Even beyond the headlines made by its CEO, Tesla is in a bit of a pickle. The Cybertruck doesn’t seem to be living up to expectations, sales are down for the brand’s cars across the board, and it seems like the future product pipeline largely consists of reheated stuff. Case in point: The new Tesla Model Y Performance has finally dropped overseas, and at face value, it’s no longer the impressive performance crossover it once was.
The fast electric crossover segment has been absolutely ruthless over the past few years. From Ford’s gravel-running Mustang Mach-E Rally to the Chevrolet Blazer SS to Hyundai’s ballistic Ioniq 5 N, it feels like a rite of passage for just about every automaker under the sun to extract serious juice from their plug-in default-shaped cars. As a result, the updated Tesla Model Y Performance is launching into a whole new world, and judging by the specs of the model sold around most of the globe, it probably isn’t enough to move the needle.
Let’s start with the sparky bits. For the new Model Y Performance, Tesla has stuck with the 75 kWh battery pack from the Model Y Long Range, but then used it to feed a rear-mounted 4DU drive unit borrowed from the Model 3 Performance. The result is 460 horsepower, 181 fewer than Hyundai’s weapons-grade Ioniq 5 N and 20 fewer than Ford’s Mustang Mach-E GT. As you can probably expect, this translates to a zero-to-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, right on par with a Mustang Mach-E GT with the $995 Performance Upgrade, about level with the heavy Chevrolet Blazer SS, and a clip behind what the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can really do. Quicker than what the old Model Y Performance can do, but only just about keeping up with some of the Joneses.
So what about other go-fast bits? Well, the new Model Y Performance features adaptive dampers from the Model 3 Performance, a new set of sport seats, 21-inch wheels, and that’s about it. No track mode, nothing that really lets you play around with torque split and remove the leash of stability control, no real USP here other than that it’s quicker and slightly different-looking than other Model Ys. Sure, there’s a launch mode, but what fast car doesn’t have a launch mode these days?
So, other than some cosmetic bits and middle-of-the-pack performance stats, what else does the new Model Y Performance give you? Well, 250 kW charging is competitive, and a top speed of 155 mph isn’t any lower than that of the old Model Y Performance, but the main selling point here is performance and range. This thing’s rated at 360 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, 40 miles more than a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and 82 miles more than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Still, “your mileage may vary” is a real caveat, and the new Model Y Performance is only about $4,187 cheaper than a more enthusiast-oriented Ioniq 5 N, according to U.K. pricing at current conversion rates. For the sort of person who’d buy a fast EV, that seems like it could be $4,187 well-spent.
Of course, it’s worth noting that we haven’t yet seen the U.S.-spec model yet. Considering the European-spec Model 3 Performance is limited to the same 460 horsepower as the new rest-of-world Model Y Performance but puts out 510 horsepower in America thanks to different battery chemistry, it’s possible we could see a boost in output for the U.S.-spec Model Y Performance, but it might not be enough to matter. After all, Motor Trend hustled a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N from zero-to-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and given how Tesla claims zero-to-60 mph in 2.9 seconds from the U.S.-spec Model 3 Performance, a bigger Model Y equivalent shouldn’t be any quicker.
In a moment of crisis, Tesla’s responding with something that really isn’t worth caring about. On first glance, the new Model Y Performance is not particularly innovative or unique or even hugely desirable above its competition on anything other than rated range. It’s a niche offering that will make up a small portion of the sales mix, at a time when Tesla needs something with mass appeal. At this point, other automakers have pretty much caught up with the former industry leader, and it feels like only a matter of time before they go flying by.
Top graphic image: Tesla
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interesting how in these comparisons we like to ignore what makes Tesla unique and truly valuable: charging infrastructure and that other thing. I’d bet that the low demand is temporary while everyone slowly moves on to another flashpoint in the culture war.
How does charging infrastructure make Tesla unique anymore? Most of its competitors can now use the Supercharger network.
I have been wondering if this is a temporary setback and now old mate is ducking his head down car buyers might start considering his cars again.
