Tesla Model Y Review Australia 2026: Every Variant, Pricing and Verdict

The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric car in Australia. Not the best-selling EV — the best-selling car, full stop, in some months. The Juniper refresh brought a cleaner design, improved interior, and the new Model Y L variant with a 90 kWh battery, six seats, and — for the first time on a Tesla in Australia — V2L.

The lineup now spans four variants from $58,900 to $89,900. The range covers daily commuters, families, road-trippers, and performance buyers. Competition has intensified — the BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X, and Kia EV6 are all strong alternatives — but the Model Y’s combination of range, towing, charging network, and resale value keeps it at the top.

Here is how every variant stacks up in 2026.

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Specs at a glance

Spec	Model Y RWD	Model Y Long Range	Model Y Performance	Model Y L
Price (drive-away)	$58,900	$75,900	$89,400	$89,900
Battery	62.5 kWh	78.4 kWh	75 kWh	90 kWh
Range (WLTP)	466 km	551 km	580 km	681 km
Motor	Single, rear	Dual	Dual	Dual
Drive	RWD	AWD	AWD	AWD
0–100 km/h	6.9 sec	5.0 sec	3.5 sec	4.9 sec
DC charging	170 kW	250 kW	250 kW	250 kW
V2L	No	No	No	Yes
Towing	1,588 kg	1,588 kg	1,588 kg	1,588 kg
Seats	5	5	5	6
Warranty	5 yr / 192,000 km	5 yr / 192,000 km	5 yr / 192,000 km	5 yr / 192,000 km

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Pricing and variants

Model Y RWD — $58,900 drive-away

The entry point and the volume seller. Single rear motor, 62.5 kWh battery, 466 km WLTP range. At $58,900 it sits above the BYD Sealion 7 ($49,990) and below the Zeekr 7X Standard ($67,990).

The 466 km range covers any daily scenario. DC charging tops out at 170 kW — slower than the Long Range and Performance but still fast enough for a 30–35 minute Supercharger stop (10–80%). The real selling points are the 1,588 kg towing, Tesla’s Supercharger network, and strong resale values.

Model Y Long Range — $75,900 drive-away

Dual motor AWD, 78.4 kWh battery, 551 km WLTP range. The step up from RWD to Long Range gets you AWD traction, 85 km more range, and 250 kW DC charging. Real-world range of 460–500 km means comfortable Melbourne-to-Albury or Sydney-to-Canberra highway runs.

250 kW charging at a V3 Supercharger brings 10–80% times down to roughly 25 minutes. This is where the Tesla charging advantage is most apparent — no other network in Australia matches this speed and reliability consistently.

Model Y Performance — $89,400 drive-away

The fast one. 3.5 seconds to 100 km/h, lowered suspension, track mode, and 580 km WLTP range from a 75 kWh battery. Performance tuning and the larger wheels mean this is a sportier drive than the Long Range, with marginally more range despite the smaller battery.

At $89,400 it squeezes under the FBT luxury car threshold ($91,387), making it popular on novated leases. You get genuine performance with full tax benefits.

Model Y L — $89,900 drive-away

The new addition. A 90 kWh battery delivers 681 km WLTP range — the longest of any Tesla sold in Australia. Six seats in a 2+2+2 configuration (not a cramped third row — genuine second- and third-row space). And for the first time on a Tesla in Australia: V2L capable.

The Model Y L targets families who need the extra seats and buyers who want maximum range. 681 km WLTP translates to roughly 560–610 km real-world — enough for Sydney to Canberra and back without charging. At $89,900 it is just $500 more than the Performance but trades outright speed for range, seats, and V2L.

All variants are eligible for the FBT exemption under Australia’s Electric Car Discount. See our novated lease EV guide for savings calculations.

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Range and charging

Real-world range

In typical Australian conditions — 110 km/h highways, air conditioning, mixed driving — expect roughly 82–90% of the WLTP number:

Variant	WLTP range	Real-world estimate
RWD (62.5 kWh)	466 km	380–420 km
Long Range (78.4 kWh)	551 km	460–500 km
Performance (75 kWh)	580 km	480–520 km
Model Y L (90 kWh)	681 km	560–610 km

Towing impact: Towing a 1,000 kg trailer at highway speeds cuts range by roughly 40–50%. The RWD’s 380–420 km real-world range drops to roughly 200–250 km when towing. The Long Range and Model Y L are better choices if you plan to tow regularly.

