UK Tesla Model Y Standard: The £42k Budget EV Mistake or Genius?
My Tesla Referral Link:
Is the new entry-level Tesla Model Y Standard worth saving your money, or did Tesla cut too many corners?
In this video, we break down the UK-spec base model starting at £41,990.
We look at what you lose—like the rear screen, ambient lighting, and light bars—and what you keep, including access to the amazing Tesla Supercharger Network.
For full pricing and alternative specs, check out the detailed What Car? Model Y Guide.
Verdict: Should you buy the Standard or go Premium?
📋 What’s Changed in the UK Standard Model?
Price: Starts at £41,990 (saves around £3,000 to £7,000 over higher trims)
Exterior: No front or rear LED light bars; simpler bumper and headlight design
Interior: Covered glass roof headliner, cloth/partial leather seats, no rear touchscreen
Audio & Comfort: 7 speakers instead of 9+, manual steering column adjustment, no heated rear seats
Practicality: Smaller fibrous front boot (frunk)
👍 Like the video if this helped you decide, and subscribe for more UK EV reviews!
#tesla #ModelY #ElectricVehicles #CarReview #UKCars
Main channel topics are EV information and EV news, also how to repair Electric cars and crash damaged EVs.
source
Hello, "grouchthatsparx" I was analyzing your channel and saw that in your channel have some problem, That's why your channel is not much growing and not getting much engagement, If you can solve these problems, Your channel will grow like a storm. If you tell I can tell these problems. Where can I tell? Here or ig or where?
Can you review a highland model 3 (non-standard) please?
This is why I got a fully loaded 2023 MYLR
Its a different glass roof you are correct
Given most people buy these on finance its actually currently a good deal. Tesla are offering £2.5k discount and 0% apr for 4 years. With a £5k deposit and 10'000 miles a year that works out at £320 a year on a PCP deal. The next model up (RWD premium) would be another £165 a month extra based on the same figures. If you saved that money and invested it over 4 years you would have well over £8k in the bank. Yes its looses the sunroof, heated rear seat, rear console, different frunk etc but technology wise you still get the main tesla driving experience…. and potentially FSD (supervised) if this gets approved next year. There isnt another car out there at this price that can do full FSD (supervised) once the EU / UK government approve it.
well we have the usual data released early by New Automative and it is great !! wait for usual video mate …
feels really cheap… my corolla has more features.
The front design with the light bar is really ugly (Standard version is a bit better). Plus, you can't even lift your foot off the accelerator, otherwise the car stops right away (Tesla doesn't support coasting, nor does it regenerate power through the brake pedal). And those are far from all the downsides of this car, just the main ones. It's a shame, because otherwise, it would be a great car.
I know its bottom of the range but £42k for that? No thanks. There are much better options now for the money.
Ready for the SMMT figures tomorrow Mr Grouch? I’ve no idea what they will be but I am looking forward to:
If EV sales are down, Barrie will put out a video saying it proves EVs are over.
If EV sales are flatlined, Barrie will put out a video saying it proves EVs are over.
If EV sales are up, Barrie will put out a video saying it proves EVs are over.
If petrol sales are up, Barrie will put out a video saying it proves EVs are over.
If petrol sales are down, Barrie will put out a video saying it proves EVs are over.
I think that covers the Barrie methodology! 😅
You forgot to mention that the steering adjustment is manual, the seats are not cooled, rear seats aren’t heated and the rear screen is gone.
I have the long range version of this model. LOVE IT
China is wiping the floor with Tesla….their boss stopped being interested in cars, so Teslas have become old fashioned rip- offs.
Holy Christ, Brexit has really screwed you guys over. That’s essentially $78k CAD. You could get a Model Y Performance for that, and I just bought this model exactly for $45k CAD. 😟
Interesting new report out by the AA, don't know if you've seen it, on the large growth jump (volume and percentage wise) in private registration of BEVs. Report it titled "private ev ownership record quarterly rise".
It's based on DVLA/DfT published data, so covers the first quarter of the year, with an increase of +271k private BEVs in Q1 2026 over Q1 2027. With now some 860k being officially deemed 'private keepership' BEVs on the UK roads, which means 45.6% of BEVs on the road as at the end of Q1 were privately registered ones.
So much for claims of "no one's buying them", even when those making the claims seem only to consider "sales" being private vehicles. Of course they'll move the goalposts again to only seek to count those "sold" via dealerships (even if on finance).
Interestingly, Wales is leading the pack of the UK countries, with 55.1% increase in private ownership Q1 2026 over Q1 2025, but England has the majority of the volume change (mainly in the east-midlands and northern parts).
(p.s. the AA reports talks about EVs but I've checked the data source and the figures used are those for battery electric vehicles only, and exclude plug-in hybrids and EREVs).
That’s the first standard model I’ve seen with a light headlining, all the car’s I’ve seen have a black headliner that gives an interior that is darker than a coal mine.
I would love this car, but I don't have £42,000 🤔
No matter how any YouTuber says this model isn’t worth it for what you lose,yeah fine in America,Australia or wherever FSD is available but here in the U.K it’s terrible compared to other manufacturers especially the Chinese (which the Americans don’t have the competition YET!).
Some of the reasons why I replaced my 2023 Model Y RWD with a Model 3 Premium Dual Motor. Much better spec car, lower monthly on the lease with the same deposit, the only downside is the lower carrying capacity, which I don’t need very often. Oh and the much improved performance on the 3, not that I need more, I am 70 next year after all 😂😂😂😂
It's also important to note that the Base Model Y is a lower and cheaper insurance group.
As a no frills taxi, it would be ok. As a proper family car, no thanks, I'd be ashamed to lift the bonnet up.
Great Video it gave me more insight to the car. I tried this model myself in Cardiff about a month ago. It felt good to drive but a little cheap in places. Would you know how it compares to a 2024 model which has the better spec and whether there’s much difference in the suspension?
£42k mistake or genius?. Ripoff. Got to keep the CEO happy and wealthy.
so its simple for £??? more you get what and is it worth it. or is the standard one better than what specs a standard petrol car would have.
just on screen and software it would be silly to have more than 1 standard on all software type as this add more cost to them upgrading each model level.
So really what I ask is what you dont have do you wish you had or does it just not matter as you would not use even if you had it.
is there Not a 3rd party tesla parcel shelf. there seems to be lots of other NON tesla made items you can buy.
may be look into what you could get.
Good video, however I will keep my 22 MY premium rear wheel drive which is so much better.
I’d be tempted to find another couple of grand and go for a G6 long range. Giving up some efficiency. But gaining on charging speed and equipment. And no froot.
Tesla sales rep told us the saving on the roof is not needing the coating on the glass , he reckoned about £1000