That’s ignoring the other challenges Tesla (outside the US) faces though: a tidal wave of competition from Euro, Chinese and Korean makes, and aging platforms that no longer feel fresh – even with the facelifts.
I don’t think Tesla’s woes are only related to Elon’s strategy of alienating his main customer base. Tesla was an innovator. Then the other auto makes caught up and surpassed. Tesla is still selling the same models and generations of those models 10 years after they were released. The only r and d budget for new vehicles went to an abomination that very few people want, very few people can afford, and everyone else hates. Instead of a new RAV4 / crv competitor. Or a pickup that actually fits into the pickup category.
These problems are not easily solved while your CEO is still busy filling himself with hallucinogens and killing off the rest of Twitter.
Man, after reading these comments, I really miss the early days of the Autopian when it wasn’t so damned judgmental and we focused mostly on the metal, not the people adjacent to making that metal. I find myself feeling less and less inclined to comment here on many things, or to even read the comments section because so many are turning politics adjacent in to always going off about the politics. I’m aware how intimately politics can impact the autosphere, but like politics in every other avenue of current American culture, we are starting to turn everything here in to pure politics as well. I have my political opinions. My personality is not defined by them. Be more than just your politics.
the problem with Tesla is the brand IS Elon. He made it that way and he gets to deal with the consequences.
How exactly can you be “more than your politics”? Like I’m against racists and nazis and the completely ignorant ruining the country but hey I’m okay having dinner with them and supporting their businesses?
Maybe I’m naive but I think your politics should reflect your beliefs and that you should live your beliefs… but maybe I’m just inflexible
but it feels so good to feel morally superior. another question i had – and I had the same question at jalopnik over the years.
the comment section there (and here) slowly began to stink like teenage sweaty angst. And it seemed like all the commenters agreed with each other.
So my question is: are these real people that just all happen to smell the same? or is something else going on with these accounts? who exactly is in charge of the comment section at Autopian, and is everything on the up-and-up?
maybe the vibe of the site attracts a certain audience who share similar views.
everything you don’t like is not always a conspiracy
If the sweaty angst is such a turn off maybe go someplace else?
I love that when a large percentage of people align with something, the only logical explanation is some kind of nonsense conspiracy theory.
I can tell you that there is something going on with my account, and I imagine it’s happening to a lot of the accounts of the commenters you’re referencing; the people behind them are generally intelligent, affable, have a sense of humor, and are capable of critical thinking
Since Tesla sees itself as a software company, one quick new revenue stream might be to open up its software to other manufacturers, similar to what it has done with EV charging. It could offer a variant of its autopilot software, or parts of that software (eg vehicle detection), to help more technologically challenged (cough Stellantis cough) legacy brands “catch up” to current industry trends.
Ah Elon, like Icarus you flew Tesla to close to the sun and now its wings have become undone. I will await its splash into the ocean like a broken Starship booster.
Starship boosters don’t react nearly as bad as Tesla batteries to Sea water though.
Anyone notice how the new Model Y doesn’t have a Tesla badge on the hood like how every other car does? I wonder why that is…
Though the new model’s updated nose and tail make it slightly less unpleasant looking than the original Model Y, the revised one is hardly an attractive car. But that never seems to impact sales, so I guess it’s OK… the Y is their best-selling model (I think).
Given Elon’s Backdoor Musk (the name of a user at the other site, maybe he’s here too?) I’d never buy a Tesla product new or even used. If someone somehow just gave me a running Tesla for free for some inexplicable reason, I’d probably register/insure it just to see what it’s like to drive one on the daily.
But short of that, I’ll probably wind up buying a Hyundai EV instead when the time comes.
PS: I was riding in someone’s first-gen Model 3 for a while yesterday, and in all fairness, I will acknowledge that there were some clever/convenient things going on in there. Most were software defined behaviors, so not specifically unique to Tesla of course.
Looks like a Toyota.
Pretty soon, we’ll be doing an article about how this was the last new model that Tesla ever produced. I mean, I hope I’m wrong, but hey, it could happen too.
Ha, many people (myself included) fervently hope you’re *right*
Yes, let the hate flow through you!
