Tesla entered India with all the glitz, glamour and anticipation last month, setting its first shop in Mumbai. This was followed by the American EV giant launching its second store in Delhi NCR last week. The first vehicle introduced by Tesla in India is the Model Y and after all the shenanigans around Tesla settled down, we got to experience the electric crossover albeit briefly. Here’s our first impressions about Tesla Model Y — how it looks, performs, and more importantly Â
Tesla Model Y first impressions: Minimalist Exterior & Interior
The design of the Model Y is quintessential Tesla, futuristic yet minimal, something that the world has witnessed already. The signature connected LED strip comprising sequential LED turn indicators and daytime running lights is the first point of interest. Other highlights include sleek LED headlamps housed within the front bumper and a trapezoidal black-out air dam giving out a sporty vibe.Â
The connected LED strip is carried over to the rear as well. The overall design is clean and understated although purists might disapprove of the Model Y’s appearance due to its couple profile and low slung stance that hardly makes it an SUV.
Step inside the cabin and the minimalism follows. The entire car is controlled via a central touchscreen but we’ll come to that part later. Apart from the touchscreen, the only other notable physical feature is the steering wheel, dashboard and seats, not even an instrument panel. As far as quality is concerned, there’s no softouch materials used for the dashboard and door trims, but everything feels solidly built and well put together. Another impressive attribute is the cabin’s NVH levels and insulation that filters almost every external noise.
Both front and rear seats are comfortable offering ample underthigh support and cushioning. The space at the rear is very generous, especially the kneeroom and legroom. Headroom is also ample enough for average-sized people but the taller occupants above 6 feet may find it cramped thanks to the sharply sloping roofline. Fitting three adults abreast on the back seat may be a squeeze even for small distances but two adults and a small kit will be relatively comfortable.
Tesla Model Y first impressions: Features Galore
When it comes to features, the Model Y is quite the cat among the pigeons. Don’t get deceived by its bare bones minimalist philosophy, Tesla is way ahead in terms of technology both in terms of convenience as well as safety. As mentioned, the entire car is controlled via a massive 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system — right from the driving functionalities to creature comforts.
Even something basic as putting the car in drive, park or reverse is done through this screen. The list of features is endless so we’ll focus on only a handful of gizmos. These include heated and ventilated seats with power recline, inbuilt navigation, a 9-speaker audio system, dual-zone climate control with air purifier, ambient lighting, wireless phone charger, and more.
However, the most interesting feature in our opinion is the 360-degree camera which not only covers all blindspots, but also offers a virtual overview of the surroundings when the car is in motion. A very useful feature for bustling traffic in Indian metros. Tesla is offering its fully-self driving (FSD) package as an accessory package for a premium of Rs 6 lakh but it is still awaiting clearance from Indian authorities and hence we weren’t able to test any of its full autonomous driving features.
One thing that made us skeptical is the fixed panoramic glass roof, and even though it is tinted, we know how hard Indian summers could be. The lack of a cover on top of the glass roof means the glass takes in every bit of the strong sunrays, heating the glass and the cabin. Tesla says it will take feedback from the initial bunch of customers and come up with an appropriate solution for the Indian market in the future.
Tesla Model Y first impressions: Effortless Drive
The Model Y is best enjoyed from the driver’s seat. And while for purists like yours truly, an EV lacks character in front of a fuel guzzler, we must admit that the Model Y blew us with its performance. In India, it’s available in two guises — Standard (62.5 kWh) and Long Range (82.6 kWh) offering a range of 500 km and 622 km respectively. We drove the latter and the drive is effortless.
One can manoeuvre through a bustling Delhi traffic on a weekday without breaking a sweat. There are two drive modes on offer: Chill and Standard, the former is advised when one wants to conserve some range. The Standard mode is feisty enough that will even give some legendary supercars a run for their money. For the Long Range version, 0-100 kmph acceleration is rated at 5.6 seconds whereas for the base variant the same could be achieved at 5.9 seconds. Hence, in terms of performance, there is hardly anything to differentiate between the two.
Another big positive is its ride quality thanks to the frequency dampers that adjust themselves according to the road conditions. The versatility is second to none, and while we drove mostly on smooth tarmac, the occasional broken patches and potholes we came across were dealt with supreme proficiency. Further, a 167mm ground clearance makes it very handy on unpredictable Indian roads.
Tesla Model Y first impressions: Verdict
We only had a brief stint with the Model Y which surely isn’t enough to form a comprehensive opinion but it still gives us an idea of what the Elon Musk-led company has to offer for its Indian buyers. There is no real flaw to point at however a couple of things should be kept in mind.
Firstly, the entire car is operated through the central touchscreen which will take some time getting used to. Secondly, at the end of the day it’s an EV. No matter how efficient the battery is, one needs to put it on charge every time the levels drop down. And the fact that charging infrastructure is still at an infancy stage in India, it will dissuade even people who have the means to afford this car which comes at a hefty price tag of Rs 59.89 — 67.89 lakh (both ex-showroom).
Good thing, Tesla is offering a complimentary 11kW AC wall box charger as standard, however, there’s an installation charge attached to it which Tesla hasn’t revealed yet. Tesla will start delivering the Model Y September onwards with the Standard range version. The Long Range version will start reaching buyers by the last quarter of 2025.
