We’ve seen the new Model Y for 2020  roll of the Tesla production line, and it’s receiving some mixed reviews. The Tesla Model Y has many people questioning whether or not it really is one. Some like it, some hate it, and others are just not thrilled by it because it’s nothing special. Car and Driver reviewed it, and they just thought it looked too much like Tesla’s Model 3. Here’s what they had to say in their review. 

Overview of the Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a crossover but doesn’t exactly have the look of one. It comes with two different trims, the Long Range and the Performance packages. he one that Car and Driver test-drove was a Long Range Model Y that had an MSRP of $57,190. The base price is a mere $54,190. 

Their test vehicle was a five-passenger all-wheel-drive four-door sedan. With front and mid motors, this model had an EPA rating of 112 MPGe. During their testing, the Tesla Model Y got an acceleration time of 4.4 seconds for a 0 to 60 mph run. Braking tests turned up an average 161 ft. of stopping distance from 70 to 0 mph. 

The two electric motors had a combined output of 384 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque running with an 80.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Alongside these motors was a one-speed direct drive transmission that allows for smoother gear shifting. 

How is the Tesla Model Y different from the Model 3?

While the interior and exterior styling are essentially the same for both models, there are a few notable differences between the two. The Tesla Model Y has a slightly different build than the Model 3 does. You’ll find the width of the car a bit wider on Tesla’s Model Y, and it’s also a little bit longer as well. 

The height is where you really start to notice. The Model Y is 7.1 inches taller, which is what gives it that SUV feel. Because of that extra height, the Tesla Model Y has more room in the interior cabin. You’ll find roomier back seat space and more headroom overall. 

Also, the length, width, and height difference makes the Model Y just about 350 lbs heavier than Tesla’s Model 3. You’ll notice that weight distinction on the road because it doesn’t have the same smooth ride and handling as you get with the Model 3. It’s also a little clunkier when performing turns because of the extra weight. 

What does Car and Driver think of it?

It disappointed Car and Driver. They felt that it was just a safe offering, and Tesla didn’t take as many risks as you saw with its other vehicles. There’s not a whole lot of difference between the two models. This new Model Y could’ve had something to set it completely apart from any of its other vehicles. The minor changes to the height, width, and length aren’t enough to call it a new concept. Instead, they felt it looked like just a “bloated Model 3.” And they’re not wrong. 

It looks like Tesla produced a new variant of the Model 3 because this is its least expensive model in the Tesla lineup. Could it be that they just wanted to get this ‘SUV’ out there in the quickest way possible? Could they have used the same blueprint from the Model 3 and just made a couple of quick changes, so they could get the Model Y into people’s hands faster?

In the end, however, it’s a decent vehicle; it’s just not anything exceptional, to say the least. Maybe in the future, they can redesign it so the Tesla Model Y looks like a whole new vehicle and not like it’s piggybacking off something else.