Tesla’s Model Y blends electrifying performance and plenty of practicality, but will that be enough to convince EV sceptics in Singapore?

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SINGAPORE

It’s been about a year since Tesla officially arrived in Singapore, and no other brand has made quite the splash that it has done locally since as far as we can remember. With just one model on sale, the Model 3, Tesla vaulted into the top 10 most popular car brands in Singapore in 2021, and in the process nabbed the title of best selling electric car brand here.

Its shine has faded a little of late, thanks in combination to skyrocketing COE prices, supply chain issues, and the emergence of newer EV competition, such as Chinese brand BYD. But there’s no putting Tesla down, and the brand is looking to push on by introducing the Model Y, its second model to officially go on sale here.

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While the Model 3 was a sleek fastback sedan, ostensibly targeted at customers who would typically shop in the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class segment, the Model Y takes the form of an SUV. This means that Tesla is now aiming its sights at the family buyer, which is arguably a bigger and more influential audience in the Singaporean car buying context.

The Model Y signals that it’s no longer enough for a Tesla to be just a fancy tech showpiece (although many owners still treat it as such), it actually has to work as a practical family runabout that’s suitable for day-to-day usage. How does the Model Y fare in that respect then? We find out in our first drive review.

In the meantime, check out our launch news coverage and our first impressions drive of the Tesla Model Y in Singapore, or watch our video review above.

Design and Interior

Tesla clearly has a standard defined styling language, and it’s no surprise then that the Model Y pretty much looks like a bigger and taller (some would say bloated) Model 3.

That can be a bit of a double-edged sword really. On one hand, the car is instantly recognisable as a Tesla. On the other hand, given the proliferation of Model 3s on our roads now, the car can be a bit hard to pick out and distinguish from the rest. 

In any case, chief ed Derryn has compiled a handy feature to tell you the difference between the Model 3 and Model Y, if you are curious to know.

The taller stance of the Model Y though translates into a rather significant advantage, i.e. lots more room inside. And we do mean lots. There’s enough space in the rear to accommodate an NBA player, and then some, with plenty of head and legroom all round. 

The full-length glass sunroof accentuates the effect of airiness even further, although the fact that there’s no retractable shade does seem like a major oversight, as it results in the cabin becoming unbearably warm on scorching sunny days.

The massive amount of room extends to cargo carrying too, with the Model Y boasting some 867 litres of boot space, expandable to an enormous 2,100 litres if the rear seats are folded down. There’s also a handy small frunk up front too, and Tesla has clearly made good use of the packaging advantages of EVs to maximise the amount of room available. 

The sheer space on offer, for both people and cargo, means that the Tesla is easily the class leader when it comes to the business of accommodation, and if you’re intending to use the Model Y purely for family duties, then there are certainly few better choices out there that beats it for practicality.

Up front, the Model Y shares the same minimalist style dashboard as the Model 3. That means the large 15-inch touchscreen which controls virtually everything, including the door mirrors and even the glovebox, takes pride of place in the centre. It does require some getting used to, and some people probably never will, but it should probably be less of an issue for the smartphone generation who are used to swiping and touching everything.

One thing that does have the potential to grate though is the rather disappointing build quality. Some of the cabin materials do feel a bit cheap and low rent, and you get the sense that the car doesn’t seem to be as well put together as, say, an equivalent Mercedes-Benz or Audi. For the kind of money you’re forking out for the Tesla, it does feel like a bit of a letdown.

Page 2: How does the Model Y drive, and is it worth your money?

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