2026 Tesla Model Y Performance review

Our verdict

This is the Model Y for people who want a family EV that can also hold its own against a sports car at a traffic light. It scores high on all the majors: it claims a 580km range, it has the most interior space of any competitor, the most high-tech infotainment in the segment, and it can corner like a hatchback rather than being a rolling concrete slab. The downside is the price, since the extra $20,000 over the Long Range translates to a lot of speed that most buyers will never actually use.

What does the Model Y Performance cost in Australia?

The Performance is priced from $89,400 plus on-road costs, which puts it about $20,000 above the Long Range AWD and more than $30,000 above the entry RWD. Add in Tesla’s order and delivery charges and the figure creeps a little above $91,000 before on-roads.

This is no accident as it keeps the car just under the threshold for the fuel-efficient Luxury Car Tax, which is a big deal if you’re buying through a novated lease and want the fringe benefits tax advantage. Fall over that line and the numbers change dramatically.

See Model Y driveaway pricing and specifications →

Here’s what is unusual about this pricing though. The new Performance actually undercuts the launch price of the original 2023 version, which almost never happens with a facelift. So while it is the most expensive Model Y on sale, it’s not the most expensive one Tesla has ever charged for this badge.

What does the Model Y Performance look like?

Tesla has kept the visual changes to a minimum, which can be interpreted as restraint or missed opportunity depending on which side of the fence you’re on. The telltale signs are 21-inch Arachnid wheels, red calipers, a reshaped front and rear bumper with functional aerodynamics, a carbon-fibre boot lip spoiler and black mirror caps.

Up front you get the new model’s signature full-width light bar and matrix LED headlights. It’s pretty sleek, but doesn’t exactly stand out from the herd. The wheels and calipers do though, if you know what you’re looking at.

In a segment full of Chinese SUVs with bold styling, this is a refreshing change of pace. As to whether you want your $90k SUV to whisper or shout is a matter of taste.

What is the Model Y Performance like inside?

The cabin is pure Tesla: simple, with everything controlled from one giant touchscreen (a new 16-inch display here, up from 15.4 inches in the rest of the range, and now with a higher resolution screen). There’s no instrument cluster, so speed and information about the car are displayed in the corner of the central screen.

The only features that are new to the Performance are the excellent new sports seats with proper bolstering, extendable thigh cushions, heating and ventilation. They’re genuinely comfortable on a long drive, not just supportive when you want to turn it up a notch.

Carbon-fibre trim and alloy sports pedals add to the mood. The perceived build quality is a big step up from the earlier Model Ys, with much better panel fit in our test car and the lack of annoying squeaks and rattles.

The trade-offs are well documented: there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the gear selector is on the screen, and adjusting things like vents and the steering column require a detour into some menus. The infotainment and software is the best in the business, and with voice control and shortcuts, there’s a lot you can do, but there is a learning curve.

How practical is the Model Y Performance?

This is the area where the Performance really justifies its existence as a family car. There is plenty of room in the back for three tall adults, with a flat floor and reclining outboard seats that now fold electrically.

Boot space is a huge 800 litres behind the rear seats, more than 2,000 litres with the rear seats folded down, and a 116 litre frunk under the bonnet that has a drain plug so you can put an ice pack in it!

There’s a hands-free power tailgate, and a new 8.0-inch screen is provided in the back for the kids to play with.

Storage in the front is excellent, with huge deep bins, felt-lined door pockets and dual wireless chargers. The two negatives are no spare wheel and average visibility to the rear of the vehicle.

What is the Model Y Performance like to drive?

Straight-line speed was never in question. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 3.5 seconds and it feels every bit of it, with instant, relentless shove in Insane mode that will pin you and your passengers to the seats at any speed. Tesla is tight-lipped about outputs as usual, but government figures point to around 461kW combined, and there is a new launch mode for those who want to go all out.

The story is different when you drive it on a twisty road though. The new adaptive suspension is a game-changer.

In its softer setting the ride is much firmer than a regular Model Y but not too punishing. In the sportier setting, it is a little more brittle, but much better on a rough country road. The car is light on its feet and hides its two-tonne mass well in corners, helped by the new Pirelli P Zero tyres.

