Tesla Model Y Long Range Review: How Does It Hold Up in Winter?

Still priced under $43,000 at the end of 2024, this model claims a range of 600 Km on a single charge. But how does it perform in real-world conditions? Let’s find out after a week-long winter test drive!

Specifications

The Tesla Model Y is available in 4 versions:

The Long Range/Performance versions are equipped with an approximately 80 kWh battery while the smaller battery models have only ~60 kWh. Range estimates vary depending on wheel and equipment choices, but our Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model is the only one exceeding 600 Km WLTP.

Apart from the battery and motors, differences among the models are relatively minor. The Performance version includes some specific features (brakes, wheels, spoiler…) but the interior and equipment are substantially the same. The top speed is limited to 217 km/h on all models except for the Performance version which can reach 250 km/h.

Like its counterparts, the Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive can tow a trailer weighing up to 1600 Kg, making it suitable for hauling a significant trailer or attaching bikes. It is also possible to choose from up to 5 colors, but only pearl white is standard. 20″ wheels are also available (2100€) but reduce the range to 565km – our model came with 19″ wheels. Note that our model weighs just under 2 tonnes (1,959 kg exactly)

On the other hand, the cabin is limited to 5 seats, versus 7 as an option on the dual-motor version. This is almost the only difference, outside of the all-wheel drive.

Semi-autonomous driving is standard, but automatic lane change (Enhanced Autopilot) costs an additional $3,800, which seems excessive for a feature that is now common among competitors.

The price is currently under the incentive (€46,990), allowing for a purchase price under €43,000 in 2024, but not in 2025:

What’s the Real-World Highway Range?

Typically, a vehicle rated at 600 Km WLTP should be able to exceed 400 Km on the highway at 130 Km/h under optimal conditions – namely in summer, without wind, and on flat terrain.

During our test, temperatures ranged between 0 and 10 degrees, ideal for testing the “minimum” range, though far from the harsh climates of Canada or Northern Europe. Indeed, battery capacity decreases by about 20 to 30% in winter. It’s therefore not possible to travel from Lyon to Paris in one go at this time; there would be about a 30% battery deficit, according to our planner.

Additionally, with the lower temperatures, the Heat Pump (standard on Teslas) is more strained, increasing consumption. Finally, the days are shorter, and rain/snow is more frequent, further reducing range.

Starting at 100% in Paris, we headed for Lyon, and the planner had scheduled a stop around 20%. It can be a bit optimistic in winter, limiting the risk of arriving too low at the charging station. Wanting to push the car to its limits, we ignored this stop and continued to Beaune, exactly 318 Km away.

The car showed 4-5% battery remaining, which would have allowed for an additional 15 to 20 Km, roughly 350 Km – considering Tesla always keeps a small margin for safety. This is an impressive performance given the battery capacity and the vehicle’s weight, as Tesla continues to excel with low consumption and good aerodynamics.

Helpful Driving Aids

This test also allowed us to see Tesla’s progress in semi-autonomous highway driving.

As a pioneer with its Autopilot, the manufacturer has somewhat rested on its laurels in recent years. For instance, Tesla still does not offer a capacitive steering wheel, which would avoid having to nudge the wheel straight when Autopilot is engaged.

However, in recent months, through an update, Tesla visually tracks the hand position on the wheel. If you hold the wheel properly, you won’t need to apply force to show you’re there. However, sometimes just scratching your back, taking a drink, or looking away from the road can trigger a penalty.

This system of penalties is completely absurd: no matter the driver, if you’re “penalized” more than 5 times in a row (once a week, for example), Tesla will block your Autopilot, with one point recovered each week. Yes, you read that right; for a feature you have paid for, Tesla still has the audacity to scold you, like a child. To illustrate, the YouTuber who tested the car before us (whom we’ll not name) had already used 4 out of 5 points, which was quite irritating, as we only had one attempt left… which we obviously “spent”: just accelerate a bit too forcefully with Autopilot engaged or scratch your back to get penalized.

Another setback, automatic lane change is not standard and costs an additional $3,800. Without it, you constantly have to re-engage Autopilot every time you change lanes, accompanied by a not-so-subtle beep. While the feature is worthwhile, it is not at this price! We would have also preferred a more flexible manual mode.

Conversely, Tesla arguably offers the most reliable Autopilot on the market. Just look at the 3D visualization of the environment to see the quality of the car’s recognition: fully autonomous driving is already operational in the USA, and we eagerly await its arrival in Europe by 2025!