For more on range factors, see our EV range guide.

Charging speeds

Method	RWD	Long Range / Performance / L
10A household outlet	2.3 kW / ~27 hours	2.3 kW / ~34 hours
7 kW wall charger	~9 hours	~11 hours
Tesla Wall Connector (11 kW)	~5.5 hours	~7 hours
Supercharger (DC)	170 kW / ~30 min (10–80%)	250 kW / ~25 min (10–80%)

Home charging: A Tesla Wall Connector on three-phase delivers 11 kW and is the ideal setup. On single-phase, any 7 kW wall charger handles an overnight charge for all variants.

Supercharger network: Tesla’s biggest competitive advantage. The Supercharger network is the largest, most reliable, and fastest DC network in Australia. 250 kW speeds at most locations, transparent pricing (45–55 c/kWh), and well-maintained stations. Competitors rely on Chargefox, Evie, and NRMA — good networks, but less consistent.

For solar-powered home charging, see our solar EV charging guide.

Running costs

Tariff	Cost per 100 km (RWD)
Off-peak (18 c/kWh)	~$2.70
Flat rate (32 c/kWh)	~$4.80
Solar (free)	$0
Supercharger (50 c/kWh)	~$7.50

Compare that to a petrol equivalent (Toyota RAV4 2.5L at 7.8 L/100km and $2.10/L): $16.40 per 100 km. The Model Y is 3–6 times cheaper to run depending on your charging source.

Use our EV charging cost calculator to model savings for your driving distance.

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Towing

The Model Y is one of the few electric SUVs under $90,000 with a serious towing rating. All variants tow up to 1,588 kg braked — enough for:

• Single-axle box trailers
• Jet skis and small boats
• Lightweight camper trailers (under 1,500 kg)
• Car trailers (with a light car)

What it cannot tow: Full-size caravans (typically 1,800–2,500 kg) and dual-axle trailers. For those, you need an ICE vehicle or a larger EV like the BMW iX.

Towing range impact: Budget 40–50% range reduction at highway speeds with a 1,000 kg load. Plan Supercharger stops accordingly. The Long Range and Model Y L are the better towing variants — more range to absorb the penalty.

The towing hitch is a Tesla accessory ($700–$900 installed). It is not standard — factor it into your purchase.

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Interior and technology

The Juniper refresh brought a cleaner interior with improved materials, but the core philosophy remains: minimal switches, maximum screen.

Key features (all variants):

• 15.4-inch central touchscreen — all vehicle controls, navigation, entertainment
• 8-inch rear passenger screen — entertainment and climate for rear seats
• No instrument cluster — speed displayed on the central screen
• Ambient lighting — customisable colour strips
• Wireless Apple CarPlay — not available. Tesla does not support CarPlay or Android Auto
• Over-the-air updates — regular software improvements

Model Y L adds:

• Six-seat 2+2+2 configuration with second-row captain’s chairs
• V2L capability (3.3 kW from the charge port)
• Extended rear cargo area

The no-CarPlay situation is the same as the Model 3 — a dealbreaker for some, irrelevant for others. Tesla’s native apps (Spotify, navigation, podcasts) work well, but you cannot mirror your phone.

Material quality has improved with Juniper. Better panel gaps, softer dash materials, and less road noise than pre-refresh models. Still not at the level of the Zeekr 7X or BMW iX1 interiors, but a meaningful step forward.

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Practicality

Boot space: 854 litres rear boot (seats up) plus 117 litres front trunk. Total 971 litres is exceptional for a mid-size SUV — the flat floor and deep boot well accommodate large loads. With rear seats folded: approximately 2,100 litres.

Model Y L: The six-seat layout reduces boot space somewhat, but the third row folds flat. Second-row captain’s chairs mean no middle seat — better comfort for two passengers, less flexibility for three.

Size: 4,751 mm long, 1,921 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall. A mid-size SUV. Slightly larger than a RAV4. Manageable in suburban parking but the width can be tight in older multi-storey car parks.

Rear seat (5-seat): Generous legroom, good headroom. Three adults across is comfortable. Flat floor helps. The glass roof creates an airy cabin.

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Safety

The Tesla Model Y holds a 5-star ANCAP safety rating and is one of the highest-scoring vehicles ever tested by Euro NCAP. Standard safety features include:

• Autopilot (adaptive cruise + lane keeping) — standard on all variants
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Blind spot monitoring via cameras
• 8 cameras for surround visibility
• Sentry Mode — records incidents while parked

Autopilot is a strong highway assist system. It handles adaptive cruise, lane centring, and automatic lane changes on highways. It is not self-driving — hands on the wheel, eyes on the road — but it reduces fatigue on long drives.

