Exclusive First Drive of the 2026 Tesla Model Y | Jay Leno's Garage

Just finished watching, going to place my order later today. Feels like a solid home run for me.

2026? it’s feb 2025…

Haha ya Jay loves the year release language. Tesla doesn't label it like this ever. I think its generally for the car buyer who is used to this kind of language as well. Meaning "the best and most up to date model"

Nice to have the engineers in the video as well. Very interesting

To distinguish the differences especially when they hit the secondary market. Easier to label it as 2026 and less confusing than calling it a half year 2025.5.

Tesla themselves actually labeled the new Model Y as 2026 to avoid confusion with the legacy design.

In this case it is officially a 2026 model year car. Tesla has never started a new model year this early in the year, but it makes sense to differentiate between this and the old Model Y.

Would love to have one of the OG trios from Top Gear to do a review on this car as well.

New model years can start any time in the year. Tesla has never done one this early, but it's common practice for other brands to start them fairly early.

I’m driving around in my 2030 Model Y, you guys are so 2026. It does feel a bit odd to be that early, like can’t we just be present in 2025… but then again all the crap happening does make me want to fast forward a bit

Clarkson loathes EVs. Maybe May would do it.

New model years are always [current_year + 1] whenever they release. It's never more than one year ahead, probably by law. But yeah, if you're new to how this is done in the car industry, it can seem a little weird. Also: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-gdp-over-the-long-run

Yea, May would be a good fit as he has a Model S I believe.

no steer by wire?

Was being facetious. Just meant that it’s feels weird since Tesla generally doesn’t gate things behind model years when they update their vehicles. The way they handled this after the new year and so early before the next is just odd to me, nothing more then that.

Yeah that's true. Normally they switch model years around October or November (which is later than most car companies). I guess the reason they're doing it earlier this time is to make it more clear which cars are the new Model Y and which are the old Model Y, rather than 2025 model year cars being a mix of both.

James May has a fun mini review of the cyber truck on YouTube. Would be interesting to see his take on the new model y.

Am I correct in that there's doesn't appear to be a button to open the trunk from the outside? You must use either a button in the phone, or stand behind it with the phone for the hands free thing to work?

Jeremy reviewed the Model X on The Grand Tour a few years ago. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ssucYoYtYE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ssucYoYtYE)

The refreshed Model Ys at least in the US have their model year designated as 2026 in their VINs. There is already a 2025 Model Y which is the pre-refresh version that Tesla is still selling. That switched to the 2025 model year back in October 2024.

There is a button. It’s lower.

Mentions that the possibility of true camera 360 camera, and within a few months, adaptive matrix beams could be approved

Tesla calls it a 2026 https://x.com/DevinOlsenn/status/1883986845681471831

The rear trunk has a button, it's just behind the camera.

really like what ya done with the Model Y. I think you have a hit. As for the Glass tops of Tesla's, they look good for selling a car, but as a car owner it sux. its too hot in summer In Texas. it could use a vent too. and please give us a separate button to open the passenger side door in the phone AP.

I think it just opens as you walk to it, now that both the iOS and Android apps support Ultra Wide Band.

Half of that review is a riff on how his previous Model S review was so bad Elon sued him for it. More recently, [he gave his thoughts on reviewing EVs in his newspaper column](https://www.driving.co.uk/30-years-clarkson/jeremy-clarkson-talks-30-years-sunday-times/), and [he also reiterated these same thoughts on the finale of the Grand Tour.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlgMdsBi6Q)

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No steer by wire, no right stalk, no powered frunk, no increase in battery capacity. It's mostly just a facelift and some soundproofing. They're relying on the HW4+ camera system to improve FSD as a selling point, but if you don't care about that then it's not a huge improvement over the old MY. And frankly, it doesn't have to be, the EV market just isn't that competitive in the west.

Makes no sense. All of the world's fastest hypercars are now EVs.

It was already the best selling car in the entire world. It is now better and will be the number one selling car in the world again.

Nobody gonna mention [around 6:16](https://youtu.be/vQ6e4-1uuGA?t=376) Lars teases they can add a true 360 camera view now?

No. That would require a substantial reengineer that likely just wasn't in the scope of this refresh. Same deal as the new Model 3.

In this video you can see the button: [https://youtu.be/lu5KH8-RIjc?si=IZEiKpS7Os02C03a&t=95](https://youtu.be/lu5KH8-RIjc?si=IZEiKpS7Os02C03a&t=95)

Interesting that you list the things they didn't update but don't list all the things they did update. It's quite a big list.

