{"id":25312,"date":"2020-05-07T10:50:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T14:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25312"},"modified":"2020-05-07T10:50:48","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T14:50:48","slug":"payne-tesla-charges-luxury-suv-market-with-nimble-roomy-crossover-version-of-its-model-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/payne-tesla-charges-luxury-suv-market-with-nimble-roomy-crossover-version-of-its-model-3","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Tesla charges luxury SUV market with nimble, roomy crossover version of its Model 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/06\/PDTN\/be7e016f-ba25-471b-bb30-7ce81b808f8e-modely_fr3-4-oakland.JPG?width=520&amp;height=390&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Tesla Model Y began making deliveries to customers before California\u2019s government shut down its Fremont manufacturing facilities. This Model Y is one of the first in Michigan.\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><p>The Tesla Model Y began making deliveries to customers before California&#8217;s government shut down its Fremont manufacturing facilities. This Model Y is one of the first in Michigan.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">If the Tesla Model Y were a movie it would be called &#8220;Honey, I Blew Up the Model 3.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">I managed to get my hands on one of the first Model Y crossovers in Michigan:\u00a0It\u2019s cool. It\u2019s nimble.\u00a0It\u2019s a tall Model 3 with a hatchback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">It was also one of the first models to roll off Tesla\u2019s Fremont assembly line before California\u2019s government shut it down as a non-essential business in the COVID-19 economy. No wonder Tesla CEO\u00a0Elon Musk is pointing fingers at \u201cfascist\u201d Gov.\u00a0Gavin Newsom for keeping his manufacturing line shut down. The Model Y should be Tesla\u2019s most popular vehicle yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">I\u2019ve owned two Tesla Model 3s, and the Model Y should put to rest any question as to why people crave SUVs. It\u2019s not because they want to load their camping gear and ford streams for a weekend of camping. It\u2019s because they want a higher seating position, easier ingress and egress, all-wheel drive for Michigan\u2019s endless winters\u00a0and a hatchback to load lotsa\u00a0stuff into a big cargo bay.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SsCSpGCDN1Q\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/9303149a-98a3-4590-b825-b140821e89ad-modely_autolanechange.JPG?crop=4000,2252,x0,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Tesla Model Y will change lanes automatically on I-75 while following a nav route.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/9303149a-98a3-4590-b825-b140821e89ad-modely_autolanechange.JPG?crop=4000,2252,x0,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/9303149a-98a3-4590-b825-b140821e89ad-modely_autolanechange.JPG?crop=4000,2252,x0,y0\" \/>The Tesla Model Y will change lanes automatically on I-75 while following a nav route.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The Model Y sits 6.6 inches off the ground \u2014 just an inch higher than my Model 3. But slide into the Model Y and the difference is apparent. The leather seats (apparently identical to the 3) sit on 6-inch thrones, raising the driver hip point to 24 inches above the road, compared to the Model 3\u2019s 18 inches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">That added height is not only easier for cabin entry, it\u00a0also makes for a more comfortable seating position. Your 6-foot-5 reviewer sat with his knees at a 90-degree angle to the pedals instead of a more bent 45 degrees in the Model 3. Other height proportions follow with the Y\u2019s roof 7.2 inches taller than the Model 3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Being an unreconstructed motorhead, I prefer sitting on the floor of a sedan for closer proximity to the road surface and lower center of gravity. But battery-powered cars have an inherent advantage over their gas-powered peers: The battery weight is all in the bottom of the car.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SsCSpGCIVd0\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/06\/PDTN\/8739ff3d-21a9-4dc4-b3a2-cba27c91e281-modely_3-fr.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Similar faces, but the Tesla Model Y, right, is 7 inches taller than the Model 3 sedan.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/06\/PDTN\/8739ff3d-21a9-4dc4-b3a2-cba27c91e281-modely_3-fr.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/06\/PDTN\/8739ff3d-21a9-4dc4-b3a2-cba27c91e281-modely_3-fr.JPG\" \/>Similar faces, but the Tesla Model Y, right, is 7 inches taller than the Model 3 sedan.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">As a result, the Model Y still manages a very low center of gravity despite its taller stature. Clever beast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">That dynamic was immediately apparent when I flung the Model Y into an I-75 cloverleaf. With less head toss than even my handling-standard Mazda CX-5 SUV, the Model Y stuck like glue through the long, 180-degree arc. Like the Model 3, the Y\u2019s steering is pleasingly planted, allowing me to feel the road and explore the ute\u2019s envelope.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">At the limit \u2014 tires chirping \u2014 the Model Y\u2019s taller head and added 344 pounds of weight become apparent, but an SUV has no business handling like this. My long-suffering wife says I should warn passengers before such neck-wrenching maneuvers, but otherwise I can assure you they will be quite comfortable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">True to its SUV mission, the Model Y is bigger in every dimension than the 3. Indeed, its dimensions are bigger than anything else in class. Its cavernous, 68 cubic-feet of cargo room (with rear seats flattened) dwarfs class leaders like the Mercedes GLC (56 cubic feet) and Cadillac XT5 (63 cubes).<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SsCSpGDG7tk\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/354eb32a-340b-40cd-9536-33f19ea2ffc0-modely_rr-seat_flat.JPG?crop=3915,2252,x85,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Flatten the Tesla Model Y's rear seats and it gains a whopping 68 cubic feet of cargo room.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/354eb32a-340b-40cd-9536-33f19ea2ffc0-modely_rr-seat_flat.JPG?crop=3915,2252,x85,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/354eb32a-340b-40cd-9536-33f19ea2ffc0-modely_rr-seat_flat.JPG?crop=3915,2252,x85,y0\" \/>Flatten the Tesla Model Y&#8217;s rear seats and it gains a whopping 68 cubic feet of cargo room.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">More rear improvements over the Model 3 include a whopping 5.3-inch\u00a0bump in legroom (also best in class) and a more robust carpet for sliding in luggage. Lift the cargo floor and \u2014 voila! \u2014\u00a0a sub-trunk storage cavity mirroring the forward \u201cfrunk.