Help CleanTechnica’s work by way of a Substack subscription or on Stripe.
You’ve determined to purchase the automotive that for the previous few years has been the highest offered mannequin on the planet, gasoline or electrical, the Tesla Mannequin Y. Tesla has factories in California (Fremont), China (Shanghai), Texas (Austin), and Germany (Berlin) which have been churning them out for the US, Chinese language, European, and different worldwide markets. All Mannequin Ys have a big energy liftgate that may be configured for hands-free opening. All Mannequin Ys are taller and have extra rear seat foot room than the Mannequin 3. All Mannequin Ys include the latest mini-super pc and upgraded cameras, together with a brand new digicam within the entrance bumper/facia ({Hardware} 4) that may run Full Self Driving V14, Tesla’s newest spectacular model of its automated driving software program.
All Mannequin Ys give the choice for twin motors/AWD for $2,000. Twin motors offer you higher traction on slippery roads in chilly local weather winters and higher acceleration. The bottom Mannequin Y RWD is 5.4 seconds for 0 to 60 mph, whereas the bottom mannequin with twin motors is 4.6 seconds for 0 to 60 mph. Notice: my base Mannequin Y RWD has quicker/smoother acceleration than any gasoline automotive I’ve ever owned.
All Mannequin Ys have the choice of a tow bar receiver, which Tesla calls a tow hitch ($1,000 if manufacturing facility put in/$1,300 if put in later).
The 2026 Mannequin Y is available in two variations: Primary and Premium. Which is the model for you?
Primary model value & options.
$39,990 or $529/month with $3,300 down at 0% curiosity for 72 months.
Notice: No cash down, it’s $575/month.
(In Wisconsin you might be additionally liable for five% state gross sales tax, county gross sales tax, the title charge, an electrical car charge ($175), and different charges which whole $2,766. Verify your personal state for such particulars.)
- Battery measurement is 60 kWh and EPA vary is 321 miles.
- Most charging price is 150 kW.
- Low tire stress warning system, however not PSI of every tire.
- Clear exterior styling.
- Fabric headliner.
- Wonderful artificial cloth seats.
- Wonderful sound system, 7 audio system with wonderful base response (however no subwoofers).
Premium model value & options.
$45,990 or $631/month with $3,300 down at 0.99% curiosity for 72 months.
- Battery measurement is 75 kWh and EPA vary is 357 miles.
- Most charging price 250 kW.
- Sensors in every tire give an correct PSI stress measurement.
- Premium exterior styling with gentle bars entrance and rear.
- Glass roof.
- Premium inside styling (temper gentle strip surrounding the ahead cabin).
- Ventilated vegan leather-based seats.
- Quieter cabin due to acoustic glass home windows.
- Premium sound system — 13 audio system with two subwoofers.
- Small TV display screen for the rear seat passengers.
Feedback: I selected the bottom mannequin to maintain the associated fee as little as attainable. I’ve since realized of a quantity variations between Primary and Premium that I used to be unaware of after I bought the automotive. Thus far, I’ve not noticed any deal breakers that make me remorse that call. I believed I is perhaps in search of an aftermarket subwoofer, however the Primary mannequin’s sound is superb. The slower charging pace could possibly be a difficulty on our subsequent cross-country journey. Nevertheless, the charging price on each fashions tapers off dramatically to guard the battery at a better state of cost. Due to this fact, I doubt that the standard whole cost instances are considerably totally different.
Base Mannequin Y with Full Self Driving V14. Observations after 30 days.
Premium Connectivity turned off mechanically after 30 days. I used to be in a position to get it reinstated for $9.99/month or $99.99/12 months.
Premium Connectivity consists of: 1) Excessive-quality satellite tv for pc maps, 2) Stay site visitors visualization, 3) Netflix, You Tube, Hulu, Spotify, and Apple Music, 3) Internet looking and Caraoke, 4) Distant dwell digicam viewing, 5) Restricted entry to Tesla’s AI app Grok — you get 7 to 10 questions each few hours (for limitless entry, you want a Grok subscription).
Full Self Driving V14 was mechanically billed for $99/month after 30 days.


We’re blown away by the efficiency of Full Self Driving V14 on our 2026 Mannequin Y. V14 raises driving automation to a brand new degree. If I’m affected person and prepared for V14 to take a little bit longer at cease indicators than I’d do manually, I can sit there not touching the brake, accelerator, or steering wheel whereas I let FSD V14 drive me like a superb chauffeur. It lets me drive at any price I select between Sloth, Chill, Commonplace, Hurry, and Mad Max. Commonplace is the speed you select in case you are a security acutely aware individual aspiring to keep away from dashing tickets. The automotive drives with precision and virtually by no means comes to a decision that I select to override. Nevertheless, it does often make errors, so you continue to must “supervise” it. It’ll hardly ever make a navigation mistake, but when it does, it should nonetheless discover a option to your vacation spot. I perceive that it nonetheless often makes lane choice errors at cease lights, however I don’t get to check this right here in Northern Wisconsin. V14 anticipates pedestrians who’re about to make use of a cross stroll and waits for them to cross. V14 additionally slows and brakes for deer and even squirrels crossing the highway. I’ve noticed slowing for animals various instances, however lately acquired the brakes slammed for a deer proper beside the highway. If the deer had determined to cross as a substitute of head for the woods, it might have saved an accident.
FSD V14 with rear bike rack mounted on the towbar receiver. I used to be very happy that FSD V14 nonetheless operated even with a motorcycle within the bike rack mounted on the receiver. V12 complained that cameras have been occluded and refused to function.
However: An essential new characteristic of FSD V14 is the automated begin of your journey regardless of the place your automotive is parked. Nevertheless, there may be usually no computerized backing up with a motorcycle rack put in within the receiver. The FSD V14 perceives the bike rack as an object behind your automotive and normally refuses to again up.
When you discover any of my articles useful to you, please use my referral hyperlink when shopping for a brand new Tesla: https://ts.la/arthur73734 (make sure to use it whenever you make your order).
Tesla retains altering this system however right here’s the most recent: If you’re shopping for a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3 or Y and use my hyperlink, you’ll get 2 months of free Full Self Driving (a ~$200 worth) on high of the one month that comes free with each new Tesla. For a Cybertruck, you’ll get $1,000 off your buy value.
Join CleanTechnica’s Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott’s in-depth analyses and excessive degree summaries, join our every day publication, and observe us on Google Information!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Wish to promote? Wish to counsel a visitor for our CleanTech Speak podcast? Contact us right here.
Join our every day publication for 15 new cleantech tales a day. Or join our weekly one on high tales of the week if every day is simply too frequent.


CleanTechnica makes use of affiliate hyperlinks. See our coverage right here.
CleanTechnica’s Remark Coverage
