Life is tough at the top. The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric car in Australia by a fair margin in 2024, and its nearest rival is its sedan brother. That’s despite strong competition from Chinese brands like BYD, and a significant update to the Model 3 sedan delivering a more modern interior, more comfortable ride, and better refinement than before.
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. The Model Y hasn’t been treated to the same update, but it’s not been left alone entirely. In March, it picked up a trio of new colour options, and a new wheel design for the base RWD and Long Range.
Oh, and the price has been slashed multiple times throughout the year. Is the Model Y still the king? Tesla continues to cut its prices in Australia, to the point where the base Model Y RWD is priced in line with a huge number of hybrid, petrol, and diesel mid-sized SUVs. Prices exclude on-road costs To see how the Model Y compares with its biggest electric rivals, use our comparison tool .
The Tesla Model Y hasn’t been treated to the same update at the Model 3, which means you still get a proper indicator stalk and drive selector. It’s a very minimalist space, with a massive screen in the middle of the dashboard..
. and very little else in the way of luxuries or add-ons, so it’ll take some getting used to. But the software is all very slick, and once you’re dialled in it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.
The fundame.