\u201d Will that be a footwell for a rear-facing, kid-friendly third-row seat in 2021 models?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">That clever packing is thanks in part to manufacturing advances over the Model 3, including a rear aluminum casting. Tesla still trails industry standards in areas like body panel gaps, paint quality and heat-pump noise. But ask owners if they care.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ad-position-75\" class=\"partner-placement partner-spike partner-placement-visible\" data-ad-placement=\"native-article_link\" data-ad-sizes=\"[&quot;fluid&quot;,[3,3], [2,6]]\" data-monetization-id=\"native-article_link\" data-monetization-sizes=\"fluid,3,3,2,6\">\u201cBuy a Tesla and it\u2019s hard not to become a member of the fan club,\u201d said Dick Amacher, owner of the top-shelf, $68,700 Model 3 Performance that I tested. Amacher knows cars.<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The retired GM engineer played a key role in some of the General\u2019s most ambitious endeavors, including its IndyCar engine program and its first EV1 electric vehicle. True to his roots, he first looked at buying a Chevy Bolt EV before being blown away by Tesla\u2019s superior technology and charging infrastructure.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SsCSpGD0LGQ\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/66bca8df-fd63-4632-bded-79e1ec22528e-modely_sub-trunk.JPG?crop=3939,2252,x61,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Sub-trunk storage in the Tesla Model Y may also be used for a rear-facing, third-row seat. \" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/66bca8df-fd63-4632-bded-79e1ec22528e-modely_sub-trunk.JPG?crop=3939,2252,x61,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/66bca8df-fd63-4632-bded-79e1ec22528e-modely_sub-trunk.JPG?crop=3939,2252,x61,y0\" \/>Sub-trunk storage in the Tesla Model Y may also be used for a rear-facing, third-row seat.\u00a0\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">He was one of the first in line for the Model Y, ordering online after Musk took the wraps off a year ago. While Amacher awaited delivery he bought a Model 3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">He compares the Tesla ownership experience to an iPhone: It\u2019s\u00a0unlike anything else on the market. Sure enough, my Model Y tester had just received the latest over-the-air update from the mothership that enables its Autopilot self-driving system to see \u2014 and stop for \u2014\u00a0traffic lights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">That wow factor is not lost on the next generation as we shot pictures on Oakland University\u2019s campus. A car full of\u00a0college kids rolled by, cheering Silicon Valley\u2019s latest. They knew exactly what it was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The beta-test autonomous system is in keeping with Tesla\u2019s pact with customers: If you\u2019re nervous about pushing the limits of tech, mobile repair and charging infrastructure, then this isn\u2019t the brand for you.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SsCSpGCZDCI\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/51c48ce5-80e3-476e-a377-193c5940b525-modely_frunks.JPG?crop=3980,2252,x20,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Frunks galore. The Tesla Model Y (right) and Model 3 both have front trunk storage.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/51c48ce5-80e3-476e-a377-193c5940b525-modely_frunks.JPG?crop=3980,2252,x20,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/05\/05\/PDTN\/51c48ce5-80e3-476e-a377-193c5940b525-modely_frunks.JPG?crop=3980,2252,x20,y0\" \/>Frunks galore. The Tesla Model Y (right) and Model 3 both have front trunk storage.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Different as Tesla is from its peers, it is similar on one respect: Its SUVs come with a price premium over its sedans. In the Model Y\u2019s case, the added sheet metal and hatch add $3,000 compared to the Model\u00a03.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">It\u2019s all packaged under Tesla\u2019s signature\u00a0tinted, panoramic roof. Integrated into the body structure, the roof has helped earn the Model 3 the government\u2019s top safety rating. Inside, the Apple-simple interior design carries over from the Model 3. The console is dominated by a 15-inch touchscreen controlling most functions save for two\u00a0multi-purpose buttons on the steering wheel. They govern everything from self-driving to voice commands. Tesla has the best voice-recognition system in the game, so I rarely touched the screen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">I won\u2019t be trading in my Model 3 Performance for a Y. I like the lower seating position, the better rear visibility, the ludicrous 3.2 second zero-60 versus the Model Y\u2019s insane 3.5-second acceleration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">But if you\u2019re an SUV buyer, the Y is the 3 for you.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\">2020 Tesla Model Y<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Vehicle type: Battery-powered, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger SUV<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Price: $50,115, including $1,125\u00a0destination charge ($68,700 Performance model as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Powerplant: Dual-motor AWD with lithium-ion battery pack<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Power:\u00a0473 horsepower, 471 pound-feet torque (Performance est. as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Transmission: 1-speed direct drive<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.5 seconds (mfr.); top speed, 145 mph<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Weight: 4,417 pounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Range: 280-315 miles<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Highs: Best-in-class interior room; unique user experience<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Lows: Tesla reliability; unpredictable EV range in cold\/heat and high interstate speeds<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Overall: 4\u00a0stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Tesla Model Y began making deliveries to customers before California&#8217;s government shut down its Fremont manufacturing facilities. This Model Y is one of the first in Michigan.\u00a0(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News) If the Tesla Model Y were a movie it would be called &#8220;Honey, I Blew Up the Model 3.&#8221; I managed to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25312"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25312"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25313,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25312\/revisions\/25313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}