Should you buy a Tesla Model Y? Pros and cons explained

Tesla has made its long-awaited India entry, and the Model Y is the American EV maker’s debut offering here. The Model Y contends in the entry-level luxury EV segment, comprised of the Kia EV6, BYD Sealion 7, BMW iX1 LWB, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Volvo EX40 and EC40, Mini Countryman Electric, and Hyundai Ioniq 5. If you’re looking to bring one of these luxury EVs home, here are three reasons why you should consider the Model Y, and two reasons why you may want to hold off on the new Tesla.

Feature list is loaded

Model Y gets a slew of creature comforts.

Tesla has done well to equip the Model Y with a feature set that befits its standing, with the crossover offering a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 9-speaker sound system, panoramic glass roof, heated steering wheel and windshield, in-built dashcam, cabin air purifier, ambient lighting, powered, heated and ventilated front seats, powered 2-way folding and heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control, powered front and rear AC vents, connected car tech, nine airbags, an 8-inch rear touchscreen, ADAS suite, and more.

Spacious and comfortable interior

Seats offer great support, and there's lots of room at the back.

Space and comfort are expected of a luxury offering, and the Model Y does quite well in this regard. As we noted in our Model Y India review, the crossover’s front seats are set high for great visibility and offer a decent amount of support.

The second row of the Model Y is also a nice place to be, thanks to more-than-ample legroom, headroom, and space underneath the front seats to stretch your legs. Seat cushioning and thigh support is excellent too, and rear occupants get a separate 8-inch touchscreen to adjust the AC, watch videos, play games, and more.

Good performance and segment-best claimed range

Up to 622km of WLTP-certified range.

The India-spec Model Y comes equipped with two battery options: a 63kWh pack in the base RWD variant, and an 83kWh unit in the Long Range RWD variant. Both are mated to a sole rear-mounted motor that develops 299hp in 63kWh guise and 340hp in the 83kWh version. WLTP-claimed range figures for the Model Y 63kWh and 83kWh stand at 500km and 622km respectively, which are actually the highest in its segment.

0-100kph comes up in as little as 5.6 seconds (claimed).

Tesla claims a 0-100kph time of 5.9 seconds for the Model Y RWD and 5.6 seconds for the Long Range RWD – yet again very competitive numbers keeping rivals in mind. We've only driven the less powerful Model Y RWD in India so far, and found that its power delivery is smooth and predictable. You get two drive modes – Standard and Chill – as well as two regen modes – Reduced and Standard – where the latter is especially strong and enables one-pedal driving.

With the Model Y pros out of the way, let’s discuss the Tesla's most notable cons.

Priced too high

Top-end Model Y variant is pricier than those of rivals.

The 2025 Model Y price in India starts at Rs 59.89 lakh for the RWD trim and tops off at Rs 67.89 lakh for the Long Range RWD variant. This pricing is a victim of hefty taxation, since the Model Y is a full CBU (completely built unit) import from China. Notably, the Model Y starting price is higher than most of its rivals, and the Tesla crossover’s Long Range RWD variant is the most expensive in its segment.

Touchscreen integrates the majority of in-car functions

Physical controls are almost non-existent in the Model Y’s cabin.

Though the Model Y's infotainment touchscreen is a slick unit to operate, Tesla has unfortunately folded most of the in-car functionality into it. There are absolutely no buttons or knobs on the Model Y’s dashboard and centre console, and so the only way to tweak the AC settings, alter the volume, adjust the ORVM position, and even view instrumentation is via the infotainment system.

This can be unsafe while driving, as swiping through numerous sub-menus may require the driver to take their eyes off the road.

All prices are ex-showroom, India.

Also see:

Tesla Model Y: 5 tech highlights you just have to know

Tesla Model Y India details: FAQs on price, Auto Pilot, supercharging network, and more