After our test of the restyled Tesla Model Y in the starter version with the largest battery and all-wheel drive, which generally pleased us, we got behind the wheel of the Premium Propulsion variant (ex-Grande Autonomie Propulsion) to see if it is still the most relevant in the range. Let’s not beat ourselves up, the answer is yes, unequivocally.
Some media thought it was dead and buried or at least in big trouble due to Elon Musk’s controversial stances, but the Tesla Model Y has yet to say its last word. So yes, he has lost a few feathers in recent months. In Europe, its year-to-date sales fell by a further 34% after the not-so-exceptional year 2024, when it dropped from 1st to 4th place overall. Yes, but its 82,672 units sold is still the envy of people on the old continent.
While the redesigned model introduced at the beginning of the year seems to be starting to gain traction. The brand, which is traditionally better at the end of the quarter, for example, registered almost 5,000 copies in France in September, making it the best-selling electric car on our soil, far ahead of the Renault 5.
The American manufacturer is counting on the Standard variant for less than 40,000 euros, introduced very recently, to really gain momentum again. However, our little finger tells us that – too trimmed down and not rewarding enough – it could primarily boost sales of the top model, the ex-Grande Autonomie Propulsion, now named Premium Propulsion. That’s because our recent test highlighted a vehicle with excellent performance, all at an attractive price. On the way!
More drive models
It’s a shame, the introduction of the standard livery goes hand in hand with the demise of the Propulsion version, which until then formed the entry level of the American SUV. In fact, the price gap between the new flagship and the second tier, the Premium Propulsion model in our test, jumps, and not just a little, as it reaches €7,000. A huge difference, but one that changes everything for the driver and his passengers.
With front and rear light strips and standard 19” rims on the exterior, a panoramic sunroof, vegan leather upholstery, a front center console with enclosed storage and heated and ventilated front seats (only the massage function is missing…), a touch tablet and heated rear seats, the Y Premium Propulsion model retains the appeal and comfort of the previous version.
The ecological bonus will enjoy something extra, but it will reduce the final bill by several thousand euros. Without a doubt, it still has the best price-equipment-presentation ratio in the line. The absence of the Propulsion livery makes it more attractive. And we’re still happy with the upmarket shift of the redesigned model, which is really palpable. We are now in the much cheaper category, like the recent Leapmotor B10, but Tesla is still one of the few that can compete with premium SUVs while being offered at the same price as mainstream models.
Ergonomic flaws, always
The only strong point of the Standard model, apart from its significantly lower price, is its manually adjustable steering wheel. This is necessary for the Premium Propulsion run of our test use the touch screen to perform this operation. Apparently it’s less convenient.
The ubiquitous touch screen
generally speaking this design retains the ergonomic shortcomings already noted in the pastnamely almost mandatory use of touch screen for everything. So yes, Tesla’s multimedia environment is quite simple to understand, that’s a fact. And yes, Tesla went even further with the Model 3. But the number of functions that can be controlled from the screen is dizzying.
Unpleasant to drive
How often do we have to take our eyes off the road to control something as basic as the air conditioning, which by the way is really not easy to control on this model? while driving it can get annoying fast and dangerous. We know that the people responsible for the brand are interested in this refined interior and this giant MacBook-like touchscreen, but for everyone’s safety, it would be good to release some ballast at this point.
Really comfortable
on the way we are delighted to find the qualities of the Model Y premium integrated transmission (we tested the ex-Grande Autonomie Integrale Transmission in March) which made a very good impression on us. Above all, we are pleased to find that one of the rare glitches mentioned in our previous test is mitigated here. The improvement in suspension comfort is more noticeable than the Y Premium All-Wheel Drive model. We still see some sharp effects at low speeds, but generally speaking, this version of Premium Propulsion seduces with its general comfortnow really good.
An ideal car for long journeys
With improved sound deadening and redesigned, more comfortable seats, long journeys with this Y Premium Propulsion model are now very pleasant. And although it is not as powerful as the Premium Integral Transmission model, performance is still excellent, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. That’s more than enough to safely overtake… and even lose your license. As it retains that sharp driving side with steering that’s firm and precise and a chassis that’s relatively agile for an SUV, the results are very positive. The only shame is that the driving aids are still faulty.
Go far?
Obviously, nothing to freak out driving enthusiasts. Between the ever-pleasing behavior and the improving comfort of the suspension, we don’t really want to stop. But can we really?
400 km of autonomy on the highway
In our test conducted almost exclusively on the highway, average consumption was just under 19 kWh/100 km. On this type of course it’s pretty amazing, the competition tends to sip significantly more than 20kWh/100kmunless it is simply 30 kWh/100 kWh. Which means it is possible to travel almost 400 km in one go without stopping, because the battery is supposed to have a capacity of 75 kWh (yes, this figure is still not disclosed by Tesla). And therefore much more in a truly mixed use.
Extremely efficient route planner
And while there is now more power than the Model Y in terms of charging power, its 250 kW is more than enough to ensure relatively fast charging. Moreover, in this regard the route planner is very efficient and can very accurately determine the time you need to stay at the terminal before departure. Sometimes a stop of 5-10 minutes is enough. And if the GPS is set up correctly, you’ll receive a warning about ten minutes before you stop to warm the battery up to the optimal temperature to restore maximum power as quickly as possible. New since the restyling is that you can program the desired energy level upon arrival so you don’t have to recharge once at the finish line. Quite frankly, we can think of long journeys without blinking an eye.
