Tesla Model Y Review: A Technological Tour De Force!

A calm Thursday afternoon in Mumbai's busy corporate district has suddenly turned into a rock concert with camera phones being whipped out and frantic chatter thickening the air. Nope, it is not some Bollywood star causing a furore as instead it is an electric car that seems to have ignited a frenzy. Tesla is not merely a new car as much as a rolling piece of sci-fi art and the effect it has on Indian roads is stratospheric. After years of waiting and endless speculations, Elon Musk's Tesla has finally landed on Indian roads but beneath the hype, is it good?

We grabbed the keys for a quick drive and came back impressed with its bag of talents. The first car being earmarked by Tesla for India is predictably an SUV and the Model Y is also its best-selling car worldwide giving the likes of Toyota and other legacy brands a tough time. Recently updated, the new Model Y carries many improvements as Tesla steadily matures as a carmaker with plusher materials being used on the inside and a swoopy new design theme aimed at generating even more efficiency.

Priced at ₹59.9 lakh starting, the Model Y is also a bonafide luxury car and will compete with the long line-up of German cars so it must get the basics right and largely it has. The looks for example are modelled on the bonkers Cybertruck and the LED lighting gives it a sinister appearance while the rest of the silhouette is blemish free. There are no needless design flourishes and the minimalist styling continues to the side too with flush door handles along with cameras being neatly integrated. The rear styling on the other hand looks very cool as well with the slim connected tail-lamps and a sleek Tesla logo. Its futuristic looking overall and has immense presence for sure considering it shut down Mumbai traffic with a crowd forming around it when we parked!

Inside, you get in via a Tesla key card which you need to swipe on the driver’s side door and once entered, it feels like Star Trek meets iPhone with a clear minimalistic vibe.

There are no buttons at all save for a few on the steering wheel and everything is controlled via a slick 15.4-inch touchscreen. From basic stuff like headlamp control to even selecting reverse, everything is done via the central screen and that may seem overwhelming but there is a method to this madness as soon you get used to it. The screen display and touch response are fantastic and beats other touchscreens easily while Tesla has bundled in a lot of software plus games for you to be occupied when stuck in traffic.

Elsewhere, the full-length glass roof extends all the way and the sense of space is surreal because of that but with being no cover, summers could prove tricky. The Model Y being a family luxury car, has a cavernous storage capacity with enough room (with the electric rear seats folded down) to move a house plus legroom is quite good as well.

It seems the Model Y ticks the crucial boxes but the driving experience is where the real fun starts. The deathly silence shuts out the chaos of Mumbai traffic outside and the instant power of the electric motor enables for a smooth drive. We get the Standard and the Long-Range Model Y with 500km and 622km range respectively while acceleration for both the variants being below 6 seconds to 100 km/h. However, beyond the numbers, the Model Y uses its vast plethora of features to keep the driver entertained. The surround cameras for one can be turned on all the time when driving and the suite of driver assistance features recognises Mumbai traffic along with how to tackle it. Of course, the proper self-driving technology is not enabled for our roads yet but could be in the coming years and how much fun would that be?

Other aspects pointed at a surprisingly sporty driving experience including the crisp steering feedback and the agility when hustled around a corner. Tesla has cooked up some engineering witchcraft where the battery is part of the structure itself and saves weight with fewer parts.

It seems, the Model Y came prepared for our roads especially with the 167mm ground clearance and the firm but largely compliant suspension helping it to tackle some uneven speed breakers and monsoon ravaged roads encountered on our drive.

Overall, the Model Y from Tesla seems to have won the hearts of the Indian public but beneath the intriguing layers of technology, lies a sorted family luxury with a steely eyed focus on practicality and performance.