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What a world we live in. Low 3 second 0-60 times are now “middle-of-the-pack performance stats”
Shoot, my Smart diesel hits 60 mph in 20 seconds. This thing will have entered orbit by then! 🙂
I learned to drive on a 1980’s Diesel G20 Van. I think I would have had a good race with a Chevette with an automatic for worst 0-60 time. Those tested at 30 seconds!
I drove a diesel chevette in high school…. I think it was more than 30… if it could even reach 60.
30 to 60 hours, days or years?
Exactly.
Don’t suggest this to Elon.
Your smart still accelerates more quickly than my gun-metal gray 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity EuroSport wagon with the 2.8L carb’d V6. To catch 60, you had to hoist the sail and hope there was enough wind. Glad I no longer have that POS.
You could go 60!?!
My old Samurai could hit 55 on a three mile downhill with a tailwind!
0-60 in… Maybe, with a good tailwind.
It will do 100…. once. Just push it off a cliff.
I had an 87 celebrity wagon. With. E. F. I.
It was actually a really solid car. If I had silly money to just throw away whenever I wanted I’d buy one.
I drove a 1982 diesel Vanagon which measured 0-60 using a calendar (if it even got that fast). Even my old air-cooled bus accelerated faster.
I feel like the average 0-60 of the Autopian fleet is comfortably above 10 seconds. Maybe even 12-13.
My first car was a 1979 Datsun 510 wagon – 0-60 on a good day
Look at it another way, that record setting Koenigsegg is halfway through slowing down from 400km/h by then.
I know. It’s insane.
I am in the minority in thinking that the new Y looks better than the old one.
That being said, the Mach-E Rally seems like more fun. Since bombing through the desert is the back way to getting to my house, a Mach-E Rally seems like the best EV option for me too (outside of a Rivian or the like).
I will join you in the minority there, and if I could separate the CEO from the car it would be on my shopping list. I cannot, and therefore do not.
It’s America, you are free to buy whichever car you can afford. I’d give you more flak about not buying something based on the CEO, but I don’t eat Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream for the same reason.
I stopped eating Ben & Jerry’s after I made the mistake of looking at the ingredients list.
I stopped eating B&J’s after they charged me $9 for a tiny scoop of ice cream
I think a lot of people would agree with you that it looks better on the outside. It’s much fresher and no longer looks like an awkward frog from the front. I still don’t love the rear though.
“The Model Y Performance Is Here But It Won’t Save Tesla”
(Insert Donald Glover “good” meme)
https://media1.tenor.com/m/ZttURy99Kn8AAAAC/good-great.gif
The cars aren’t selling, sure.
I think Tesla’s REAL problem is that with the CAFE financial penalties gone, so are their sales of Carbon Credits. Which clocked in at 2.76 BILLION. That’s a considerable hit to take to the profits when your sales are sinking like a stone.
And to think all that money Stellantis will save isn’t going to be used for anything better anyways!
Eh, they now have an electric skate board to use for EV stuff, but the trick is going to be gaining enough public desire for it to offset the preferred lower cost ICE alternatives.
It’s Stellantis. They can’t build anything that doesn’t have cam and lifter issues that’s also antiquated with “noise” that the public would want.
The best minds in the world could try and build something with public desire for Stellantis and it’d still fall flat on its face lmao
…including EV’s, which is an impressive achievement.
Here, I was thinking they were trying to engineer an EV with a valve train just so it could have issues…
It’s surprising to me how little mention this gets in news coverage of Tesla, they’ve never been remotely profitable without credit sales and those just went poof. The other crises facing Tesla are huge but the loss of regulatory credits makes those look like peanuts
Especially since it was pure profit.
I was pretty sure that they’ve been profitable without the credits, so did a quick search. It looks like from roughly 2020-2024, Tesla was profitable without the credits.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-easy-money-regulatory-credits-set-dry-up-amid-weakening-sales-2025-07-22/
Musk recently found out he can sell Costco dollar hot dogs to his stans for 13 bucks. His financial future is assured. Legacy fast food is on borrowed time with this game changer. And the social credit points from using Boring Company dust for manufacturing the bricks used in construction are a significant draw also.
