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The Tesla Model Y is the electric vehicle and clean energy company’s small electric SUV. It is currently the most popular electric vehicle on the market. It’s even outselling the Toyota RAV4 in 2023 thus far. How did the Model Y become so popular? More importantly, how on earth is the EV outselling the world’s most popular SUV model?

The Tesla Model Y is having a historic moment

A red 2023 Tesla Model Y small electric SUV is driving.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y | Tesla

Tesla’s small electric SUV is shining in 2023. The small electric SUV may not have always been the most appealing electric vehicle on the market, but it’s hard to deny its value proposition following new developments.

Plenty of attention is on the Model Y because electric vehicles are generally becoming more ubiquitous as charging infrastructure develops, and governments incentivize consumers to go green. Automakers are investing billions of dollars into the production and development of EVs.

The Tesla Model Y is the ‘face’ of the popularization of electric vehicles. It is becoming the quintessential electric vehicle because of Tesla’s market dominance and the small electric SUV’s unique appearance and features.

The Model Y is finally affordable

A gray 2023 Tesla Model Y small electric SUV.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y | Tesla

The Tesla Model Y wasn’t always affordable. In fact, its base model wasn’t available in the United States for months. Consumers could only order the more expensive Long Range and Performance configurations. The Model Y Long Range starts at $50,240 following price reductions. The Model Y Performance starts at $54,420.

The 2023 Model Y base model is the only version of the small electric SUV with a starting price under $50K. It starts at $47,240, and it’s finally available in America again. Best of all, it’s eligible for the full federal electric vehicle tax incentive of $7,500 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

After the federal electric vehicle tax credit, the Model Y’s base price is closer to $39,740. Money.com claims that the average new vehicle’s starting price is close to $50,000. So, the Tesla Model Y’s starting price is significantly more affordable than some of the most popular new vehicles. Tesla’s small electric SUV has an amazing value proposition for consumers that can get it for close to $39,740.

Tesla’s small SUV has exciting performance specs

A blue 2023 Tesla Model Y small electric SUV is driving on the road.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y | Tesla

The Tesla Model Y base model can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.0 seconds. It can travel for an estimated 279 miles when fully charged. The electric SUV has incredible performance specs. It’s quick and has enough range to be practical for most drivers.

The Model Y Long Range has a whopping 330 miles of driving range. It goes from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds. The Performance configuration has 303 miles of driving range, and it goes from 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds. It’s insanely quick.

According to Car and Driver, Tesla is selling close to 85K Model Y small SUVs. Toyota has sold 84,704 units. The Model Y is outselling the Toyota RAV4 in 2023 thus far because it’s an exciting small SUV that hints at what the future of transportation could look like.

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