmac, an occasional speed breaker would deliver the shock a bit too harshly.

There are three modes to adjust the steering feel and response, but I felt that the difference between the medium and heavy settings was barely noticeable. Even in the medium setting, the steering feels a bit heavy. The lightest setting makes parking or crawling in slow-moving traffic quite easy. There are also two regen modes – one is essentially a single-pedal mode, while the other more or less mimics traditional engine braking, both of which work fine. 

Also Read: Tesla Model Y L Debuts in China with 150mm Longer Wheelbase, Bigger Touchscreen, and More

We tested the Long Range variant, which has a claimed range of 622km (WLTP) and should be more than enough for nearly any journey. Plug it into a 250kW Supercharger, and you get 257km of range in just 15 minutes, according to Tesla. At present, Delhi has four such Superchargers, but the company plans to expand the network soon.

Who will buy it?

Tesla cars have always been gadgets on wheels, and the Model Y is no different. There’s so much packed into this car that I wish I had it longer to truly dig into the details – maybe even push it through our chaotic city roads or take it on a long highway run. However, one thing’s clear – the suspension will need some fine-tuning for Indian conditions.

And then there’s the elephant in the room – the price. As a CBU, the Model Y comes with a rather high price tag. Will that deter buyers with deep pockets? Hardly. People buy a Tesla because it’s a Tesla, and because they want to flaunt it. Its value quotient will improve once Tesla starts local production. Until then, consider the current sticker price as the entry fee to an elite club of Tesla owners in India.