He can while it’s new and shiny. As with all new things, the lustre fades and the enthusiasm wanes.
It’ll never be zero, but will it maintain profitability.
Every time I see the interior of a Tesla I remember why I would never want one. Not that I find the exterior of this blob agreeable either.
I have never been in a car that screamed “I don’t want you here” with the interior more than a Tesla.
I rode in one of these new ones a few weeks ago. I was impressed at how well Tesla made the interior unpleasant. I thought they put all their effort into making the exterior ugly, but it turns out most of their efforts were focused on making the interior even more terrible (which I wasn’t sure was possible). It blows my mind that people somehow think that Teslas are luxury cars…
Some people feel the price alone makes it a luxury (and maybe by implication, having a place to charge it) while others feel it necessary that it have superior craftsmanship or be a cosseting experience. For the former group, it could be considered luxury.
I’ve always described Tesla’s interior design language as corporate office park
I think it’s more IKEA meets a modern fast-food joint. I love minimalism, but Tesla’s approach is a bridge too far. No driver display and no stalks is a non-starter for this old dog.
IKEA has more design chops in their little FLISAT than Tesla does in their entire fleet. I’d drive a car with an IKEA interior…hell I’d assemble it.
I nearly said “corporate office park by Ikea” in my original comment then decided it was unfair to Ikea. To be fair, I don’t ALWAYS want Swedish minimalism, but it’s far from the worst outcome and in certain applications (affordable furniture that blends in well) it’s hard to beat.
But if the thing came with Swedish Meatball generators, would that sway you? Just don’t ask where the meat comes from.
I would be interested in the option, even i had to periodically run over roadkill for the meatball maker to have resources. Long as they taste right, and come with gravy and that berry sauce, I’m sold.
I was in an uber a few weeks back and it was a Model Y with WHITE interior… like white interior looks awesome but why you’d choose it for an uber is beyond me.
Right? There’s nothing in there. It’s a sterile pod with a tablet glued on.
Pretty negative view for a new variant of a car. It has some features that are different than the regular model, more so than the previous generation. There is now adjustable suspension, the same other interior upgrades as the revised Y and what looks like as an increase in range. Not a ton of changes but just like most sporty models, it gets a power, suspension, and interior/exterior changes.
I am a few days away from one year in my ’24 Y Performance, coming up on nearly 24k trouble free miles. The car has received many over the air updates, gets great mileage/efficiency, easily swallows up cargo and people while also not taking up a huge footprint, has the best battery/motor warranty (8 yrs/120k miles), etc. It easily handles mundane commutes and is fun to open up when the traffic and road allows. It isn’t the best handler, never expected it to be. But, it is more than enough for the street, any street and any weather (I drive in the Boston area, mine has seen everything from 100+ degree days, torrential downpours, high winds, snow/ice, etc). When you want, you point the car and it just rockets, providing a rush of power that I would have needed a much costlier car that runs on premium, something that for fuel prices near me would cost at least $1k more per year to operate. Even with low gas prices and high electricity costs near me, I am driving around a car capable of some performance driving yet the fuel/electricity cost is slightly less than my previous Sonata N Line after a year of driving – more fun, more performance, more space, more capability in bad weather and cheaper to operate. You won’t find me going back and until all of the other manufacturers can produce something that has as good efficiency, better warranty and doesn’t have to go back for multiple failures like the Mustang, Blazer, Ioniq, EV6, etc all have and still do, I will consider the options. For now, Tesla still wins.
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I know what you mean, but the way you said it makes it sound as if 2 years ago he was a mensch.
It isn’t that Elon has changed, just that the excuses for believing he isn’t a complete POS have evaporated. The good part is that now you don’t need to wonder about the folks still buying Teslas.
This. I looked long and hard at the early Model S, but the way their website presented pricing (by including estimated fuel savings as fake discounts against MSRP), and the off the wall garbage Elon has been spouting since at least the crashed F1 days, left me knowing I couldn’t consciously support the company with my money. The man has only become bolder in his lies, hype, racism, and hypocrisy. Now it is all out in the open but people keep making excuses to justify supporting his bullshit.
