Tesla Model Y is the winner of 2026 Drive Car of the Year

Australian motoring journalism is one of the most corrupt around, relying on kick backs and perks from manufacturers for favourable reviews. Tesla must have found some "marketing" cash.

Absolutely no evidence of that. People just say shit these days.

No evidence of endemic corruption? Or no evidence Tesla paid (in some way) for favourable coverage in this case? The Y has been substantially better than any competitor vehicles since it came out. Winning only now, in 2026, when the competition has almost caught up seems odd.

"almost caught up" So... they haven't caught up by your own admission......which makes this win make sense?

Do you own a Model Y? Have you even driven one? Any and all publications can/do sellout all the time. At this point I only trust the word of people I know irl

Redditors who comment on kick backs are usually sponsored to make those comments. This Redditor must have found some "marketing" cash.

Don't try to bring logic to a shit throwing contest.

Model 3 and Y are the best cars, it’s a simple formula that no other manufacturer is trying to crack. Your car, should “just work”. at the end of the day everyone wants just a box that accommodates well, rolls and doesn’t need 5 do dad toggles just to move out of a garage.

YouTubers make people believe the opposite.

My post is not anti-tesla. It's a reflection of Australia.

Australia is an open car market. We have all the latest Chinese cars here which are substantially cheaper than Tesla. We aren't the insular US. The model Y gap was larger 2 years ago. Why didn't it win then?

If you think I'm throwing shit at the Y you are wrong.

"The greatest appliance ever made " M3 RWD has been bulletproof for me so far (about a 8 months in) and my partner loves her Y. They do "just work," and have fun, snappy acceleration to boot.

This thing is a toaster and i am eating bread

the wipers should just work too.

It took about 3 days to get used to just walking up the car and getting in and then taking off your seatbelt (no other buttons pushed) and getting out. Every car should aim to have this experience.

Seriously. I love that it doesn't matter if the windows are down. You just walk away and listen for the chirp from the horn to know everything is good. Also, I can't believe how much I've become attached to the auto shift and auto blinker shut off. When I drive something else it feels like I've stepped back into the 20th century 😂

It's really amazing to not have an "on off" button.. the on/off button is literally your butt in the seat. Why don't all cars do this??

Then why does Tesla not care about cars anymore?!

I'm in Australia, and just bought one, they just work and acceleration is good and handy to have on rundabouts (plenty of them out here) I drive this mostly for work and for me is the perfect EV

Tesla refining its cars to make driving easier and simpler, no need to lock/unlock doors, no start/stop button, no shifting, no need to cancel turn signal, traffic follow, auto steer… ultimately to Cybercab where you just tell the car where you want to go. Last 10+ years have been working toward the transition from manual driving to fully automated driving.

Walking away from the goat 🐐 scream is what I’m listening for.

I have a bridge to sell you if you think Cybercab will be a thing 😂

I had a Y for four years, didn’t get the new Y design because it looks like Hyundai instead I got MX.

Cybercab is already in production. We will see self drive on public road very soon.

My wife and I got the 2026 model Y premium (with perpetual FSD) and it’s by far the best car we’ve ever owned. Great handling, acceleration, and love that we charge it at home with solar.