2026 Tesla Model Y L Review

The Model Y L exists to answer a question Tesla's standard five-seater couldn't: what if you actually need to carry six people? As it turns out, that 150mm of extra wheelbase does an enormous amount of work. The L is softer, more spacious and arguably better value than the car it's based on - and in a segment where the competition is thin, it's also genuinely excellent. The frustrations that have always come with Tesla ownership - no Apple CarPlay, no HUD, touchscreen-heavy controls - are still here. But this is a very good car and at around $80K driveaway for a three-row electric SUV, nothing else comes close.

What does the Tesla Model Y L cost in Australia?

Simple: $74,900 before on-road costs. One variant, one spec level - Premium AWD with long-range battery. That's it.

That puts it $6,000 above the equivalent five-seat Model Y Premium AWD which is the right comparison to make. You're not comparing a bare-bones EV to a well-specced one - you're paying a $6K premium for an extra row of seats, a bigger battery, individual captain's chairs in the second row, adaptive suspension and significantly more range. When you lay it out that way, it looks like sharp value.

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 are the other realistic alternatives, both of which push well past $100K in comparable specification. At $74,900 the Model Y L occupies a pricing position nobody else currently occupies.

What does the Tesla Model Y L look like?

From the outside, you could easily miss it. Tesla's approach to differentiating the L was deliberately restrained - 150mm of additional wheelbase, a slightly flatter rear roofline, a new 19-inch alloy design - and that's roughly your lot.

The result is a car that looks like a Model Y that's had a large meal. The rear overhang is fuller, the proportions are less sleek than the standard car and it won't win any awards for elegance. Tesla clearly decided that anyone buying a six-seat family SUV has already accepted that they're not buying a sports car, so why obsess over it.

That logic holds up, even if the result is a shape that's more practical than pretty.

What is the Tesla Model Y L like inside?

Step inside and the value calculation starts making immediate sense.

The front cabin is unchanged from the standard Model Y - which means you get a clean, minimal interior built around a 16-inch portrait touchscreen that controls almost everything. Climate, media, navigation, and yes, the gear selector since the Juniper facelift. The absence of a head-up display and Apple CarPlay remain genuine frustrations - CarPlay support is reportedly on its way, but "reportedly coming" is not the same as here.

The charging setup up front is practical: 50W for the driver's phone, 30W for the passenger's. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard.

But the real story is what Tesla did behind the B-pillar. The second row gets a pair of individual captain's chairs - not the standard three-seat bench - separated by a walkable centre aisle. They're heated and ventilated, power-adjustable armrests fold away for easy access to the back and there are dedicated B-pillar air vents. It's genuinely comfortable and noticeably more premium than a standard Model Y's rear bench.

The third row is where Tesla either wins or loses the argument, and it largely wins. I'm 6'1" and I sat back there without grimacing. Headroom is adequate, legroom is better than expected and there are face-level vents, two cupholders and a USB-C port per seat. Getting in, though, is a different story - adults will practically stumble and fold themselves into position and anyone over six foot will want to practice before doing it in public. Kids won't care. The seat cushions are a little flat and your inboard foot has to share space with the second-row seat rails, but these are minor quibbles for what is otherwise a genuinely usable back row.

Importantly, every seat in rows two and three has ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts. Families with multiple child seats - which in practice is most of the people shopping this car - will appreciate that.

How practical is the Tesla Model Y L?

Extremely. The 2-2-2 seating configuration is the right choice. Getting from the front door to the third row without folding, sliding or contorting is a small quality-of-life win that matters enormously on a Tuesday morning school run.

Boot space with all seats up is usable rather than cavernous - that's the trade-off for having six seats. But fold the third row and you recover a proper cargo area, and the frunk adds useful overflow storage up front.

All four rear seats fold, the third row electrically. The climate system has been uprated to push adequate airflow through the extra vents. It's been thought through.

What is the Tesla Model Y L like to drive?

Better than expected, and meaningfully better than the standard Model Y.

The standard five-seat Model Y has always been firm. The L gets standard-fit adaptive dampers, and the difference in ride quality is substantial. Rough surfaces that would have transmitted directly into your spine in the regular car are absorbed and dispatched. In Rear Comfort mode it becomes genuinely plush without feeling disconnected - body control holds up and the car doesn't wallow through direction changes.

Performance is brisk without being theatrical. 378kW and 590Nm from the dual-motor AWD setup means the 0-100km/h sprint takes around 5 seconds - quick enough to catch most drivers off guard and delivered with the linear, silent confidence that makes EV performance feel effortless rather than aggressive. It's 0.2 seconds slower than the five-seater, which is the kind of difference you'd never notice unless someone told you.

The steering is quick and accurate, and the car doesn't feel as large as it is from the driver's seat. That said, it's a big car - over 2.1 metres wide mirror-to-mirror - and reversing into a tight shopping centre bay will remind you of that.

How efficient is the Tesla Model Y L?

The battery is officially unconfirmed by Tesla, but government documentation suggests 88.2kWh of NMC chemistry with a WLTP-claimed range of 681km. Real-world figures will naturally fall short of that - probably 520-560km in mixed conditions - but that's still exceptional for a vehicle of this size and purpose.

Estimated consumption sits around 12.95kWh/100km and DC fast charging is supported at rates that make longer trips viable.

The warranty improved in 2026 to five years, up from the previous four-year coverage that Tesla had maintained for too long. Service costs on Teslas remain low relative to ICE equivalents, and brake wear is minimal thanks to strong regenerative braking.

Is the Tesla Model Y L safe?

Five stars from ANCAP in 2026. The full suite of active safety systems is standard - automated emergency braking, lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and Tesla's semi-autonomous driver assistance suite. No issues here.

What are the main rivals to the Tesla Model Y L?

Kia EV9 - Seven seats, great interior quality, strong range. Expect to pay significantly more than the Model Y L for a comparable spec.

Hyundai Ioniq 9 - Spacious and well-appointed, but again, pricing climbs well above $100K in premium trim.

Denza B8 - The closest somewhat electric (it’s a PHEV) three-row rival, but at $91,000 it's in a different price bracket. Arguably more polished in some areas, but the price gap is hard to justify.

Should I buy the Tesla Model Y L?

If you're shopping for a three-row electric SUV in Australia, this is your answer. Full stop.

The criticisms are real - the touchscreen-only controls take adjustment, the missing HUD and CarPlay are frustrating omissions at this price, and it's not a car that photographs particularly well. But none of that changes the fundamental calculation: $74,900 (exc ORC) for a six-seat electric SUV with 681km of claimed range, proper adult-sized third-row accommodation and adaptive suspension is a combination the market simply doesn't match right now.

The $6K premium over the standard Model Y is one of the more sensible spending decisions in the current new car market. You get meaningfully more car in every dimension that matters for family use. Better ride, more range, more seats, more comfort.

Big family, going electric? This is the one.