Tesla Model Y 2026: Which is best? Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range, or Performance?

The original Tesla Model Y Performance was like the polarising deep-cut third album from your favourite band — the one that followed the sweet, well-liked Credible improvements in the Model Y Performance’s ride quality and body control lift engagement, making us cry out for a similar upgrade to this Tesla’s steering.

When pre-orders opened for the updated Tesla Model Y earlier in 2025, most early-adopter Australians gravitated toward the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) variant. Deeply impressive real-world efficiency, and resulting usable range, makes the much-improved Tesla Model Y base model a solid SUV choice.

Chasing Cars doesn’t do political commentary. We publish road tests we hope Australian car buyers find valuable. So we’ll deal with the elephant in the Tesla has given its crucial Model Y a superb mid-life upgrade that fixes or improves many of the SUV’s previous faults—making its connection to fraught politics frustrating

Need more space than a Model 3 provides? Tesla’s first midsize SUV, the Model Y, has landed in Australia in RWD and Performance AWD models.

Not quite the full-on, game-changing, low-cost EV we were promised, cut-back Model 3 RWD still delivers superb value

The Tesla Model 3 is easily Australia’s most popular premium sedan. Last year, the Chinese-made, American-badged four-door outsold the BMW 3 Series/4 The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling EV sedan in Australia. Over the next three months and 5000km, we’re going to see if the king deserves its crown.

There are no two ways about it, Tesla’s sales are sliding in Australia. There’s an explanation, of course, with a stop-delivery creating pent-up demand Model 3 swings back into the garage but this time with Full Self Driving (Supervised) for the first time in right-hand drive.

It shouldn’t be surprising, but it turns out that Tesla does listen to feedback. There’s no other way to explain the swag of worthwhile upgrades to the Tesla has listened to feedback: the facelift of the Model 3 addresses a range of criticism to tremendous effect. This is a much better car

Watch our expert review of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance, including dual motors, handling, interior, boot space and Australian price.

We've finally driven the all-new, fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero on Australian soil – literally! – in this first taste of what it's like off-road from behind the wheel of a range-topping GSR.

Ferrari has finally brought back the iconic gated manual gearbox. Except it hasn’t – not quite. The 12Cilindri Manuale is the first three-pedal Ferrari in The gated shifter and clutch pedal are back at Ferrari – but the conventional manual hasn’t made a full return. The distinction matters, but not as much as you’d think

Leapmotor has struggled to make its mark in a market swamped by affordable Chinese electric vehicles. At a time when rivals are experiencing explosive With lots of tech and a pricepoint to turn heads, is the new BO5 hatchback the car to firmly put China's Leapmotor on the map in a crowded EV market?

Swedish-branded, Chinese-built hyper GT is huge on style, manic in pace and reasonably priced. But can it seduce with enough charisma to find Aussie buyers?

Kia’s petrol-powered K4 hatch appears to be fighting a losing battle against the wave of sharply priced small Chinese EVs. But for the purists, there’s still plenty to like

Volvo puts itself in the key midsize electric luxury SUV buyers’ conversation with first electric equivalent of its best-seller

On the July morning that our newest long termer, the 2026 RAV4 GXL AWD, landed in the Chasing Cars garage, Toyota’s medium SUV was about to celebrate its Australia’s most popular SUV, in desirable yet affordable GXL trim, has rolled into the Chasing Cars garage for a proper long-term test. Can it live up to the hype?

The Tesla Model Y has been given an MY27 upgrade that introduces faster mid-range models, a cheaper Performance flagship, and vehicle-to-load technology

September 2025 marks another month of strong, steady vehicle sales in Australia, totalling 106,891 total vehicle sales when combining findings from the While utes remain king in the sales castle, a pair of electric SUVs silently made their mark in September

A larger, longer version of the Tesla Model Y with six seats across three rows will enter production at the manufacturer’s Giga Shanghai, China plant Australia and China finally get their wish for “expanded” three-row Model Y as Tesla sends bigger version into production at Giga Shanghai

The new Model Y continues to revitalise Tesla sales in Australia after posting a consecutive strong month since its launch in May. There were 3457 Model Y Tesla Model Y drives sales fightback in Australia, though it's mixed results for the US brand as well as rival Polestar

A senior Tesla executive says the manufacturer will step back from the EV price war when the upgraded Model Y midsize SUV launches with a more stable Price ceasefire declared, as Tesla switches to emphasising Model Y’s value proposition and customer experience against flurry of cheap Chinese EVs

BYD has now announced pricing for its Sealion 7 electric SUV that is set to become the biggest rival to the popular Tesla Model Y. The BYD Sealion 7

The updated 'Juniper' version of the Tesla Model Y has been revealed with a fresh look that takes a different design direction to its sedan twin, the

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday 16 October 2024. Notably in car news today: Tesla has confirmed its updated 2025 Model Y will be offered with seven Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday 11 September 2024. Notably in car news today: Overseas reports indicate that Tesla will build a cheaper electric Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read

Fresh from bringing Australian distribution in-house, Xpeng has announced updates to its G6 ‘ultra smart coupe SUV’, headlined by the addition of All-wheel drive and even faster charging boost Xpeng G6’s appeal as brand gears up to launch more models

MG Motor Australia has upgraded the flagship Essence 62 version of its MGS5 EV SUV with more power, performance and range as rolling MY26 updates in

It’s now cheaper than ever to purchase Cupra’s Tavascan midsize SUV. Cupra Australia has today debuted an all-new, introductory ‘V’ grade to its Tavascan New Tavascan V variant will be Cupra’s cheapest yet, though it still packs a Sennheiser stereo, rear-wheel drive and Model Y-beating price

It’s not just the global political landscape that is rapidly evolving – the Australian new-car market is undergoing a metamorphosis. Electric vehicles Even Toyota takes a big hit in response to huge volume gains made by BYD, Chery, Jaecoo, Geely and modest increases by Hyundai and Kia

New MG S6 promises to be a genuine rival to a growing list of midsize electric SUVs

Nissan is seriously evaluating exactly which global products will populate its Australian line-up going forward. Of particular interest are the Chinese Nissan mulls China-sourced electrified ute, SUV and family vehicles for local growth

Tesla has priced its extended-body, six seat Model Y L from $74,900 before on-road costs, with initial deliveries to commence in April. New Tesla Model Y ‘L’ priced from $74,900, featuring three-row seating, an extended body, and a driving range of 681km