You're either lying or clueless with the "just a facelift and some soundproofing" bit. Here's the actual list of changes. • 4% more aerodynamic • 2.8% more range on Long Range AWD trim (now 320 miles) • Up to 50% of the parts in the car are new • Glass roof has 7x better heat refraction vs the old Model Y via new silver coating. This will also reduce load on the HVAC system, as this improve efficiency since you won't need to cool as much • Front bumper camera (a first for the Model Y) with sprayer to clean off debris • Fastest power folding rear seats in the industry • Long Range is 28 lbs heavier than before • 0.2" lower ground clearance vs old Y • 51% less vibration on rough roads vs old Model Y, 22% overall decrease in road noise & 20% less wind noise • 66% better call quality via improved cabin mics • 3% stiffer body structure • Improved braking performance for more energy recapture • New 16 speaker sound system (up from 14 before). More punchy and much better midrange performance • Annoying deep resonance tone from rear of car has been eliminated • Improved door latch and door seals. More premium door "thunk" closing sound • 27% more downforce on rear tires • New gearing in powertrain for slight efficiency improvement • Changed lubrication in powertrain for reduced frictional losses • The front seats automatically move forward so the rear seat headrests don't hit the front seats when folding down • Redesigned interior with new door cards • New metal looking speaker housing trim • More premium interior materials. The fabric is softer to the touch and sewn with a more refined process to present a better overall texture. Double stitching design on dash (new Model 3 doesn't have that) Part 2 below:

• No more gear stalk. Drive, reverse, park, etc is controlled via the screen. Turn signal stalk is still there (unlike the new Model 3) • New steering wheel contains light controls, horn, new camera button, wiper controls and mic control. • New dash design with textured/woven material • Multicolor ambient LED interior lighting extending from dash to rear seat doors • Updated more premium center console • Acoustic double pane glass on rear windows and back window (was only on front windows before). "360º acoustic glass" • Center touchscreen now brighter, has smaller bezels, higher contrast & is more responsive. Larger 15.4" main screen (vs 15" for old Y) • More sound insulation for a quieter ride • Upgraded suspension for a softer ride • Front seatbelt pickup point is 27mm lower to accommodate larger body sizes • Slimmer turn signal stalk • New hole at bottom of steering wheel to rest fingers • New silver trim around wireless phone charging area (Model 3 doesn't have this) • New squared off rear trunk glass shape • Next-gen Airwave 2.0 ventilation system. Passenger can now turn off just their side. • Vanity mirror has a CRI index of over 90% for a more accurate representation of makeup, etc. • Reduced top speed of 125mph (from 155mph) due to more efficient tires • Better handling • Passengers are more protected from door impacts due to new latch at the bottom of the door • Quieter automatic closing trunk • Rear tail light bar is the first indirect reflective body panel taillight of its kind • Frunk now has a drain hole to empty liquids • Bottom rear seat cushions are 0.6" (1.5cm) longer for improved comfort. Headrests are 0.7" (1.7cm) wider. • Drag coefficient of 0.22 (vs 0.23 in old Model Y) • Redesigned lower rear bumper • Front seats are now ventilated & heated. All cabin seats are now perforated • No fog lights anymore. Headlights are located underneath the new front light bar • 8" touchscreen for rear passengers in the back to control climate & enjoy entertainment. You can connect two headsets at the same time • Three 65W USB-C chargers. You can charge a laptop • Improved bluetooth • 50% improved cellular connectivity. 2X greater WiFi range (dual-band) • 10x improved connectivity to phone so car will recognize your phone from farther away • Two new wheel designs that better optimize battery life • New Tesla lettering replaces rear Tesla logo badge • Car is 1.6" longer overall • Front light bar with an overall slimmer and sleeker front car design • New "TESLA" logo on steering wheel

When some people back them into a belief, they don't have the tools to get out of it

The glass on the roof of this one has improved heat rejection.

It already reflects a lot of heat but this one is further updated. It's using Low E glass you'd find in office buildings on this model​

There's a button as well

I love the look of this car. The silver on silver and that white interior is soooo good.

I have the new model 3 Highland , and its really really hot. ill be buying a cover by late spring.

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Calling them both 2025s seems like it would be worse nonsense. And people wouldn’t be happy either if a brand new pre-refresh car they got in Feb 2025 was listed as a 2024.

Glad they acknowledged and addressed the lift gate impact and repairability issue on the OG Model Y

The year is just for insurance to distinguish the cars. Tesla don’t usually refer to the cars by year since they improve them on a weekly basis. I had two 2021 model ys and the second one had double paned glass in it. A month after that the same year model y had a heated steering wheel.

