The Compact Electric SUV That Doesn’t Sacrifice Interior Space

The electric vehicle (EV) shift didn’t just introduce a new powertrain, but also a completely new way of building vehicles. Today, there are two types of EVs: those built using platforms of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars adopted for EV use, and those built on top of bespoke EV platforms. The latter has the biggest space utilization advantage since a bespoke EV platform no longer considers an ICE and its accompanying components.

As a result, many EVs these days have an interior that defies their exterior dimensions. Cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 have a sliding center console since it doesn’t have a transmission tunnel, while a Tesla Model Y, despite being a compact jellybean-styled compact electric crossover, is spacious enough to accommodate an optional third-row seat. Speaking of compact crossovers, this is the most popular segment by far in the United States. Eight models are part of the 25 best-selling cars of 2024 as of October of last year, and all of these models are huge sellers. Only one of those eight models is electric, and this electric compact crossover also happens to be the model whose interior space defies its size.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Tesla and other authoritative sources.

Tesla’s Model Y Defies Space Expectations

106 Cubic Feet Of Cabin Space At Your Disposal

The compact electric crossover whose interior space defies its exterior dimensions is the Tesla Model Y. It’s an electric crossover that has become a global star for its stratospheric sales rise, eventually becoming the world’s best-selling car in 2023. Will it repeat the same feat in 2024? That’s what we’ll probably find out in the coming months, but for now, here’s what you need to know about its interior space.

A Spacious Jellybean

The

Tesla Model Y may have swoopy jellybean-like styling
, but even when compared to other EVs that are boxier like the Ioniq 5, the Model Y obliterates the competition. In terms of passenger volume, the Ioniq 5 leads the pack by a mere 0.5 cubic feet, but when taking into account cargo capacity, the Model Y dwarfs the entire competition, especially when it comes to cargo capacity when the second row is folded.

Even if fitted with the optional third row, the Model Y offers class-leading cargo capacity, owing to how much space Tesla’s engineers have managed to eke out of its platform. Also contributing to this is its extremely low cargo area floor, and though these dimensions don’t take into account the available underfloor storage of these EVs, the Model Y also has the largest of them all.

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What You Get In A Model Y

The current Tesla Model Y has been on sale since 2020, which makes this a five-year-old EV. To Tesla’s credit, though it didn’t receive any major aesthetic upgrades, incremental improvements such as more efficient electric motors, improved batteries, and of course, the aforementioned heat pump and Gigacasting manufacturing method, have helped the Model Y stay relevant and reach new heights as it ages.

Sleek Looks, Minimalist Interior

The Tesla Model Y has remained largely unchanged from a design standpoint, and if 2024 sales indicate anything, the

Juniper update
needs to arrive soon. Sure, it still looks sleek, but with the Model 3 already receiving a mid-cycle facelift, the Model Y is starting to lose its design luster. There are six color choices, two-wheel design options ranging from 19 to 20 inches in size (21 inches for the Performance trim), and two interior color options to match your personal taste.

As for the interior, the Model Y follows the brand’s cost-cutting design principle that’s disguised as minimalism. The control layout–or lack thereof, may be polarizing for some, but it’s something you’ll get used to eventually. There’s a large 15.4-inch infotainment screen running Tesla’s proprietary operating system. While it doesn’t come with any smartphone mirroring features, it’s so slick and easy to use anyway, and it comes with all the apps that are built into your smartphone anyway. The materials used are also pretty good, though build quality can be hit-or-miss in some places. It’s also a vegan-friendly interior since no animals were harmed in making its upholstery.​​​​​​​

New Powertrain Configurations

Tesla seems to never be content with its powertrain configurations for its models, but for its latest round of updates, the Model Y increases its value proposition even further. That’s because the best variant in our opinion, the Long Range RWD, has returned to be the base variant of the Model Y. With 337 miles of range and a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time, this is the best Model Y you can get. For those looking for all-weather traction, the Long Range AWD has you covered, while thrill-seekers should be very happy with the Performance variant and its upgraded wheels, brakes, chassis, and suspension components.

Innovative Manufacturing Methods

Another factor that contributes to its spacious interior is Tesla’s Gigacasting manufacturing method as well as other simplification measures that reduce the Model Y’s parts utilization. The Model Y’s body needs far fewer welding spots, whilst also having a cutting-edge thermal management system for its battery and the climate control known as its heat pump. It’s a very efficient method of heating the cabin when needed since it’s a much simpler thermal management system than what’s found in other cars, whether EV or ICE.

This heat pump
is also mechanically simple, thus enabling Tesla’s engineers to carve out a lot of space for the passenger cell as opposed to dedicating it to other vehicle components.

Furthermore, the heat pump is extremely energy efficient, drawing just one-third of the power out of the Model Y’s battery versus the traditional method of heating. Key to this is the octovalve. This eliminates the typical air-to-refrigerant condenser, which has been replaced by an air-to-glycol-based-coolant low-temperature radiator. So that’s one airflow direction covered to cool the cabin, but what about heating? Well, to oversimplify it, the octovalve turns around and reverses the airflow, thus introducing heating into the cabin.

A Facelift Is Reportedly Coming Out Soon

Yes, the Model Y is now a five-year-old car, but Tesla is reportedly preparing a mid-cycle facelift for its best-selling EV. Unofficially dubbed the “Juniper” update, prototypes of the upcoming facelifted Model Y have already been spotted on the road, which means that its launch date is already very close. The question now is, should you wait for the updated Model Y, or should you satisfy your itch of purchasing a Model Y already and splurge for the current model?

Here’s Why You May Want To Wait

Unfortunately, the spy shots tell little about what we can expect from the upcoming Model Y, but if we dig through the covered sections of the vehicle, the long-rumored full-width LED taillight design seems to be part of the mid-cycle facelift. The front end is a lot more obscured, unfortunately, but it seems Tesla won’t simply adopt the Model 3’s updates into their popular crossover SUV.

As for the interior, that’s an even more difficult puzzle to solve, since there are no interior spy shots of the updated Model Y as of this writing. The most likely changes, though, will be the new LED ambient lighting, the slightly improved screen, and the new rear passenger screen that have been implemented in the new Model 3.

Here’s Why You May Want The Current Model

While the mid-cycle facelift of the Model 3 is mostly welcome, there have been a few changes that aren’t as well-received. Gone are the stalks of the Model 3, since the controls for the lights and wipers have all been migrated to the steering wheel. Even the electronic gear shifter has been ditched in favor of putting these into the infotainment screen or on the overhead console. Once again, this is cost-cutting disguised as minimalism, and if you’re not a fan of this control layout, that’s one of the reasons you may want to stick with the current Model Y.