There is a sore point though and that is the steering. It’s quick and precise and once you get used to it you can place the car exactly where you want to, but it goes eerily silent over bumps in the road mid-corner and is not very communicative in general. You’re always sure that the car is on track, but not quite sure what the front wheels are doing.

A new reduced stability control mode gives you the chance to have a bit of fun, but Tesla has dropped Track mode.

How efficient is the Model Y Performance?

For something with this much firepower, the new Performance is fairly efficient.

Tesla claims a 16.2kWh/100km consumption and a 580km WLTP range, and in the real world we expect to see around 16-17kWh/100km, which translates to around 480km-540km in mixed driving. Save the sport modes for the track and you can exceed the claimed range driving at a relaxed pace on the highway.

The caveat with the new NMC battery is that it prefers to be kept between 20 and 80% most of the time, so your regular range will be lower than the maximum stated here. DC fast charging is capped at 250kW, and a 10 to 80% top-up takes about 30 minutes. AC charging is limited to 11kW here and this is understood to be the first Tesla sold in Australia with vehicle-to-load.

On the ownership front, Tesla offers condition-based servicing and has no fixed servicing schedule, so you won’t need to factor in regular trips to the dealer. The parts that do require servicing are relatively inexpensive, and servicing can be arranged to be carried out at your home or work by a mobile technician.

Warranty is the biggest improvement. Tesla now offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers, and five years of roadside assistance, compared to the previous four-year warranty period. The battery and drive unit are covered for eight years and 192,000km.

Is the Model Y Performance safe?

The Model Y Performance has a five-star ANCAP rating from 2025 with solid sub-scores of 91% for adult occupants, 95% for children, 86% for vulnerable road users and 92% for safety assist.

The active safety suite is fully comprehensive and includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, adaptive cruise control with lane centre, blind spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert and driver monitoring. It is worth knowing that it is implemented using cameras rather than radar, which can sometimes be confused by heavy rain.

Buyers can also option Full Self-Driving Supervised. It does most of the driving for you when you want it to and while it is not perfect and you are still liable in the law, it is more capable than anything the competition has to offer at the moment.

What are the main competitors to the Model Y Performance?

The Zeekr 7X Performance is the value option starting from around $72,900 plus on-roads, and it undercuts the Tesla by around $16,000. The cabin feels well appointed and it achieves a 3.8-second 0-100km/h time. It is the one to drive if outright dynamic excellence is less important than the amount of kit and comfort offered for the money; the Tesla counters with its charging network, resale and software.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the driver's choice starting from around $114,918 plus on-roads, with real-world handling ability and simulated gearshifts and engine noise to make it the most fun to drive of the bunch. It is significantly more expensive, but if you want to drive and not just be flung down the road, this is the one to pick and it highlights the Tesla's lack of steering feedback.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is an outlier option from around $98,490 plus on-roads, using the famous Mustang name and a more conventional cabin with dials and CarPlay which the Tesla refuses to offer. It can't quite match the Model Y for acceleration or range, but some buyers will appreciate the familiarity.

The MG IM6 Performance is the cheapest wildcard, from around $74,990 driveaway, claiming a 3.4-second 0-100km/h time for less than the Model Y Performance costs to buy before on-roads are added. It is a newcomer offering more than it costs, but does not have the proven charging and ownership credentials of the Tesla.

Cross-shop the Zeekr 7X Performance or IM6 Performance if you want to get most of the acceleration for a much lower price. Cross-shop the Ioniq 5 N if the driving experience is just as important as the 0-100km/h time.

Should I buy the Model Y Performance?

If you can afford it and want the most well-rounded Model Y, then yes. This is the most refined and balanced hot Model Y that Tesla has ever made.

The biggest dilemma for most buyers though, is the Long Range AWD sitting $20,000 below it in the range. That car has the same amount of interior space, the same infotainment and features, and more than enough performance to get you into trouble.

The Performance is a want, not a need, for the majority of buyers.