Thanks for that long list of minor upgrades. It just reinforces my earlier statement.

Model S might get additional refinement, but Model Y is clearly Tesla's true flagship.

It’s basically a completely different car inside out but the shape is the same and no steer by wire so must be a minor facelift, right…

No, it basically shows that you know absolutely nothing about any of this. Even the construction methods are different under the skin (more rigidity, less pieces to attach together).

Roadster?

The Model 3 Highland does not have this new glass type.

Huge deal if true. One of the only things I miss about other cars.

adaptive matrix beams within months is huge

That and if the suspension is truly improved over the current Y would be a compelling reason to trade up in a year or so but I have a 2024 Y with 0% so would wait to see if we get those incentives again.

I have a 22 MYP and I think the suspension is fine, but I'm used to sportier cars.

> 2.8% more range on Long Range AWD trim (now 320 miles) My 2022 was 330 miles-- why the decrease? There's several things in that list that look like they'd increase range (aero, gearing, lower ground clearance, roof glass, better regen) but the range went down?

Yeah, I've wanted a "hot weather package" for years now. They added ventilated seats, which was on my list... but an opaque, insulated roof would be really nice. Everybody jokes about how they're "designed in California," but you'd think in this case, that would mean they'd understand how miserable a glass roof can be in the desert. Oh well, the goofy pop-in roof shade I got gets me by.

That’s not how a flagship works. That’s like saying the RAV4 or Corolla is Toyotas flagship. It just isn’t.

So every refresh of any car is minor without steering by wire. Got it.

Testing got more strict so your 2022 wouldn’t test that high in 2025.

What is an “insulated roof”?

So a stalk, powered frunk, and a bigger battery would make it a refresh to you? Those could be done at any point.

I understand there's still legislative issues surrounding these? They've been installed in other vehicles for a few years now, and are both available and used in Canada. But in the US, they're hard-coded to be turned off until the right piece of paper gets signed.

The Y has tech that the S doesn't. If the Rav4/Corolla had tech and features that the Crown didn't, I'd agree with you.

it could also be an incentive for folks to get the refresh now as a year from now, it will still be a 2026 model - taps forehead lol

That should have been a thing years ago. I was in a 20k$ MG. That had 360, auto park and a rudimentary lane keep. It even had visualisations of cars passing etc. sure it was a mile off Tesla but given the price point. Wow

I too am possibly looking to trade in. I have a 24 MY, but would it be worth the trade in to significantly lower payments?

Sounds ancient. I’m holding out for the 2028 model.

A flagship is the brands spotlight. It’s focus and an image maker. Not the stuff they sell the most of. Right now I’d argue the cybertruck is the Flagship. Followed by S

What?! They are working on a flying car?! 👀👀 And well done on lowering the headlights, there’s really no reason for cars to have then so high so that it blinds everyone.

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What is lift gate?

Trunk

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I have no reason to believe that the suspension hasn't been improved. The new/current 3 is definitely better than the exiting Model Y.

Nah it just needs to be refreshed. Those premium vehicles are just on a different tooling schedule. S / X are still flagship vehicles. > The Y has tech that the S doesn’t This isn’t my point but to your point you could also argue the S has tech the Y doesn’t have. Advance suspension, driver screen and bigger 17” middle screen, powered rotating screen, 22 speakers, and best of all much roomier. Not only that the Y should be compared to the X which has all powered doors which is a flagship feature on its own that’ll never come down to the Y When these vehicles are refreshed not only will they have everything the Y has but also most of what the CT has like 48v, rear steering on at least the X, powered frunk, steer-by-wire.

There was a picture i saw from the factory of the older model side by side with the new model and i have to say when you compare them like that the new model looks way better in my opinion. It really helps to have them side by side to appreciate the update. Here it is, from Joe Tegtmeyer: [https://x.com/JoeTegtmeyer/status/1886465773448605844](https://x.com/JoeTegtmeyer/status/1886465773448605844)

88K CAD no thanks

Not to be a jerk about it, but... it's a roof, with insulation. Most cars you've ridden in have a metal roof with a headliner and a layer of foam that provide some insulation.

That explains it. But man... they should probably crank that testing down further. I have an almost-exactly-300-miles trip I make at least once a month. To make it on a single charge, I'd need about 410 "Tesla miles" worth of range.

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No more rear middle seat heater is the only downside.

An overhead angle, the one angle you will truly never see in real life isn’t the best example.

It's to stop people leaving kids and dogs in the back seat to die. You do you.

