The Tesla Model Y has long offered a small third-row seat for American buyers, but the automaker recently debuted a new extended variant for the Chinese market. The Model YL comes with six seats and all the goodies to keep those people comfortable and entertained.
Tesla priced the YL at around $47,000, but it’s limited on configuration options, only offering 19-inch aero wheels and a black interior to start. The Model Y’s wheelbase increased almost six inches to 119.7 inches, and the new model is seven inches longer than the standard model. The SUV is also available with advanced driving assistance systems for an extra charge.
Inside, Tesla equips heated seats across all three rows, and the first two come with ventilation. The Model YL also has powered armrests for second-row passengers, and the third-row seats have individual air vents on the rear pillars. Cargo space grew with the extended model, reaching 89.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
The YL’s range is about the same as the standard model, at up to 466 miles on the CLTC cycle, and its acceleration numbers remain strong, at 4.3 seconds from 0-62 mph. The SUV has beefier suspension to cope with the extra mass, which includes continuously variable dampers and other upgrades.
[Images: Tesla]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
TBH this would sell fine in the US too.
I’m shopping for a three-row EV that’s an upgrade from my 7-seat Model Y. My family’s outgrowing our electric sportwagon, so we need an actual minivan/crossower.
The Ioniq 9, the EV9, and the ID.Buzz are all actually suited for the task — especially the Ioniq 9.
For my purposes, a stretched Model Y isn’t going to be enough of an upgrade over what I already have (especially with Tesla’s decontenting efforts and their CEO’s efforts to alienate half of the customer base with his politics have not having been reversed yet), so this car isn’t going to open my wallet.
But more sizes and shapes is exactly what I want to see from Tesla, in order for them to keep selling EVs, so I wish them success selling this LWB EV sportwagon to people who aren’t me!
“their CEO’s efforts to alienate half of the customer base”
It amazes me haha if Teslas customer base is against a balanced budget and not wasting money. Really radical views 🙄.
You keep complaining that I shouldn’t cut your legs off with a chainsaw. Why are you against losing weight?
I very very strongly suggest you take a serious look at a modern minivan before you jump into something that’s not a minivan.
No minivan is available with a fully electric powertrain (unless you count the ID.Buzz, which doesn’t have some features that are traditional on minivans) and Luke has said many times that he has no interest in ICE-powered vehicles.
“alienate half of the customer base with his politics”
Huh? What isn’t adorable about sharting your lederhosen while giving the hitlergruss as you goose step?
@jalop1991,
I’ve owned two minivans and I’ve shopped the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV during this process to make sure I’m not overlooking anything.
/Context: Our main family car is currently a Tesla Model Y Long Range with 7 seats that we’ve road-tripped all over the US east of the Mississippi./
When it comes down to it, I’m just unwilling to spend more than about $20k on anything with an internal combustion engine onboard, and used minivans without some sort of major problems are $35k+. I’m just not whirling to pay that much for ICE hassles and Chrysler hassles, but I am willing to pay 2-3x that for an EV that does the same job.
I really Ike the ID.Buzz. VW has figured out how to make a charming and cool minivan with that thing – but the battery is sized for European drivers, not American road-trippers. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a much better value with much better performance. I’d pay up to about $42k for an ID.Buzz with its range limitations — but the Ioniq 9 justifies the $65k price tag pretty well with a great range, great ride, and a great interior.
/P.S. I’m still maintaining two ICE vehicles as part of the household fleet, and they’re both BOATs, financially speaking. The EV just doesn’t have the systems that keep eating up the maintenance dollars./
“…CEO’s efforts to alienate half of the customer base…”
I know. The nerve of Musk to support the candidate who won the popular vote, and the vote in every swing state in the nation.
Typical crybaby leftist crap.
Have you ever heard a conservative say, “I won’t buy an iPhone because Tim Cook is a Democrat?”
