Cheapest Tesla Model Y gets new 373-mile range – but price hiked by £2,000

• New entry-level Tesla Model Y
• Range of up to 373 miles
• Priced from £46,990

The Tesla Model Y has received a useful upgrade for 2024, introducing a significantly longer range to keep it competitive among a growing field of electric SUVs. The entry-level Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive has been dropped in favour of a new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model, which can now do up to 373 miles on a charge.

For context, that’s exactly 90 miles more than the outgoing entry-level car, and more than both the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive and Model Y Performance. The boost in range is the result of a new larger battery pack, combined with low rolling-resistance tyres and an efficiency-boosting heat pump. Tesla claims that the Model Y “sets a new standard for electric SUVs” with its four miles per kWh efficiency figure.

Compared to its rivals, the entry-level Model Y looks to be pretty competitive. The cheapest Polestar 2 – which costs around £45,000 – can muster up to 343 miles of range, while the £47,000 Audi Q4 e-tron tops out at just 216 miles. The Model Y still can’t quite match the Renault Scenic E-Tech, however, which can travel up to 379 miles in Long Range guise. The French family EV is also the cheaper of the two, costing around £41,000. Speaking of price, it’s worth noting that the Tesla’s new battery tech has bumped up the cost of the entry-level model by £2,000 – you now need at least £46,990 to get behind the wheel of a Model Y. 

While a range increase of 90 miles is nothing to be sniffed at, it’s still not enough to land the Tesla Model Y a spot on the list of the longest-range electric cars. Those who want an EV for covering long distances might be better off with the Peugeot E-3008, which manages up to 435 miles of range, or even the Polestar 2 Long Range, which achieves up to 408 miles per charge.

Performance has received a welcome improvement over the outgoing entry-level car, too. The new Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive will crack the 0-60mph benchmark in 5.5 seconds – 1.1 seconds quicker than before – thanks to its 342bhp rear-mounted motor.

Besides that, there are no other changes to report. The exterior and interior styling have remained the same, with a choice of five paint colours, two interior upholstery colours and two wheel designs. UK customers can place an order now, with the first deliveries expected to begin within the next week.

Find out more about the Tesla Model Y’s rivals by reading our list of the best electric family cars…