They definitely did the Model 3 refresh mid-year. My 2020 has the old center console (which I prefer) and smaller battery (which I don't) compared to later 2020s.

The refresh with the new center console, black trim, heat pump, etc. was the 2021 model year and released in ~October 2020. Tesla definitely makes changes outside of model years as well, but they do tend to increment them for large refreshes like last year's Model 3 and now the Model Y.

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Does the ride still feel a bit bumpy from the video or not really?

> double paned glass is what a house window has (an air gap between the layers of glass), your car had laminated glass.

thats cool for the new Y owners.

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I have both the A/c seats, and the heated seat and steering wheel. OMG I must say I do love those!!! My old lexus had "ventilated " seats, and in the summer they just blew hot air up your back and actually got hotter when activated. they were ok when it was cool, but sucked if your car sat out in the sun very long. Teslas are 100x better than those.

yes Exactly. I have seen they make a Liner that attaches to the Tesla roof to block the sun. In Texas summer heat its highly needed.

You’d significantly lower your payments after trading in a used MY for a new one??

Why is this a negative thing to you? Is it some secret that you have a heartbeat? The purpose is to alert you if you leave living things in the car.

Sat in one today and it left me annoyed. Annoyed that I now don't think I can keep considering a 2nd hand older model, the new one is SO much better.

> previous Model S review Roadster review.

2026?

You’ll lose like $20k

What is the difference between the matrix headlights currently in the model Y and the new adaptive matrix headlights. I thought it was implied that all matrix headlights are adaptive.

They mask out incoming traffic by shutting off independent LEDs instead of turning the high beam completely off. Works very well in Norway on my 2021 Y. I guess the new Y has a different geometry on the headlamp so it requires another set of software to work the same way.

He did a really favorable review of the Ioniq 5N.

Heads-up display

I bought a cheap two-layer one from Amazon years ago... it made a noticeable difference in comfort, shortened how long it takes the car to cool down, and even improved range a bit. I took it out once in January, but Arizona being what it is... even in January I had it back in within a week.

I ordered the silver on silver but am bummed the white interior is sold out. Maybe for the best since I have dogs and two young kids, though I know the white is supposed to hold up well against stains.

2026?

I can tell you it is extremely resilient vs stains. We have cream interiors in the Model S, also dogs and kids ride in it. The only concern is moreso brand new jeans as they're oiled but best course of action is applying a ceramic leather sheen.

Quickest, not fastest. The fastest is the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut at 500km/h, the fastest EV is the Rimac Nivera at 415km/h.

It's a facelift, changes like this don't happen until a new model generation.

Goring and Goebbels fixate on how much time they spent designing the rear lights until Jay forces them to move on.

Also worth noting that the published vs real world range has likely improved dramatically. The Model 3 refresh similarly showed a modest improvement, but in real world conditions fared far better.

That’s good to hear… it’s be nice if they just *started* with reality, but I guess gradually approaching it is better than nothing.

Jesus Jay Leno got old. Makes me sad.

No test is entirely accurate. EPA rating is by far the closest to reality.

It’s barely 2025. Anything in hands of consumers now was produced in 2024. How is this called 2026?

Amazing that Jay got through the entire video without falling down a cliff or catching fire.

Agreed completely there-- no test will fit all situations. I suppose what I'm actually asking for is that they err on the side of caution. I do get close to the rated range if I'm driving around city streets... but I'm never worried about range in those situations. I don't make a lot of 300-mile low-speed trips. On the freeway, where I'm actually going to be stretching the limits of the range-- it's over-optimistic by nearly 30%.

My '23 MY is at least that optimistic. It's frustrating.

I once saw a video of a car (Rivian, maybe?) that was showing a clear 360 degree view meanwhile the car was making contact with a bollard. I think there’s more extrapolation and stitching in those cams than most people realize so I rather prefer the Tesla cams showing me *just* what they see. I wouldn’t mind a front bumper cam though

I test drove a MG on December and it did exactly what you said, it stitched multiple cameras together. You make a good point, there is a good argument for showing the *actual* video rather than an augmented view. Still a 360 view would be nice.

I currently own a 2023 Land Rover Defender as my daily driver but I’m thinking of selling it and leasing the new Y. Does anyone know if the ride quality / build quality is comparable between the two cars. I also need an SUV that can handle the occasional snowfalls we get in Nashville during the winter months. Thanks!

I just drove this car this morning. It's a significant difference over last gen Model Y. NVH also markedly improved. Coming from Audi and Porsche products and NVH mitigation feels audi level.