In use, this Autopilot is less enjoyable than those from Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi, or BMW, but it remains very reliable, even in complex situations (snow, fog, construction…). Only the implementation could use some tweaking… and we would really like a capacitive steering wheel!

Urban and Suburban Range

In the city, the Model Y is quite a large vehicle, nearly 2 meters wide and with a truck-like turning radius… It’s safe to say it’s not the most agile, especially for parking!

However, it remains the most versatile SUV on the market. With a trunk exceeding 800L, a frunk that can hold two large carry-on suitcases, and 5 to 7 seats, all under a length of less than 4.8 meters, it remains relatively compact even for commuting to the office. I just wish it had a better turning radius in underground parking lots… and that its wheels were easier to keep intact.

Conversely, I find it quite comfortable for daily use, with good sound insulation, higher ground clearance than the Model 3, and a relatively high driving position. When you stop at a traffic light, the car can represent its environment in 3D, down to the traffic light colors: when it turns green, a small beep sounds to tell you to go (which can be turned off)! You can even see the lights and turn signals of other vehicles light up on the 3D display… no competitor does (for now) as well!

I used the Model Y for a week for work commutes of about 15km, half in the city and half on national roads at 80Km/h, and consumption did not exceed 16 kWh/100Km! This is simply the best in its class, as most electric SUVs are usually around 18-20. The range can thus exceed 500 Km, which means charging about once a week – unless you leave the sentinel mode on, which is very energy-intensive.

Charging Speed and Cost

Like all Teslas, the Model Y plans your route via the network of SuperChargers (1,000 stations in Europe) and ensures the battery is preconditioned before arriving at the station, which optimizes charging times.

Our Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive benefits from a charge of 250 Km at Tesla’s SuperChargers, which we indeed achieved. However, the charging curve flattens quite quickly from 50% battery, which does not allow for scores of 18-20 minutes like some others.

The manufacturer promises a 10-80% charge in about 30 minutes, which is average for the segment, even though many now do better thanks to higher voltages (800V). This is the case with Kia/Hyundai, XPeng, and Porsche/Audi. Tesla is still at 400V for now.

The 4-70% charge took us exactly 30 minutes, which matches Tesla’s promises. It will take a few more minutes to reach 80%, which is still quite reasonable.

Range and charging times are often a concern for those new to electric vehicles, and understandably so, as these are new habits to develop. But for the seasoned, it’s not really a problem: a break every 3 hours is highly recommended, and few people drive for 5 or 6 hours straight without eating or using the restroom.

When you talk to Tesla owners, many will tell you that charges are even often too quick: if you go out to lunch, the 30 minutes quickly pass, especially if you grab a coffee and visit the restroom. However, for those in a hurry, you can also leave after 15-20 minutes, although you might need to make an extra stop if necessary.

A “fill-up” on the highway (10-80%) of a Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive costs about €18 (€0.30*60 kWh), while a full charge (100%) at home ranges between €9 (Tempo) and €21 (peak hours) depending on your subscription and charging hours. If you’re savvy, it’s generally less than €10, unbeatable for 350KM on the highway.

Wallbox or Home Charger?

When you buy an electric vehicle and have the option to charge at home or in your parking space, the question often arises whether to install a wallbox, an optimized charging station.

To put it simply, you have two options:

In reality, it is rare to charge the battery from 0 to 100%. Daily trips never exceed 10 to 30%, unless you work far from home or spend your day driving (sales representatives, taxis…). Therefore, the small charger outlet suffices for 99% of uses.

However, the station is handy when you arrive home at 0-10% in the evening and need to be at 100% the next morning. In 3-4 hours, you can also recharge half the battery, which can be convenient occasionally.

Finally, if you want to take advantage of off-peak hours only for charging, the station will be more effective: a home charger will only restore 30% overnight, so it would take 3 nights to go from 0 to 100% without blowing up your bill.

It’s up to you, but I went without a wallbox for years before finally installing one, mainly for convenience: it avoids having a charger lying on the ground permanently, and the cable remains attached to the station the rest of the time.

In Conclusion

As 2025 approaches with the end of a generous incentive (dropping from €4,000 to €2,000 for most middle incomes), is it still worth buying this Model Y which is about to be updated?

It’s true that rumors of a new “Juniper” model insist on an imminent release, likely early in the year in China and perhaps in a few months in Europe and America. It’s rumored to feature 6