Tesla Model Y - Boot space, comfort & practicality

Tesla has managed to maximise the packaging benefits that come with small electric motors and a flat battery pack beneath the floor, which means the Model Y is hugely spacious inside.

Dimensions and size

The Tesla Model Y is a large family car, measuring 4,751mm long and 1,921mm wide, while its Audi Q4 e-tron rival is 163mm shorter and 113mm narrower. If you’re not a fan of parking up in tight spaces or navigating through crowded urban streets, then the Model Y may feel a little unwieldy, although it's definitely more user-friendly than its bigger Tesla Model X sibling.

How practical is the Tesla Model Y?

Seats & space in the front

The dashboard line is fairly low, which means that the view ahead is very good. This is in contrast to the tiny back window, so what goes on behind the driver is much more of a mystery - it’s not helped by the lack of rear windscreen wiper. Fortunately, a range of cameras makes parking in tight spots a fairly stress-free process.

Seats & space in the back

A completely flat floor makes the back seat area feel very roomy – even with three people sitting on the bench. While the smaller Model 3 suffers from a high floor relative to the seat base, there are no such issues here; that means taller occupants will still feel comfortable. Plenty of foot room beneath the front seats helps, too.

For around £2,500 extra, buyers of the Long Range AWD model can add a third row to turn the Model Y into a seven-seater. With smaller exterior dimensions, it’s not going to be as versatile as a Model X, and Tesla clearly states that the rearmost row is for kids, with headroom likely to be the biggest issue. The middle row slides forward for access, while the rear seat backs fold to leave a completely flat load area.

Boot space

Tesla only quotes a boot volume that extends to the roof rather than the window-line figure that most other brands use, so the very generous-looking 854-litre volume needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. 

However, the space on offer is still enormous compared with most rivals, and the neat, square load area and relatively low boot lip are very well thought out. Better still, there’s another smaller storage space in the car’s nose, which means that it’s possible to keep the dirty charging cables separate from the rest of the luggage.

Towing

All three versions of the Model Y can pull a 1,600kg braked trailer, according to Tesla, beating the VW ID. Buzz, which can only manage a 1,200kg towing capacity in standard form. However, the Model Y is only offered with a fixed towbar for around £1,000, not a retractable one like the ID. Buzz.