Because the car had not been substantially updated in almost five years, it no longer offered such an obvious usability and performance advantage over its rivals.
At launch the Model Y’s maximum 331-mile range was seen as a headline attribute, but was eventually matched by cheaper rivals. Last year’s new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant, with 373 miles of range, slightly plugged that gap but was still not enough to beat the Peugeot e-3008’s 434 miles.
Tesla says the new look has been conceived to “maximise efficiency, using every kilowatt-hour more effectively” and claims the new suspension, wheels and tyres will help in this endeavour.
The car’s drag coefficient (Cd) is said to have been reduced from 0.23 to 0.22, keeping it as one of the market’s slipperiest cars. This should boost range and reduce wind noise.
The revised Model Y is also 47mm longer than the current car, at 4797mm, but a scant 1mm narrower, at 1624mm wide.
Inside, the crossover follows its saloon sibling in being treated to a subtle refresh of its materials and technology, rather than a wide-reaching overhaul.
There is now a touchscreen in the rear, for example, and the back seats fold electrically. The fronts are now ventilated too and can be upholstered in new fabrics that “make you relax as if you are floating in space”, according to Tesla.