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How it compares

Spec	Model Y RWD	BYD Sealion 7	Zeekr 7X LR RWD	Kia EV6 Air
Price	$58,900	$49,990	$63,900	$58,200
Range (WLTP)	466 km	502 km	615 km	528 km
Battery	62.5 kWh	73.6 kWh	100 kWh	63 kWh
DC charging	170 kW	150 kW	420 kW	233 kW
V2L	No	Yes	No	Yes
Towing	1,588 kg	0 kg	1,500 kg	1,600 kg
Warranty	5yr / 192k	6yr / 150k	4yr / 150k	7yr / unlim
Boot	971 L (total)	520 L	616 L	490 L

vs BYD Sealion 7: The Sealion 7 is $8,910 cheaper and includes V2L. It also has more range (502 vs 466 km). But it cannot tow (0 kg rating on the base model), and BYD’s charging network access does not match Tesla’s Superchargers for speed and reliability. The Model Y justifies its premium if you tow or road-trip frequently. See our full comparison.

vs Zeekr 7X: The Zeekr 7X LR RWD is $5,000 more but delivers 615 km range, 420 kW DC charging (the fastest in Australia), and a more premium interior. The Model Y counters with 88 kg more towing capacity (1,588 vs 1,500 kg), the Supercharger network, and stronger resale value. The Zeekr is the better spec-sheet car. The Tesla has the better ownership ecosystem. See our head-to-head.

vs Kia EV6: The EV6 Air is $700 cheaper with more range (528 km), faster DC charging (233 kW), V2L, and a 7-year unlimited warranty. Towing is comparable (1,600 kg). On paper, the EV6 beats the Model Y in most categories. The Model Y’s advantages are the Supercharger network, Autopilot, and resale value. See our detailed comparison.

For more options, see our best family SUV EVs and electric car prices overview.

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FBT and novated lease

All four Model Y variants sit under the FBT luxury car limit ($91,387) and qualify for the Electric Car Discount — zero Fringe Benefits Tax on novated leases.

The Model Y is the most popular novated lease EV in Australia. The RWD at $58,900 on a novated lease can cost the equivalent of $41,000–$47,000 out of pocket depending on your tax bracket and annual kilometres. The Performance at $89,400 maximises the tax benefit — expensive enough to generate large savings, cheap enough to stay under the FBT cap.

Use our FBT savings calculator to estimate your specific savings, or read our novated lease vs car loan comparison.

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The warranty advantage over Model 3

The Model Y’s warranty is 5 years / 192,000 km — dramatically better than the Model 3’s 4 years / 80,000 km. If you drive 20,000 km per year, the Model 3 warranty expires at 80,000 km in year 4. The Model Y warranty lasts until year 5 or 192,000 km — nearly 2.5 times the mileage coverage.

The battery and drive unit warranty is the same across both: 8 years / 192,000 km with 70% capacity retention.

This warranty improvement is one of the stronger reasons to choose the Model Y over the Model 3 if you are deciding between a Tesla sedan and SUV.

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The verdict

The Tesla Model Y earns its best-seller status. The RWD at $58,900 is the all-rounder — enough range for daily use, 1,588 kg towing that most competitors cannot match, and the Supercharger network. The Long Range at $75,900 is the road-trip and towing pick with 551 km range and 250 kW charging.

The Model Y L at $89,900 is the standout addition — 681 km range, six seats, and Tesla’s first V2L in Australia. For families who need the third row and want the biggest battery on the market, it is the obvious choice.

The Performance at $89,400 is for buyers who want 3.5-second acceleration with tax benefits. Less practical than the Model Y L, but hard to argue with the performance-per-dollar.

The compromises remain: no Apple CarPlay, no V2L (except Model Y L), and an interior that prioritises minimalism over conventional luxury. The Supercharger network is slowly opening to other brands, which will erode Tesla’s charging advantage over time. And competitors like the Zeekr 7X now match or exceed the Model Y on range and charging speed.

But for the combination of towing, range, charging infrastructure, resale value, and over-the-air updates — the Model Y remains the benchmark electric SUV in Australia.

Compare all variants on our product pages: Model Y RWD, Long Range, Performance, and Model Y L.