Is the updated 2026 Tesla Model Y worth buying? We lived with the new Tesla Model Y for 18 months and 11,000 miles to see if its real-world range, efficiency and tech hold up.
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Tesla Model Y Edmunds Review –
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00:00 Intro
00:42 What We Got
01:20 What We Liked
08:27 What We Didn’t Like
15:40 Maintenance & Reliability
15:53 Value
17:34 Edmunds’ Take
After 18 months and 11,000 miles behind the wheel of our 2026 Tesla Model Y Launch Edition, we’ve gathered all the data on what it’s actually like to live with Tesla’s refreshed crossover. Purchased for around $61,000 with dual-motor AWD and Full Self-Driving, our One-Year Road Test vehicle underwent daily commutes, road trips, and real-world range testing to see if the updated “Juniper” generation fixes past flaws.
On the road, the Tesla Model Y delivers outstanding efficiency and performance. It matched its EPA-estimated 327 miles of range in the Edmunds EV Range Test, sipping just 26.8 kWh per 100 miles, while rocketing from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 4.2 seconds. Long-distance road tripping remains effortless thanks to seamless Supercharger access and reliable digital key integration. Inside, cargo versatility is exceptional between the cavernous subfloor storage, spacious front trunk, and power-folding rear seats. Build quality also marks a clear step up over older Teslas, with our white vegan leather seats holding up impressively well.
That said, daily ownership isn’t without headaches. The all-glass roof bakes the cabin on sunny days, the ride remains on the firm side, and adjusting the air vents exclusively through the touchscreen gets tedious. The lack of Apple CarPlay also complicates everyday smartphone tasks. On the financial side, our Model Y required zero dollars in maintenance or repairs, and it held its value well — depreciating 28% to an appraisal of $44,000. Ultimately, earning an Edmunds Rating of 8.2 out of 10, the new Tesla Model Y remains a top-tier electric SUV that easily justifies its price tag.
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Usable tech, plenty of range, easy to charge – there is a lot to like about the Tesla Model Y. However, for some reason, we seemed to drive it less frequently than the other cars in our One-Year Road Test fleet. What gives?
Mike Schmidt probably shouldn’t go outside. EVER. 😂
Biased against Tesla much….? 😂😂
These reviewers would never not pick a Toyota or Honda the way they do a Tesla. I believe they are letting their anti-Musk (and anti-Trump?) sentiment unduly influence their opinion of this vehicle.
9:05 – now we know that all of the doctors you see our total quacks and have no idea what they’re talking about. There is absolutely no way that an endocrinologist would say that the glass roof on a Tesla disrupts your body‘s temperature regulation. Everything disrupts your body’s temperature regulation – including walking outside and anything that is trying to take it away from exactly 98.6°. What a load of nonsense. If your doctors don’t want you driving a Tesla, then you also should not be exposed to any part of nature, including walking outside on a nice sunny day. What a complete load of baloney. Definitely need to put those recommendations into context. Retina? Are you serious? Put on sunglasses and, oh yeah, don’t go outside if you’re scared of sunlight. That was the dumbest segment included in a Tesla review that I’ve ever heard in my entire life, and I’ve watched thousands. All doctors know how to do is prescribe pills for the pharmaceutical companies. They don’t have any sort of training in any of the areas that you ask them to provide advice on. Everybody on both sides of that interaction are complete buffoons. if these doctors truly said the things that you say they did, they probably also believe the Earth is flat.
This was hard to watch and makes me question the integrity of Edmunds, and the intelligence of some of the reviewers. The coverage of FSD seems like they’re trying to make it sound like adaptive cruise control. It does have physical vents… not physical vent controls, car reviewers should get that right. On and on.
The guy complaining about gremlin range loss was an idiot. He is the one who left cabin overheat protection on. If you are concerned about range loss turn off those options. It was a choice to ignore leaving a setting on. It’s the equivalent of being mad that your ICE car won’t start after leaving the headlights on all night.
The lack of apple car play is also a false
flag. The Tesla native system is better than Apple car play.
Not having car play to open your gate is another false flag. Homelink integrates with the Tesla UI. You could turn that argument around if his apartment chose homelink connection instead. You can’t blame a car for multiple third party options.
Having your music follow you is also false. You can have your music pick up from the gym to the car by choosing Bluetooth as your audio content connection.
Needing to constantly adjust the vents. Dude eat a salad once in a while and skip the salt on the fries.
9:14
This whole thing about the sunroof is BS. The glad is e-coated and block most of the UV rays. We shave a Tesla and the glass has never been a problem. But I guess you have to invent some kind of problem.
I'm calling b.s show me dual motor long range 2026 with 11000 miles for $44k it's going for $48k
If you are as dumb as these reviewers, or much more likely corrupt, you definitely should not get a Tesla, your psychiatrist will not allow it.
