2026 Tesla Model Y Premium RWD long-term review: Introduction

As the most popular electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, and the winner of Drive’s 2026 Car of the Year award, the Tesla Model Y is a natural fit for long-term assessment.

Do the model’s strengths shine through after more than a few weeks with the car? Is it annoying to live with an EV for an extended period of time? Is the brand’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology more than just a gimmick?

These are all the questions – and more – I will look to answer across my three months with the car.

As an introduction, the variant under my care is the entry-level Premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Single Motor priced at a palatable $58,900 before on-road costs.

The only option ticked with the car is the Ultra Red exterior paint that adds $2600, while FSD (Supervised) has now moved from a one-off $10,100 add-on to a $149-per-month subscription.

All in, this isn’t the usual top-of-the-range version with all the options ticked that you would usually see loaned out to media. This Tesla Model Y is wholly representative of how a family taking the plunge into EV ownership might spec their own vehicle – exactly how I want it.

In this specification, the Tesla Model Y has a 62.5kWh battery fitted, which is good for a WLTP-certified claimed range of 466km.

The single electric motor also outputs 255kW/450Nm to the rear wheels, while its mid-size SUV size makes it plenty spacious for families of five.

You might be looking at these figures and thinking, "Well, I could get the same range and performance from a Chinese model for less".

And you’d be right.

The Zeekr 7X? It starts at a clear $1000 under the Model Y at $57,900 plus on-roads, but serves up a 310kW/440Nm output and a 480km-claimed range.

The 230kW/380Nm BYD Sealion 7 is available from $54,990 plus on-roads and will travel 482km on a single charge.

Even putting the Model Y’s more direct rivals to the side, the Geely EX5, GAC Aion V, and Leapmotor C10 are all also all-electric mid-size SUVs undercutting the Tesla Model Y by as much as around $17,000.

That’s some serious spare change.

And it’s not like the Tesla Model Y makes up for that price difference with a long list of equipment, either.

On the outside, this 2026 Model Y has matrix LED headlights that are fantastic at illuminating a dark road, and 19-inch wheels with aero covers.

I like the look of the latest Model Y. The sleeker headlights and wider tail-lights do a lot to modernise the styling compared to the pre-facelift version.

I also like the black accenting on the door handles, window surrounds, and underbody cladding that contrast pleasantly against the red paintwork.

Look, I get that the Model Y’s futuristic design might not be to everyone’s taste – and yeah, from certain angles it does kind of look like a blob – but this Tesla’s styling has actually grown on me a lot, especially in contrast to the flood of generic-looking Chinese EVs hitting the market now.

Inside, the Model Y is all about minimalism – for better and for worse – with a simple and clean interior that skews towards modernity.

The synthetic leather on the seats feel premium and this Chinese-made Model Y has nary a squeak or rattle to report on.

Driver inputs are relegated to the steering wheel, a 16-inch touchscreen, and an indicator stalk – and that’s it.

As most would know now, the gear selector has been moved to the central touchscreen, which is not ideal when attempting three-point turns in a hurry, but like the rest of the software it works well enough.

Everything to do with the touchscreen just works, and works in a way that feels intuitive and easy-to-understand – granted only after you’ve become familiar with the system.

The Bluetooth audio streaming is smart, the native satellite navigation (your only option without Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) is snappy, and jumping between menus feels seamless.

Would I like physical climate controls? Absolutely, but it’s never pain to interact with the Tesla’s touchscreen, and everything is starting to feel like second nature after a month with the car.

This is one of the things the Model Y has over its rivals – the experience of interacting and using the car feels less burdensome and frustrating.

And this is true of the driving experience too.

Tesla has been selling EVs for a long time now. In fact, it’s been 15 years since the Roadster was first made available in Australia. And it’s clear to see the brand has learned a thing or two since then.

For starters, the throttle, brakes and steering are excellently calibrated – making the jump for buyers going from an internal combustion engine to an EV easier.

You can play around with the steering and regenerative braking settings a little, but even in their default settings there is more than enough communication between driver inputs and car behaviour to instil confidence behind the wheel.

I’ll dive a bit deeper into the driving experience and FSD (Supervised) in the coming months, but for now, know that the Tesla Model Y is arguably the best-to-drive electric SUV on the market.

Now the cherry on top of this proverbial cake is that the Model Y works fantastically as a family SUV.

Space inside is plentiful for families of five or less, with the second row affording even adults enough room to be comfortable.

There is even an 8.0-inch rear screen to keep gremlins of all ages happy.

Storage inside is abundant thanks to cavernous nooks and crannies, and the boot space is gargantuan enough for prams, scooters, school bags, and any other life detritus.

There is also a deep underfloor storage space in the boot, while the front trunk (or ‘frunk’) lets you pack even more into the Model Y.

Putting the politics aside, there’s a reason the Tesla Model Y should be in every new-EV conversation.

Tesla’s family SUV transcends its all-electric powertrain and is just a damn good SUV, no caveats required, regardless of price.

Yes, the intricacies of the touchscreen interface can be annoying, but day-to-day, driving the Model Y to childcare, work and across town to pick up a Facebook Marketplace find, there’s no other EV I’d rather be in.