2026 Tesla Model Y review: Lower price, stronger case

Tesla's Model Y was already unlike anything else on Indian roads. A lower price, sharper technology and better equipment now make its proposition considerably harder to ignore.The Tesla Model Y has always been a slightly different proposition in India. Not because it is an electric SUV, or because it wears a Tesla badge, but because the experience of owning and driving one feels unlike almost anything else available here. Tesla cars come with an undeniable road presence. The Model Y looks fairly conventional from some angles. Now, with its latest update, Tesla has addressed some of the areas that mattered most while, rather importantly, making the Model Y significantly more accessible. From an exterior design perspective, nothing has changed. The real changes become apparent once you step inside.What's new?Firstly, the cabin now gets black and grey upholstery, which looks fresh. The centrepiece is the new 16-inch infotainment screen, which is up from a 15.4-inch unit. It is sharper and remains the command centre for almost everything in the car.Tesla’s approach continues to be different from the norm, with functions that you would normally expect to have physical buttons buried within menus instead. It takes some getting used to, but the interface itself is slick and responsive. The addition of xAI’s Grok integration adds another layer to the experience. There's a bigger central screen, and Grok AI can be summoned via voice command or a button placed below and to the left of the Bluetooth widget. It transforms the vehicle’s voice assistant setup from a basic command interpreter into something far more conversational, witty, and contextually aware. Rather than simply executing robotic tasks like turning down the cabin temperature, Grok can answer complex queries, adapt to natural speech patterns, and offer a layer of personality that makes in-car interactions feel alive. I loved the three-spoke steering design on the Model Y. The indicator stalk is a work of art. The three-spoke steering wheel is another highlight. It looks wonderfully futuristic without becoming difficult to use, and the indicator stalk positioned behind it is genuinely fantastic once you get accustomed to it. Also, the windscreen wiper control and the high-beam flash sit on the steering wheel. There are two wireless chargers that work seamlessly. BTW, that card is Tesla's key. There is a brief learning curve, particularly if you are coming from a conventional car, but it soon feels liveable. The important takeaway from all of this is that the Model Y feels more contemporary than before, and that matters when you are spending this kind of money on a car whose appeal is closely tied to technology.How's the driving experience?Out on the road, the Model Y immediately reminds you that this is a fairly substantial electric SUV. Power comes from the rear-mounted PMSM, which puts out 303bhp and 420Nm of torque. Performance is brisk, as you would expect from a Tesla, with the electric motor’s instant response making overtaking and merging into faster-moving traffic effortless. There are two driving modes, Chill and Standard. The simple yet sleek design features really stand out on the Model Y. Chill softens the initial response and is perfectly adequate for everyday commuting, while Standard gives you the sharper reaction that makes the Model Y feel properly quick. The claimed WLTP range is 500km, but we couldn’t test this aspect due to the limited time with the car. There are also two settings for regenerative braking - Standard and Reduced, but I personally stuck to the latter in city conditions. Apart from this, Tesla lets you adjust steering weight between Light, Standard and Heavy settings. The cabin is extremely well insulated, and NVH levels are top-notch. The differences are noticeable, with Heavy adding more resistance and Light making the wheel easier to turn around town. Standard is the most natural setting for most situations. There is little point pretending this is a lightweight driver’s car, though. The steering is accurate enough, but the Model Y feels bulky when you start hustling it through a series of bends. The weight is always present, and it dictates how you approach corners. Frameless doors look fantastic! Storage spaces are also generous. The low-mounted battery helps keep the centre of gravity down, but it cannot completely hide the mass of the SUV. Change direction quickly, and you know you are moving a heavy machine. Keep your inputs measured and the Model Y feels secure and predictable. Front seats are supportive and comfortable. Ride quality, meanwhile, is one of the more convincing and surprising aspects. On the usual paved-road undulations, the suspension does a commendable job of keeping the cabin settled. The ride does not feel floaty, nor does it crash over every imperfection. There is a sense of weight to the way it deals with broken surfaces, but the overall ride is well judged. There's enough space for two large adults; three abreast will be an issue. And perhaps that is what makes the updated Model Y more interesting than the sum of its changes. None of the individual updates completely transforms the car. Head and knee room are on the generous side. Torso angle could've been slightly better. The bigger screen does not suddenly make the interior conventional, Grok does not redefine the ownership experience, and the additional ADAS functionality does not turn it into a self-driving car. 8-inch screen for the rear passengers is superbly well done. Adds to the premium quotient. But together with the black upholstery, improved equipment and, most significantly, the Rs 9 lakh reduction in price, they make the Model Y feel better aligned with what buyers expect at this price point.VerdictBy shaving off Rs 9 lakh, Tesla has dramatically sharpened its value proposition. At the same time, the refreshed all-black cabin, bigger 16-inch display, and Grok integration make it feel genuinely ahead of its time. It isn’t a lithe sports car in the bends, but its brisk power delivery, comfortable ride quality over paved undulations, and unmatched tech suite create a unique ownership experience. Unique driving experience along with the tech-first features are strengths for the Tesla Model Y. The variant we drove, Model Y Premium RWD, now costs Rs 50.89 lakh (ex-showroom). All in all, if you want a distinctive, tech-first luxury EV that turns heads, the Model Y is now a more desirable and complete product than its earlier iteration.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine - EndsPublished By: Abhinav JakharPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 09:00 IST