Used Tesla Model Y Review

The Model Y is a perennial favourite in the UK, and it's a regular in the top 10 sellers list - although the sales have tailed off in the past year or so. This means there are plenty of them in the used car market as older models come back from leasing and finance deals. 

It has a long range with great efficiency, a hugely spacious interior, world-class tech and great prices. But it's also getting pressure on the new and used market from the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq, Renault Scenic E-Tech and more. So is it still one of the best when it's used?

When looking for a Model Y, the choice examples will usually be kept for Tesla's own used car sales channel, which is unusual as you only get to look a generic, computer-generated images rather than photos of the actual car. The theory is that the car will be perfectly prepped to look like new so a CGI all you need to visualise the car's trim and specification, but it still feels off not being able to see the car you're buying. There are plenty of others out there with specialist dealers and they may have the advantage of retaining electronic options such as Self Driving, which is usually deleted by Tesla so a new owner has to purchase it again.

Talking of options, white was the only standard colour with all others costing £1,100 (or £2,100 for the multicoat red). As a result, most buyers opted for white and they are more common - which means they are worth several hundred less when used. A tow bar was a £1,090 option, and then there are the various levels of 'Autopilot'. ​

But anyway, let's talk about the car itself. At 4,751mm, the Model Y is 61mm longer than the Model 3, 70mm wider and, above all, 180mm higher. As a result the Model Y offers noticeably more space for rear seat passengers and luggage, even though it is not as chunky-looking as most other SUVs. Thanks to the few centimetres more ground clearance and the correspondingly higher seat position, it is easier to get in and out of the car too. 

While passengers will notice the change from 3 to Y, the driver won’t. And this is a good thing – it’s not quite as fast as the saloon, but it will casually leave behind all electric rivals in this price bracket - and most petrol cars too. 

The Model Y isn’t a sports car of course, and a few bends will soon see the Tesla trail behind a well-driven supercar. But it doesn’t mean the Model Y isn’t rewarding to drive. It’s certainly more sporty feeling than an Audi Q4 e-tron or Nissan Ariya, both of which are tuned to be relaxing. The Tesla wants to be driven with more commitment and has a road-holding that, despite its high centre of gravity, does not lose its composure even in tight corners. In this respect it is much closer to the Model 3 than the Model X.

If Ferrari-trouncing speed isn’t needed, the Long Range version is vastly cheaper than the Performance version - and yet is still properly fast by any family SUV standards, and still racks up an impressive maximum range of 373 miles (up from the 331 miles it managed before a 2024 range update). Bear in mind that the price gap between the Performance and AWD models isn't nearly as big when the cars are used though - so you might feel like treating yourself!

​Just like the Model 3, there are three versions of the Model Y to choose from. As of 2024, the entry-level Rear Wheel Drive single-motor model got an upgrade for a longer WLTP official range of 379 miles. The all-wheel drive models stay unchanged for now, and offer between 319 - and 331 miles of range, which is still pretty impressive given the performance (remember that the Performance version will do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds). 

Tesla is always very cagey about publishing battery specifics, but suffice to say that the all-wheel drive models get a 75kW power pack that was in use in the big Model S for some time, so it’s been perfected over the years and can be relied upon. We have looked at the battery retention data of used models with 120,000 miles and they still have around 90% of the original capacity on average.

Buying a Tesla opens up so much more opportunities than any other electric car. Tesla owners can take advantage of the Supercharger network, and when you plug in a Model Y, an 80% charge will take around 20- to 30 minutes courtesy of 250kW rapid charging capability. 

Models and prices

Prices start are around £17,000 for an early model in white with more than 100,000 miles. Don't let the six figures on the odometer put you off though - if the history checks out and you have a battery health score, it should be in remarkably good fettle. Buyers will pay more for the nicer wheel options, but check they aren't damaged and the tyres are good - they can be pricey to replace on the bigger rims, and cheaper brands will affect the efficiency. They might also make the already firm ride feel worse. 

The early standard range RWD model has an official range of 283 miles - expect to pay around £1,500 more for a three year old Long Range AWD with a 331 mile range. 

The Performance is a thrill and will get you respect at the Supercharger from other Tesla owners, but you'll have to pay more for insurance and maintenance.