Six-seater Tesla Model Y L is quick and capable

SINGAPORE – In a season of eye-watering petrol prices, the only thing better than filling up with cheaper electricity is having those electrons delivered in a flash. While petrol-engine drivers weep at every fill-up, Tesla owners probably feel a bit smug plugging into the brand’s proprietary high-speed charging network.

With Tesla’s latest arrival, the Model Y L, the pleasure can be shared with more people. The wheelbase of this mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been stretched to fit a third row of seats, making it a six-seater.

The “L” in the name hints at the car’s Chinese-market origins, where long-wheelbase variants are common. Singapore is among the first places in the world to get the Y L outside China, just after Australia and slightly ahead of Malaysia.

For now, the Model Y L is available in Singapore only as a dual-motor, Category B certificate of entitlement (COE) car.

Its 179mm increase in overall length over the standard version is rather well executed. The stretch has been neatly handled with some sensible tweaks to the underpinnings to cope with the extra mass.

Most of the extra length comes from the 150mm increase in the wheelbase, which is good for cabin space. The roof is raised by 44mm, although this is more to preserve the car’s proportions visually rather than because the standard car needed more headroom.

While the 19-inch wheels are no bigger than the regular version, the rear tyres are wider, so the fitment is staggered. The chunkier rear tyres are likely meant to enhance ride comfort and compensate for the additional 96kg that the Model Y L carries.

For perspective, the added weight is not that much, considering what the Model Y L comes with.

These include two individual captain’s chairs, which replace the traditional single bench behind the front seats. These chairs are fully motorised, including their armrests.

The armrests can be electrically retracted to make it easier for passengers assigned to the third row to pass through the cabin. This arrangement is less convenient than tipping the middle row seats forward, like with other multi-seater cars, but it does mean there is no need to loosen the child seat every time someone climbs in or out of the back row.

Legroom in the last row is sufficient for average-sized adults, although the bench is set very low, so there is less support. Seat-angle adjustments are powered, which is a rather premium touch.

What cannot be changed is the sloping rear glass above the third row, which can cause passengers to feel more exposed.

The Model Y L’s boot is something of a packaging wonder. Tipping the sturdy floorboard forward reveals a deep recess that can accommodate at least one medium suitcase. The boot is also wide enough for a set of golf clubs.

As a people mover, the Model Y L is nowhere as flexible or capable as a true-blue multi-purpose vehicle like the Toyota Noah. It is, however, better than multi-seater SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLB. It is also comparable with larger electric models like the seven-seater Volvo EX90 Ultra.

Up front, the chairs are similar to those on the standard Model Y – except for the extendable thigh support, which is a first for Tesla.

Like other Tesla models, the car’s roof is made of glass that lends the cabin an airy feel. However, this also makes cooling the interior a challenge after the car has sat in the sun. I recommend activating the climate control remotely with the Tesla app a few minutes before getting in.

Behind the wheel, the grunt from the dual-motor set-up makes light work of the Model Y L’s extra weight and added length. The car feels even quicker than the claimed 0-100kmh timing of five seconds, and seems to take too little road to reach the speed limit.

The nose is as pointy as a mid-sized six-seater needs to be, although the steering feels a bit numb. This is especially so when the steering weight is in the Heavy setting, and the self-centring seems slow.

The Model Y L has adaptive suspension with adjustable dampers. Instead of a Sport setting, the choice is between Balanced and Rear Comfort. From behind the wheel, the ride always seems quite cushy and there does not seem to be too much difference between the two.

Tesla cars have a one-foot driving set-up, where the electric motor actively slows the car to a complete stop when the accelerator is eased. There is a setting to reduce the decelerating effect, but it does not go away fully.

Some Tesla owners swear by this driving style. But it can take some getting used to, especially during highway cruising when the driver needs to be quite deliberate with the right foot for the car to coast.

An alternative is to turn to the car’s adaptive cruise-control feature during highway driving. I find the system reliable, but cannot fully trust the auto-steering system. Better, then, to finesse my right footwork and handle the driving manually.

As with the other Tesla models, the six-seater is rather energy-efficient. During the test drive, the energy consumption rate averaged 16.3kWh/100km, which is better than some other dual-motor electric cars reviewed recently that are nearer to 20kWh/100km. This suggests that the Model Y L will be able to clock over 500km on a full charge without fuss.

But more than the operating range, which is competitive, Tesla’s proprietary high-speed charging network gives its cars an edge. In Singapore, there are 15 Tesla charging stations that are rated at 250kW. This is quicker than typical public chargers that are between 50kW and 120kW.

Located in shopping malls and commercial buildings, the Tesla chargers cost between 43 and 70 cents per kWh to use, depending on the location. In some cases, the rates are lower than those charged by other operators, which are up to 86.1 cents per kWh today.

The faster charging speed also means Tesla owners will pay less on parking than other electric car owners.

While the standard version of the Model Y has plenty of rivals – mostly Chinese – the six-seater version is a bit of an oddball.

The closest alternative to the Model Y L may well be the Mercedes-Benz GLB180. The German junior-league SUV, which costs slightly more, cannot match the Tesla for space or performance. But those keen on the Tesla brand will also need to be mindful that the electric Tesla’s high motor output means it attracts an annual road tax of $5,400, much more than the Merc’s $586.

Tesla Model Y L Premium All-Wheel Drive

Price: $144,264 without COE ($265,264 at latest COE)
Motors: Induction and permanent magnet synchronous with 88kWh NMC battery
Transmission: Single-speed, all-wheel drive
Power: 378kW
Torque: 590Nm
0-100kmh: 5 seconds
Top speed: 201kmh
Power consumption: 14.6kWh/100km
Charging capacity: 11kW AC; 250kW DC
Range: 681km
Agent: Tesla Singapore
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Comparable considerations

Mercedes-Benz GLB180 (from $301,888 with COE)

The GLB is an occasional seven-seater car, as space in the third row is quite limited. Its screen-intensive cabin design has aged well, with physical controls aiding ease of use. The 1.3-litre turbocharged engine has a low road tax bill on its side, if not absolute performance.

Volvo EX90 Ultra ($521,000 with COE before applicable discounts)

As the electric version of the familiar XC90, which popularised the idea of a multi-seater SUV years ago, the EX90 looks and feels like a million bucks. The EX90 Plus, which is a single-motor version with slightly fewer features, is priced some $70,000 less, closing the gap with the Tesla.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz 7-Seater ($390,900 with COE before applicable discounts)

Under the ID. Buzz’s retro-inspired design is a capable electric car. Touches like the powered sliding door and boxy form make the car a genuine multi-purpose vehicle. The car drives a bit like a bus too, when compared with the smaller and nimbler Tesla.