Seriously Carplay. The vehicle drives itself why do you need direction
I'm not a fan of the glass roof either but it's easy to cover it up with an aftermarket sunshade.
The Model Y interior is completely fine, atleast there's no gloss black plastic like every other car in the market. But the model Y cooled seats are quite loud and vibrate your bottom just like the ones in the Rivian R2.
The $61,000 msrp doesn't include sales tax and interest if you're financing.
3rd Tesla and ordered the new Model Y L for my family of 5. I need the safest and self driving car for them. This review is too nitpicky.
I always marvel at he uninformed slop Edmunds is pushing. The whole tone is so superficial. I see videos of people in their 70s doing a better job than you at describing the model Y, it's feature and the magic of FSD and how it changed their lives. It's like you get paid but don't do the actual work.
I am betting that over one year of driving, this car can drive better than each and every one of you.
Wow, Edmunds has the most ridiculous criticism of the best built, fun to drive, fuel efficient, quietest, non-polluting, best selling, advanced car that is also the only self driving car made. Sorry Edmunds, Tesla won't pay you for a better review. What a bunch of losers!
"It's not as good as fully autonomous vehicles at interpreting signage." ~ Um, you can't really drop a bomb like that without providing proof.
LOL ~ if your doctors don't like the sun, you're seeing the wrong doctors!
Sooooo, does Mike identify as a Gen Zer? I honestly can't take this channel seriously any more.
As for buttons, I used to be a hard core 'more buttons' kinda guy, but after owning a Model Y for the past 19k miles and then spending the past week in a RX350, I find the find extra buttons really unnecessary, if not infuriating – especially when trying to activate the RX's smart cruise control. It requires an unintuitive sequence of taps and pulls of a lever in 4 different axis to control (like an automotive equivalent of the Simon game – yes Mike, I'm just as old, if not older than you), while Teslas FSD can be be turned on or off with a single button push in of the steering wheel scroll wheel and the various speed modes by rolling said scroll wheel.
Buttons are even less needed with the latest update/download this week with the Tesla; I now can control almost everything with natural conversation, such as 'Hey Grok (or long press the microphone steering wheel button for you fossils out there), I'm feeling a bit cold, could you make the AC a little warmer, and while you're at it, can you add a stop to the navigation route at the closest psychiatrist, I'm feeling a bit down now that the sun has decided to hide behind some clouds this afternoon, just before the stop at '$10 Cup O Coffee Java Joint'?'
Sounds like alot of user error, and you wanna blame the car 😂😂
I donf even own a tesla (yet) but then one of my coworkers was like the mainstream media hates tesla because tesla doesnt bring in ad money, so you will only hear bad reviews from journalists. Thats when i started noticing and its becoming very apparent.
Complaining about the garage door opener lol 😂really
The FSD doesn't drive itself? It sure as hell does. Whoever writes your scripts needs to take the word "pretty" out of your vocabulary. Recently watched a video with Brian and instead of praising what should be praised, everything was "pretty" good. What does that mean exactly? It's ok? It's great? It's middling? Use words that have meaning.
I'm no Tesla fanboy. Never wanted an EV. Bought my wife a 2026 CRV Sport Touring. Great MPG. Aside from that, basic garbage. Weak engine, weird controls, etc. Not even pretty good. Gave it to our daughter and took a chance on a 2026 MY Premium. Steering feel is incredible. Handling excellent. Ride an excellent combination of control and comfort.
FSD absolutely, unequivocally unmatched. Drives better than any human can.
So stop the BS nitpicking for nitpicking sake and give credit where credit is due.
The new Y has better driving feel-period!
Both smart summon and cabin overheat protection can be disabled in settings. So you have options.
And what about that guy with sunscreen protection? How does he review convertible cars then because he must be complaining about all convertible cars then while they are open.
All these issues seem pretty irrelevant and made up, here is why:
-glass roof… if it bothers you, there are pop in sunshades. I prefer my glass roof to be open, but if I have to drive for hours through the deserts, I’d pop a sunshade ($50) in to cover it up from sun/glare/heat…
-FSD (reason why I purchased my Tesla) is not perfect, but damn close. If you’re tired of long distance tracel, it definitely is for you. Works great in cities too, but due to preference, usualy taking o er near destination is way to go.
As far as speed goes, go to settings and adjust the speed offset, also you can scroll easily through the modes Sloth-Chill-Standard-Hurry-Mad Max
-power hungry gremlins… well… if you have a gas car, do you leave it running for 3 days to cool it down? Come on turn it off. ai only use it when going to a store, to keep the cabin cool for when I return, or when going to the beach and car would sit in the direct sun for 6 hours. If you’re low on battery, or worry draining it, just turn the A/C on 10 minuts prior to returning to your car via app.