Volkswagen was started by actual Nazi’s, under the direction of actual Hitler, and Porsche was an SS member. Henry Ford was openly antisemitic. Elon supports Israel and not terrorists, but ok.
I know people want to present Tesla as failing, but their third quarter is going to be good, at least in the US, because of expiring rebates. They can’t build them fast enough. Their french fry sales won’t replace carbon credits, but most new electric cars use Tesla superchargers. They make a lot of money off that.
They have a new roadster coming out, a cheaper Y, and the performance Y coming out.
VW’s ties became largely irrelevant after Germany was defeated. Musk is a current bigot, white supremacist, and fascist. Most rational people are much more concerned with the current fascists in control than the ones who died long ago.
Also, nobody makes lots of money on retail charging. It is a commodity with very slim margins. Plus, without incentives for installing more chargers, the ROI gets even worse.
Oh look here folks, another iNeRnEt gEnIuS!
Yup, that’s one of the reasons I’d never own either of the Germans, though I find neither of them to be appealing as products, either.
The big difference between the Germans and Tesla is that nobody involved in the atrocities of WWII is still running either of those companies. Musk is still CEO. There’s an ocean of difference between “company did a bad thing most of a century ago” and “company is actively doing bad things right this moment”.
That’s how I can justify something like MB in my head (not that I’ve owned one, they’re just not off the table) or Ford, but VW’s very specific Nazi origin and Porsche by extension are too far a bridge for me. That’s only my weird standard, I don’t judge those who buy them for that ancient history. I also have no reason to adjust my reasoning (such that it is) for VW/Porsche because I have no interest in their cars. It’s kind of like when you find out an artist you like sucks as a person—sucks how, specifically? I think we all have a line where, once an artist crosses it, we cannot separate them from their art and that might even vary by how much we like their work. I wouldn’t buy a Tesla, neither, for that matter, though even if I liked them, musk has already removed them from consideration.
Yeah, the downside of Tesla building absolutely nothing I would be interested in buying is that my “boycott” has no teeth. 🙂
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Oh yes, I’m fully aware of this, which is why I mentioned it. Glad someone else sees it too. It’s really insidious stuff.
I’ve only met a single Jewish Zionist in my life. He’s half Jewish, non practicing, and a mega privileged Ivy League kid from a wealthy DC suburb who’s dating a guy who proudly works for the Trump administration. I genuinely think he’s just a bigot who believes that being rich, gay, and liberal means he’s absolved of any obligation or responsibility and rather than acknowledge his privilege he’d rather spend his entire life in a gated community in the suburbs.
I can’t stand the guy but he’s been in our group forever so everyone just kind of feels obligated to include him. Basically, he’s an asshole who just so happens to be Jewish. My wife and I are close friends with many Jews and while we’re not Jewish they always welcome us into their spaces with open arms. They’re all incredibly gracious people and not one of them has ever voiced support for what Israel is doing. Not a single time. In fact several have pulled me aside and been like “hey I just thought I’d mention that Netanyahu is a sack of shit and what Israel is doing is unforgivable”.
In my experience the most vocal Zionists are almost always rich white Christians. That’s not a coincidence. I’d imagine many of them are closeted antisemites but to them Israel is either a means to an end or they’re just so chock full of Boomer propaganda that they think it’s their duty as freedom loving, better dead than red Americans to blindly, unquestioningly support Israel.
I also think that if you asked for their opinion on Islam you’d get some uh…answers. In the end they like to wave around their little Israeli flags, call themselves proud fighters of antisemitism, etc. but deep down it’s an “the enemy of my enemy is my frenemy” situation at best and an insidious ploy at worst. I’m glad we’ve got folks here calling it out…because in my experience the vast majority of Jewish people hate what’s going on as much as we do but the conservative propaganda machine is trying to make it seem like it’s the other way around.
It’s not just your experience. I know there was one example in the video where some pro-Israel movement had exactly zero Jewish sponsors. The only supporters? Christians. Like, you couldn’t even find a token Jewish extremist to provide a _little_ credibility here?
