Tesla Model Y Performance: the first Tesla made in Germany in the test

Long announced and long delayed (like most of Elon Musk’s projects, gossip will say), the Tesla factory in Berlin is finally producing cars. Or more precisely, at present, a very specific type of car: the Model Y Performance, black, with a black interior… Waiting for more diversity very soon, as well as an area of ​​this Gigafactory dedicated to the construction of battery cells. It is therefore one of the very first copies (among the first 3,000 products), which we had the leisure to try out for a long time. This new assembly line coincides with the launch of the marketing in Europe of the most powerful version of the electric SUV family.

What distinguishes a Tesla Model Y produced in Berlin from the same model produced in Shanghai, such as the first one we were able to try (read our test of the Tesla Model Y Long Autonomy)? Not much to be honest. The manufacturing quality, long mocked at Tesla, sometimes unfairly, lives up to expectations. On the inside, materials and assemblies give complete satisfaction. And on the outside, the gaps between body panels are about regular. Less adjusted to the millimeter than with the most manic manufacturers, but much more precise than on the first Model 3s landed in France three years ago.

Convincing quality for this Tesla Model Y produced in Berlin

A few specifics reveal that the car is constantly evolving: a luggage cover (not very practical to handle) appears in the trunk, while the seats are very slightly modified in their design to offer better support. These new features brought to the Berlin plant will then be applied to other production lines. In short, a Tesla Model Y produced in Berlin advances the same manufacturing quality as its brothers from Fremont or Shanghai. This is both reassuring and worth emphasizing, given how chaotic the setting up of factories can sometimes be.

The differences between this Model Y Performance and the Model Y Grande Autonomie already known are more obvious, although subtle. Inside, there is only an aluminum crankset that stands out. On the outside, the novelties are limited to a lowered ground clearance, headlights with a black background, a rear spoiler in carbon fiber and 21-inch “Uberturbine” rims. Certainly splendid, these wheels are unfortunately very exposed during parking maneuvers, since they protrude from the tire. The slightest friction against a pavement results in a scratch on the black paint. Note, however, that these rims are a good part of the appeal of this version, sold for 66,990 euros. Because if the Long Autonomy version starts at 62,990 euros, the simple fact of choosing the optional 20-inch “Induction” rims reduces the gap with the Model Y Performance at 1,900 euros. On paper, the relevance is therefore obvious.

Versailles-Nantes without charging a Tesla Model Y, it’s possible!

Before determining whether or not this new version deserves its Performance label, it was already necessary to clarify a crucial point, that of autonomy. Indeed, Tesla announces a drop at this level, on the WLTP cycle: 514 km against 533 km for the Model Y Long Autonomy. In fact, we did not notice a higher consumption on this new version. With 18 kWh/100 km on the road and 20.5 kWh/100 km on the highway at 130 km/h, this Model Y excels in sobriety, like all Teslas. In addition, the battery has evolved compared to the first versions put on the market, now with a total capacity of 78.9 kWh (including 75 kWh useful), measured with our technical partner Moba. What to hope for autonomy of 415 km on the road and 365 km on the highway, without any margin. We were also able to verify this last figure by ourselves, rallying Versailles to Nantes in one go, without loading, and without driving below the speed limits. Electric cars capable of doing the same can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Also, the charging speed is better than on the first Model Y: on the v3 Superchargers, we go from 10% to 80% charge in 32 minutes, and it takes about twenty additional minutes for the full tank. We simply regret a drop in power at the end of the charge more marked than on the first Model 3.

If the excellent versatility of the Model Y does not change, this Performance version promises more power… Which is very difficult to quantify since Tesla does not communicate any technical data! According to bench tests carried out by American owners, the power would amount to just over 500 hp, against 440 hp on the Long Range version. This clearly gives the Model Y Performance the stripes of a sporty SUV… A finding that also applies to the Model Y Long Autonomy! And this is where the game gets tough for the newcomer. Of course, he announces impressive accelerations and pick-ups, (0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, 80 km/h to 120 km/h in 2.6 s) but the Model Y Long Autonomy (respectively 5.0 s and 3.3 s) already shone in matter. In short, we are glued to the seat at startup, but the difference is not obvious between the two versions, unless you go from one to the other immediately. This SUV can leave most sports cars in place under acceleration, but it lacks stretch beyond 160 km/h compared to thermal rivals of the same power, even if the verified top speed of 250 km/h is respectable, especially for an electric model.

Increased comfort, but less rigorous behavior

The first surprise at the wheel of this Tesla Model Y Performance concerns comfort. Despite a lowered base, it is indeed more comfortable than the Model Y Grande Autonomie tried previously. A height! The suspension certainly remains firm, but passengers no longer have to suffer the tiring tremors known so far on this SUV. The springs seem less stiff, and the damping better calibrated. However, not everything is perfect… In sporty driving, the Model Y Performance seemed to us even less rigorous than its brother. The fault lies in part with the fitting of asymmetric tires (255/35 R 21 at the front, 275/35 R 21 at the rear), for which we have trouble finding justification on a model with all-wheel drive, which more is to the ideal weight distribution. The Long Range Model Y has 255mm wide tires on all four corners.

Result: the rear is too grounded compared to the front. This translates into understeer when accelerating, and a lack of bite from the front axle when entering large curves. You are then tempted to keep your foot on the brake on corner entry. But this fairly heavy Model Y (1,995 kg) is sensitive to mass transfer, and the rear axle lacks rebound hold, due to a damping that is a little too loose. On bumpy roads, you literally have to struggle to keep the car on its trajectory under braking, which is not easy: the steering, both direct and very locked around the midpoint, complicates the dosage of corrections. Also, in tight sequences, the car should be stabilized for a fraction of a second by keeping the steering wheel straight, otherwise it will be dragged away by inertia. At this rate, the brakes (although reinforced) do not hold the pace for long. After about ten kilometers of fast driving, the pedal began to soften, immediately triggering the emergency brake assist whenever a little bit of bite was required, which made the dosage impossible. Already, the pads were starting to smoke… We remember having chained laps of the circuit at full speed with an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Verde, without the brakes failing. In short, the Tesla Model Y is a fast SUV, but not a sporty SUV.

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Do not believe that this Model Y Performance suffers from poor road behavior. These limits are only noticeable at a rate that most customers will probably not dare to keep up. This SUV always turns out healthy and rather agile for a model of this size. By taking care to slow down a little in advance of the turns and to accelerate early, it comes out of the curves happily, even if the electronic engine management seems, there too, a little less fine than on the Model Y Long Autonomy: the clamping of the torque linked to the angle of the steering wheel is a little too noticeable. In short, the pleasure is there behind the wheel of this Model Y Performance. In itself, this is a great car and even the best electric SUV. But we regret that its development is not as clear as that of its little brother, which nevertheless promises less! All the same, the low price difference and its superior comfort plead for this Performance version. And as everything is going very quickly at Tesla, we can hope for future updates. When will there be a circuit mode to adjust the torque distribution between the two axles in real time like on the Model 3 Performance? And finally make it a real sports SUV!