-Carplay… it would be nice to have, but after using on all my other vehicles, I wish I had the option, but don’t really need it… well maybe for Waze it would be good, other apps, not necessarily…
For me going from Honda Odyssey and VW GTI, Model Y is best of both worlds. My Model Y Performance is much faster than 2021 GTI (traded in) and almost as practical as my 2019 Odyssey (sits in front of my house for 360 days out of a year). And FSD (yes, supervised) is cherry on top.
P.s. I hate the turn signal stock, wish it was like any other car I had, and wipers randomly swiping over dry, possibly dirty windshield is not optimal, my only two issues with the car, but all the benefits outscore the cons.
Dear @edmundscars, great content. Any plans to do a long term review of the Model Y L?
If you don’t like the full glass top, do what we do in Arizona and buy one of the easy to install sunshades that’s under 50 bucks. Problem solved
.
I hated the harsh ride of the older MY and the seats didn’t help. They should make a comfort model with softer seats, softer suspension, and tires with more sidewall.
The new Model Y is by far the very best car in almost every aspect you can buy today. People who want to stick to outdated technology and ICE driven cars, I feel bad for you missing out. It only takes one 30 minutes test drive to see what you are missing
It shouldn't be called FULL self-driving. That's like calling something a fake real Gucci or illegal legal act.
Until at least level 4, it's SUPERVISED SELF-DRIVING.
I don't have wifi in my parking spot. And if the car needs an update, the car will sometimes (not always), draw up to 5% of my battery per day because it will hunt for wifi all day and never 'go to sleep'.
What gives is that you guys drive and review cars for a living. If it was your only vehicle and daily driver, you would probably have a different perspective. Most people aren’t constantly comparing and contrasting dozens of different makes & models.
The ironic part about you guys complaining about car play and Tesla is the whole reason I don't have an Apple at all. Apple doesn't play well with others. You do things the APPLE WAY or you don't do them at all. And now that you have a device that doesn't play well with others, you're complaining about another system that also doesn't want to play with others. Now you do things the Tesla way.
I bought the original iPhone and immediately abandoned it. At that time, it was because they forced me to use iTunes (remember that). You had to do EVERYTHING through iTunes. Later, things improved, but you are still forced to do things the Apple way.
Tesla wasn't as big an issue because I didn't store music and photos and movies and books on it. But same philosophy.
It’s OK, you can hate Elon and still love the car 😂
SoCal whiners – “sear my retinas”, “didn’t dodge the roadkill”, “my head is bouncing”, “i LiKe aiR BloWinG aRoUnd Me”
Blatantly lying.
I bought a Model S in 2013. And a 2020 last year. The build quality then was garbage (relatively – still better than cars made in the 80s and earlier) and it still was in 2020.
HOWEVER, they are still awesome tech and the battery tech is, in my opinion, far superior to ICE tech.
But I'd never buy a brand new one. The depreciation is ridiculous.
My 2020 Model S Performance (with FSD) cost me $34K last year. It was 5 years old, 41K miles – drive train and battery still under warranty for 3 more years (or 109K miles). Brand new, cost about $115-120K! That's more than 75% depreciation in 5 years!!!
Now I have a car that was one of the two quickest cars on the planet when it was introduced, one of the ten or so quickest in the world now. And it drives itself and I never have to change oil. And now that all the depreciation happened, it depreciates about as fast as a Toyota Camry now (actually my car has appreciated in the last year due to fuel prices and the upgrading of FSD tech).
The headrest problem is real and solved with small neck pillows, under $50. The air vent complaint is real but over amplified, it's not that bad. The ride seems ok but I don't have the launch addition. The roof is solved with roof shades and it's wonderful on a cooler day to see the sky. Grok integration is so so so cool. FSD isn't perfect MEH. The Ioniq 5? The software is crap no fsd and the ICCU issue makes it an ev to avoid.
all true, all Tesla seats have that bouncy headrest, I just stop using the headrest. They need to changes their seats
I don’t like this review
8:46. Is this a skit? This part can’t be serious
Turn signal complaint is one of the dumbest things I’ve heard
If they would ever put a front instrument panel on this I might consider buying one but until then I’ll pass.
I do not want only a massive iPad screen stuck to the dash as my only visual sorry.
It's Full Self driving SUPERVISED.
Pro tip: drag the front defrost icon down to the bottom of the screen – then you have a quick shortcut if your window starts fogging up
I bought 4 ModelYs. Model a late 2023 for myself, but my wife drove it so much that I made her buy her own in 2025. Then got a juniper right before the tax credits ended, and gave my 2023 to my daughter. With the federal and Colorado incentives, all 3 of these Model Y were $37k. Then bought a used 2023 Model Y in Jan 2026 for my son. They’ve all been great and no issues. It’s a perfect car.