Welcome to the Tesla Model Y—America’s answer to “What if your car could drive itself, play Netflix, heat your bum, scare your dog, charge your phone, and still somehow make you feel cooler than a Rolls-Royce owner?” This, dear reader, is not a car. It’s a tech bro on wheels, a Silicon Valley spirit trapped in a crossover SUV shell, and now, in its 2025 facelifted glory, it’s landed in India with enough features to make your iPhone feel insecure.
The one you’re looking at is the rear-wheel-drive variant, priced ex-showroom at ₹59.89 lakh. A pricier ₹67.89 lakh gets you the Long Range RWD variant, but honestly, unless you’re regularly commuting between Delhi and Badrinath, the base version does the job—fast, smooth, and silently judging your ICE car.
Before we even get into the drive, let’s appreciate the bragging rights: The best-selling EV in the world, with over 22 lakh units sold, and in 2023, it even dethroned the Toyota Corolla to become the world’s best-selling car. This isn’t just a car; this is the Beyoncé of the automotive world—universally loved, aggressively efficient, and surprisingly vegan.
Underneath its clean, cyber-smooth curves designed by Franz von Holzhausen (who’s basically the Leonardo da Vinci of Tesla), lies 76% of a Model 3. Yes, it’s more a stretched remix than a brand-new symphony, but that hasn’t stopped it from conquering driveways in over 30 countries. Made in USA, China, and Germany, and perhaps soon India, if sales hit the sweet spot (read: if your nani and her kitty party start discussing Tesla over chai).
This facelift brings a sleeker look, a full-width DRL light bar, adaptive headlights, and new-age Giga Press rear castings—think of it like Tesla’s Hulk smashing welding robots out of existence to create a single, strong, and stiff rear body. And yes, all of this is served with a choice of paint colors priced like you’re booking a room at the Taj—up to ₹1.85 lakh extra if you don’t like standard grey.
Pop the hood and you’ll find… no engine. Instead, there’s a 116-litre frunk, perfect for a gym bag, a backpack, or your in-laws’ emotional baggage. The real action is in the back, with a 60 kWh LFP battery delivering 295 bhp, 420 Nm torque, and a 0-100 kmph sprint in 5.9 seconds. The Long Range variant takes it a notch up with 335 bhp, 450 Nm torque, and 622 km range—enough to do Mumbai to Ahmedabad and still have battery left to play Candy Crush.
Now, this car doesn’t like petrol stations. It charges faster than your friend at a wedding buffet. From 0 to 70% in just 24 minutes on a 250 kW DC charger. That’s barely enough time to finish your Starbucks latte.
Driving the Model Y feels like floating on confidence and caffeine. Retuned second-gen suspension makes it more comfortable than before—unless you’re an old-school uncle who likes the feel of potholes under his spine. The single-speed automatic transmission, three drive modes (Chill, Standard, Sport), and regen braking mean you can drive with one pedal and two brain cells. But do use more if engaging Autopilot, because although it’s tempting to let the ₹6 lakh Full Self Driving do the work, India’s cows, potholes, and rickshaws aren’t in Tesla’s simulation database—yet.
Inside, it’s a tech wonderland. A 15.4-inch central touchscreen does everything except make chai (we’re waiting, Elon). It runs Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Tesla Theater, Live Weather Maps, and even has a camp mode, in case your partner throws you out of the house. New for 2025 is an 8-inch rear screen for gaming, AC, and Bluetooth. There’s ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, soft-touch dash, power-adjustable ventilated seats, and vegan leather upholstery—because why stop at not using petrol when you can also save cows?
The music system has 9 speakers pumping 560 watts, perfect for pretending you’re in a Coldplay concert while stuck in Gurgaon traffic. Storage? Oh, don’t worry. There’s 822 litres of boot space and a mind-boggling 2022 litres if you fold the rear seats. So whether it’s IKEA furniture or emotional baggage, the Model Y can carry it all.
And safety? Arre bhai! With 7 airbags, Euro NCAP and NHTSA 5-star ratings, and a crash structure stronger than your Wi-Fi password, you’re in good hands. There’s Autopilot with 8 cameras, Collision Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Warning, and the infamous Sentry Mode—which keeps an eye on everyone and everything except nosy neighbors.
Oh, and did we mention there’s no physical key? You get a key card, a smartphone app, and if you want a key fob, well… that’s another ₹8,500. Because in Tesla’s world, even unlocking your car is an accessory.
In short, the Tesla Model Y is a tech-laden, vegan-leather-wrapped, self-driving, voice-controlled, Bluetooth-blasting, gaming-enabled spaceship that happens to be disguised as a crossover. Sure, it rides a bit stiff, the steering’s a bit video-gamey, and the price tag could buy you a Goa shack. But if you’re someone who wants to drive the future—or let the future drive you—this is the EV to flaunt.
Just don’t try opening the door in a power cut. It’s… complicated.
