2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD Review

The electric vehicle market in Malaysia continues to heat up, and the C-Segment SUV is a popular choice for family users. It needs to meet the practicality of daily commuting while also balancing technological features and driving experience. The 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, with its long-range capability, all-wheel drive, and iconic intelligent system, has always been the focus of this segment. This time, we got a test drive vehicle, and our main goal is to verify if its actual performance matches the official specifications and how well it adapts to local road conditions.

The exterior of the Model Y retains Tesla's family-style design, with sleek and minimalist lines, avoiding overly complex decorations. The front features a closed grille, paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides, giving it high recognition. The waistline on the side of the body extends from the front to the rear, complemented by 19-inch wheels, giving it a stable yet dynamic look. At the rear, the highlight is the through-type LED taillights, which provide clear visual effects when lit. The design of the rear bumper also enhances the car's sporty feel. The vehicle dimensions are 4751mm in length, 1978mm in width, and 1624mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2891mm, placing it at the mainstream level among C-Segment SUVs.

Sitting inside the car, the interior of the Model Y is still minimalist. The central control panel is almost free of physical buttons, with all functions centralized on the 15-inch central touch screen. The interior materials mainly consist of soft-touch materials paired with black piano lacquer panels, offering a good sense of quality. The front seats support electric adjustment and heating functions, providing decent comfort for long drives without causing significant fatigue. The rear seats also feature heating functions and support a 40:20:40 split-folding configuration. When folded down, the trunk capacity can be expanded to 848 liters, showcasing excellent storage capabilities. In terms of space, the front row offers ample headroom and legroom, making it comfortable even for passengers up to 180cm tall. The rear legroom is about two fists, and the headroom is one fist, which is sufficient for daily family use. For features, standard equipment such as a HEPA air filter, 360-degree parking cameras, and full-range ACC cruise control enhances everyday convenience.

In terms of performance, the Model Y Long Range AWD is equipped with dual motors at the front and rear, delivering a total system power of 330.88kW (approximately 450.3PS) and a combined torque of 559N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 5 seconds. During actual driving, the power response is quick during the initial launch. A light press on the accelerator would already give a significant push-back sensation. While overtaking, pressing the accelerator deeply results in direct power output without delay. Switching to sport mode makes the power delivery even more aggressive, suitable for users who enjoy a spirited driving experience. The chassis employs a front double-wishbone independent suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned for sportiness. When cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, providing good stability. On bumpy roads, the suspension filters out most minor vibrations, but passengers in the rear may feel slight impacts when encountering larger potholes.

In terms of range, the official pure electric range is 533km, with a battery capacity of 78.1kWh. We tested it under mixed road conditions, including city traffic, highway cruising, and suburban roads, achieving a range completion rate of about 85%, resulting in an actual range of approximately 450km, which meets expectations. The power consumption is about 15kWh per 100km, slightly higher than the official 13.4kWh, mainly because power consumption increases during highway cruising. For charging, using a fast charging station, it takes about 40 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. The official fast charging time of 10 hours should refer to the slow charging mode. Noise control performs well, with wind noise and tire noise at acceptable levels during high-speed driving, which does not affect normal conversations among passengers inside the car. The energy recovery system has multiple adjustable levels, and when adjusted to the highest level, releasing the accelerator pedal achieves a notable deceleration effect, approaching a single-pedal driving mode, which can reduce the frequency of braking once accustomed to it.

Overall, the key advantages of the 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD lie in its long range, strong power output, and rich intelligent configurations. Compared to other vehicles in the same class, such as the Volvo XC40 Recharge or Audi Q4 e-tron, the Model Y has certain advantages in terms of range and acceleration performance, while also offering a more cost-effective price. However, the minimalist interior design may not appeal to everyone, as some users might find it lacking a sense of luxury.

This vehicle is suitable for family users who value range and power, especially those who frequently go on long trips. Its long range can alleviate charging anxiety. Additionally, the all-wheel drive system provides better stability on rainy or slippery roads, making it suitable for areas with variable weather conditions. For young people who pursue technological features and driving enjoyment, the Model Y’s intelligent system and acceleration performance will also meet their needs.

In conclusion, the 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD delivers solid performance in terms of power, range, space, and features, making it a well-rounded C-segment electric SUV suitable for most family users and technology enthusiasts.