3 Best Tesla Model Y Matchups Now That the EV Is More Affordable
The Tesla Model Y small electric SUV just got more affordable (thanks to EV tax credit eligibility). Now, it’s directly competing against more affordable small electric SUVs. Here are three great matchups for the Tesla Model Y now that drivers can take advantage of its tax incentive eligibility.
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium will battle with the Tesla Model Y
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium is the closest Mach-E in price to the Tesla Model Y Long Range, but Tesla’s small electric SUV is eligible for the federal electric vehicle tax incentive until March 2023. After the incentive, the Model Y’s starting price is closer to $47,490. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium starts at $54,975.
The IRS lists the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E as eligible for the incentive as well as long as its MSRP is $80,000 or under. So, the Mach-E Premium just got more affordable as well. Now that these two small electric SUVs are priced more reasonably, how do they compare?
The 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range gets an estimated 330 miles of driving range. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in about 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E Premium gets roughly 224 miles of driving range with its standard battery pack. It isn’t as quick as the Model Y Long Range. So, the Model Y Long Range is definitely the better buy in this matchup.
The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL rivals the Tesla Model Y
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is currently seen as the best small electric SUV by many experts and automotive publications. The South Korean small electric SUV won the World Car of the Year award for 2022. Consumers love the Ioniq 5 because it’s affordable and provides a pleasant driving experience. It also has decent driving range.
How does the popular Ioniq 5 compare to the Model Y Long Range? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL is closest to the Model Y Long Range’s price after the incentive is applied. There’s no word on whether or not the South Korean small electric SUV is eligible yet, so the SEL and Long Range are the easiest comparison to make.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL gets 256 miles of standard range. Even its quickest trim level can’t compete with the Model Y Long Range’s incredible acceleration. If you had to choose between the two small electric SUVs and they were relatively close in price, the Model Y Long Range is the better buy. The Ioniq 5 has affordability on its side, but it needs to qualify for the EV tax incentive to remain competitive in the future.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S is a great matchup for the Tesla Model Y
The Volkswagen ID.4 has been battling the Tesla Model Y fiercely overseas for market share. The ID.4 has become wildly popular in Europe, outshining the Model Y in several different European countries. How does the small electric SUV stack up side by side with the Model Y?
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S with LG Battery starts at $48,995. Of all ID.4 trims, the Pro S with LG Battery’s price is closest to the Model Y’s price once the incentive is applied. The 2023 ID.4 Pro S with LG Battery gets 275 miles of driving range. The quickest VW ID.4 trim is the ID.4 AWD Pro. It goes from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds.
Ultimately, the Tesla Model Y is in a different league when it comes to quickness and range. Edmunds praises its spacious cargo area, interior, and its supercharger network access. There’s a reason why the Model Y has become so popular internationally. If tax incentives level the playing field, competitors could be in real trouble.
