The long-range rear-wheel drive version adds value to the Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car of 2023, so it is hardly lacking in success. But it hasn’t seen a major refresh since launch, while we’re still waiting for the Project Juniper update. Until that happens, there is a new variant of the Model Y on the market: the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive. It’s not a hugely new car, but it’s a significant release and could be exactly what some people are looking for. I took it for an extended test drive to find out.

Until now, the entry-level Tesla Model Y has been the standard rear-wheel drive. But that has been abolished in favor of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive. The name tells you most of what you need to know. This car combines the single rear motor with the larger 75 kWh (net) battery, rather than the 57.5 kWh of the Standard Range. There is a theory that the reason for discontinuing the smaller battery was due to the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is of Chinese origin, risking higher import tariffs. But for now, the Model 3 with this battery will remain on sale in the UK and EU.

Tesla Model Y rear-wheel drive with long range: more than just a larger battery

However, the Model Y Long Range rear-wheel drive isn’t all just the standard range with a battery swap. Thanks to the greater power delivery with the Long Range battery or an engine upgrade, the new car is actually faster, despite being heavier (1,979 kg versus 1,909 kg for the Standard Range). The Standard Range took 6.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h, but the Long Range with rear-wheel drive drops that considerably to 5.7 seconds.

That’s still not the case with the 4.8 seconds of the All-Wheel Drive car or the 3.5 seconds of the Performance version, but it is on par with the double cars from some other automakers in this class, such as that of the Volkswagen Group. There’s still enough torque to get you out of the headlights ahead of many combustion engine cars. But despite the better performance, this car isn’t as punchy as dual-motor Teslas, nor is the performance delivery as immediate. But the handling is flatter than you would expect for such a high car. It’s hardly an engaging driving experience, but perfectly adequate and the steering is slightly lighter than the twin-motor Model Y’s.

When I previously drove the Model Y, one area that didn’t really impress was ride quality. However, my original experience with the Long Range was on 20-inch “Induction” wheels, and then I tried the Performance (with its firmer sports suspension) and 21-inch “Uberturbine” rims. The rear-drive Model Y Long Range car I tested this time had the standard 19-inch Gemini Dark wheels. Not only do these look better than Tesla’s previous standard 19-inch wheels, but they also improve ride quality on poor road surfaces. I found this car quite acceptable on the poor asphalt quality of London.

Another feature that I haven’t had a chance to properly test before is the Tesla Matrix LED headlight system. The company’s cars have had the hardware here since 2021, but due to US regulations, it only enabled the capability with a software update around June 2024. The result is very effective. By having an array of LEDs instead of one main light source, this system can detect oncoming traffic and turn off only the LEDs that are dazzling the driver. So as they get closer you can see a curtain of darkness around them, while both sides remain bathed in high beams. On a dark British A-road at night the system is very effective and allows you to see the verges where dim lights would not.

Tesla Model Y long-range rear-wheel drive: industry-leading efficiency and functionality

However, this is now a feature of all new Tesla Model Ys. You buy this car because of its range. Previous Model Ys were decent in this regard (the Long Range All-Wheel Drive offers 331 WLTP miles and the Performance 318 WLTP miles). But competitors have caught up. For example, the Ford Explorer Electric (currently only available in Europe) can cover up to 600 WLTP kilometers with a net battery capacity of 77 kWh.

This is a good comparison, as the Tesla Model Y Long Range rear-wheel drive promises a very similar 373 WLTP miles from a slightly smaller package. During my test driving period, the Y got 5.4 miles per kWh on short start-stop city driving, but almost 4 miles per kWh overall, including more continuous driving and some highway speeds. That would imply a real-world range of about 507 miles, which is truly excellent. Tesla trumpeted the efficiency of this car when it was announced, and it seems to be paying off.

The Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive has been stealing this thunder since its original announcement, but with a range of over 300 miles possible from an SUV of this size, this will be perfect for family trips. Combined with Tesla’s incredible Supercharged network, this means you’ll have the best long-distance EV driving experience in the industry with this car, despite the charging network now being open to other cars. No other network offers such a seamless process of arriving, connecting and letting the system handle everything else.

After all, this is a very practical car. The rear seat offers ample space and the rear luggage space is class-leading. Including the underfloor, the base space is 854 litres, which is much larger than most competitors – and there’s also a huge capacity of 117 litres, enough for an extra carry-on. Fold the rear seats down and you get a huge capacity of 2,041 liters. Putting this into perspective, it beats a Range Rover, a much larger car. If that’s not enough, you can pay €1,090 ($1,400) for a tow bar that can tow up to 1,600 kg when braked.

Not everyone likes the minimalist interiors of Tesla Model 3 and Y cars, but one thing that is beyond criticism is the overall level of technology. Tesla practically invented the concept of the connected Software Defined Vehicle, and the available functionality remains class leading. Remote features, such as viewing the car’s cameras via the app in Sentry mode, are second to none. The over-the-air software updates are frequent and generally bug-free, regularly bringing new features (like turning on the Matrix LED headlights). There are still a few downsides, such as the unpredictable automatic windshield wipers and varying experiences with Autopilot. But no other manufacturer has caught Tesla with software integration yet.

Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear Wheel Drive: More range and value

So is this the Model Y variant to keep Tesla’s smaller SUV in the top spot? The Tesla brand has always been in the shadow of its owner Elon Musk, and lately that hasn’t been such a positive penumbra for some. But apart from that, this remains an incredible all-rounder. You lose some performance compared to the dual-motor version, but most family drivers probably won’t miss this. They’ll love the efficiency and range you get instead. The list price of the Model Y Long Range rear-wheel drive is £46,990 ($61,990) in Britain, but the lease price is just £349 ($450) per month. The All-Wheel Drive version costs £50 ($65) more per month, but £5,000 ($6,500) more to buy.

If you compare the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive to competitors like the Ford Explore, Volkswagen ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq iV, it may lose out in some areas, but overall what you get for the money is more complete. Maybe Kia’s EV5 will offer some competition, but if you can ignore Elon Musk’s negative image, the Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive is an even better choice as a do-it-all family car than ever before.