2022 Tesla Model Y

　　

2022 Tesla Model Y Review

byNick YekikianNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　, rating written byNick YekikianDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　To its credit, Tesla has figured out how to generate plenty of social media buzz over cars that, in the grand scheme of things, few people buy. Case examples would be the crazy fast Plaid version of the Model S — a niche car to be sure — or the Cybertruck, which is piling up delays quicker than a NASA telescope project. Yet underneath the noise are some pretty compelling Tesla models, and one of them is the 2022 Model Y.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Tesla Model Y EV Insights

Trim:Model Y Long Range

　　Long Range 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $65,990 MSRPPerformance 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $69,990 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　317 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 269 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 120,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　11.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　Tesla SuperchargerProprietary Tesla charging standard. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$59/mo

　　Model Y

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The Y debuted for 2020 as a pioneer of the all-electric small SUV class. It's similar to Tesla's Model 3 small sedan but provides a roomier interior for both people and cargo. It even has an option for a third-row seat, albeit a tiny one. When it comes to providing a pleasing mix of space, range and performance for an EV, the Y is a standout.

　　For 2022, Tesla is making some small changes to the Model Y. These range from a new, lighter 12-volt lithium-ion battery (replacing the traditional lead-acid one) to laminated rear windows to better insulate the cabin from noise. But more significant changes are also rumored to be coming for the Y. Specifically, Tesla could be changing the design of the Y's main battery pack to a structurally integrated design known as 4680. How this new battery pack will influence the Y's capability or performance is yet to be determined, but we'll update this section as we learn more.

　　In the meantime, the Model Y faces off against fresh competition. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4 have all debuted recently, and each one has appealing qualities that might win you over. Check out our test team's full Expert Rating below to help you decide which EV is going to be best for you.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Our test team lived with the Model Y and put it through its paces over thousands of miles and months of real-world use. Recurrent for all the details on how it held up over the duration of our test, how reliable it was, and our take on what it's like to live with the Model Y.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Model Y drive? Acceleration isn't a weak point here. During zzdcar' testing, the Model Y Long Range needed just 4.8 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. And despite being equipped with all-season tires, which are typically designed more for wear resistance than road grip, our test vehicle still managed a very impressive stopping distance from 60 mph in just 112 feet. Both of those numbers are better than we expected and impressive for the EV segment.

　　Steering and handling are also laudable despite the Model Y's heavy weight. The steering feels light and is quick to respond to inputs, giving you a sense of control and connection through a corner. There's minimal body roll too, especially for an SUV. In-town drivability is excellent. Seasoned EV drivers will appreciate the adjustable regenerative braking that allows you to drive nearly exclusively using just the right pedal.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Model Y? The Model Y's cabin provides good comfort in some areas and disappoints in others. The seats are well padded and provide ample support and the seat heaters warm quickly. But the simulated leather upholstery doesn't breathe particularly well and can feel stifling in hot weather. The climate control, like everything else, is touchscreen-operated. It can cool and heat the cabin well, but it has to work extra hard if the sun is out and beaming through the Y's expansive glass roof. You can remotely precondition the cabin before you get in, which is convenient.

　　The Long Range model is a huge step up in ride quality over the Performance model. The ride of the Long Range is much more livable, though we still wouldn't call it plush. Smaller bumps and cracks tend to make their way into the cabin. That said, the Model Y does a pretty commendable job of filtering out wind and ambient noise, creating a pretty serene cabin experience.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below