Tesla announces more affordable entry-level Model Y Standard

The EV sector has been developing as the uptake in electric vehicles has gradually increased each year. The technology has improved, the concept has had time to establish itself in the collective consciousness, and more importantly, availability of more attractively prices electric cars is increasing, charging networks are expanding, and there is more choice than ever across almost every manufacturer’s model lineup. Which is probably what has triggered the introduction of Tesla’s new entry-level offering, the Model Y Standard.

The Tesla Model Y Standard joins the UK product line up as a replacement for the current Model Y Rear Wheel Drive version. Tesla has specifically targeted the overall cost of driving the new Model Y Standard, with a lower list price offering more affordable lease options, and the lowest insurance group rating for a Tesla in the UK.

You don’t have to delve too deeply into the history books to a time when the name Tesla was almost synonymous with the electric car. That position came from the market-leading approach that saw it develop into the first EV-specific brand to become a household name. At a time when it largely had the market to itself and could attract global attention, Tesla made the most of its position to build market share in a new segment.

In recent years, however, the rest of the market has caught up. The established players in the automotive world have developed their own EV ranges, and the Chinese car industry has embraced the new technology to create a host of new brand names and an ever-increasing range of affordable EVs. The introduction of a new model specifically aimed to compete at the entry level highlights Tesla’s determination to protect its status as an EV pioneer.

The new Model Y Standard will sit in the revised lineup below the Model Y Premium – which will still be available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configuration – and the range-topping Model Y Performance.

New front and rear detailing give the Model Y Standard its own identity within the lineup, while the interior features new soft-touch textile seats and a large storage space between the front seats provides room for everyday belongings. Model Y Standard also sits on 19-inch Crossflow Wheels in the UK, rather than the 18-inch wheels offered in other countries. It also comes as standard with a suite of Tesla features, including remote mobile app access, and Trip Planner with real-time Supercharger availability.

The Model Y Standard also boasts a variety of gaming and entertainment options including a Phone Key function and remote climate control for comfort and convenience, a sentry mode offering additional security, and even a Dog Mode that will monitor the internal temperature to ensure it’s safe for your pets to travel. Model Y Standard also offers over-the-air updates to continually enhance the vehicle, introducing new features and improving existing ones.

With overall cost being at the heart of the new model, it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear the new version is also the most efficient Model Y ever.

Offering a power consumption of around 4.5 miles per kWh and a range of 314 miles, leasing the new Tesla Model Y Standard means you can squeeze even more miles from every penny spent on charging. And as mentioned earlier, Tesla has also tailored Model Y Standard to reduce running costs even further, limiting the top speed and acceleration slightly to ensure it drops into a lower insurance group rating.

And if you are interested in leasing a new Tesla Model Y Standard for yourself, order books should be opening sometime in January with the first customer deliveries expected to commence in February.