When you ask Christians about their stance on Israel, a disturbing number will say that Israel is “gods chosen people” and that ultimately they will come out on top because the Bible says so. This isn’t some crazy fundamentalist shit either, I’ve met some pretty worldly, educated, level-headed Christians who actually believe that shit. So they just tune the whole Israel-Palestine conflict out. You see the same thing happening when it comes to blurring the separation of church and state, as long as it’s “their side” many won’t speak out, but if it was another religion blurring those lines they’d lose their shit. Source: I grew up in a very conservative Baptist church and apart from myself and my brother, my whole family is Christian.
Now you know two. Zionism is simply the belief in a Jewish state. What (and even where) that state is open to debate. There are plenty of progressive zionists who are appalled by Netanyahu and blame him for destroying any chance Jews or Palestinians have for a peaceful future. He has also, unfortunately, redefined Zionism as what Israel is currently doing. I know this could start an endless thread which is really not my goal. I just want to point out that Zionism does not have to be what it unfortunately has become under the current coalition.
Wasn’t that Roadster promised half a decade ago by now.
But those sales will come at the expense of Q4 and beyond. I think Teslas—and other EVs—are priced exactly where they should be once the incentives are factored in, so I imagine they will have to slash prices considerably when those go away. And, still, sales will probably dry up.
If you like your Tesla great, but Tesla is certainly taking the Nissan approach of heavily updating aged platforms at this point. It’ll buy them some time (maybe the better part of a decade) but unless they start dumping some serious capital into new platforms the writing is on the wall.
It’s also yet to be seen how the lack of the EV credit will impact EV sales and as someone above pointed out Tesla will no longer be able to sell carbon offset credits. With no ICE or hybrid platforms to fall back on and highly aged lineup where even new “generations” are essentially the prior ones the future of Tesla is pretty stormy IMO.
Of course, logic and reason go out the window with this company so I’m sure I’ll be proven wrong about all of this.
I don’t think you’re wrong. Traditionally they “launch” a new model like 5 years before you can actually buy one. Who knows, maybe tomorrow Elon will announce the Model T that comes with Hoverboard Mode or whatever. It’ll be $25,000. You can preorder it for a $69 deposit (nice) with delivery for May 2026. And in May 2032 you’ll get it, for $69,000 (nice), and Hoverboard Mode will turn out to be an adjustable air suspension. That doesn’t really work.
It’s cool you like yours, but Tesla as a company is failing. They have no new models or 2nd generations of existing models on the horizon and are stuck just making new trim levels of the Model Y, basically.
You don’t need a much costlier car that takes premium to have a faster car, as pointed out in the article an Ionic 5 N is much faster for a few thousand more.
Tesla could get right back on top with two things: new designs and a new CEO. Especially the latter.
But then their meme stock value would crater and we can’t have that!
And why does it have a Plaid badge? It isn’t one.
Why do the car photos look AI generated? Or, at least, heavily edited?
With the red Model Y on either the wrong side of the road, or the steering wheel’s on the wrong side of the car.
“Why do the car photos look AI generated? Or, at least, heavily edited?”
That’s the full self drawing feature.
That did actually get a guffaw out loud from me. Kudos.
This thing is sooooooo ugly.
I know it’s mentioned that it’s WLTP, but it shouldn’t be understated that real-world range isn’t going to be ANYTHING close to that. It’s probably more like 240 for a 75mph range test, using about 95% to achieve that.
I think the only people surprised by how crowded the EV market has become are Tesla themselves.
I think this is proof that they’re willing to cede plenty of market share to others, they just don’t seem to want to innovate that much anymore. I won’t even touch the Elon thing, let’s just pretend he doesn’t exist for a second and talk about products and infrastructure.
For a long time I said that the death of Tesla would be brought on by EVs from major manufacturers, where customers can see and drive and touch the cars at their local shops. Tesla has failed miserably at this, even if their word-of-mouth sales (mostly used) has improved. I can’t see a brand new Tesla in a sales center without driving…2 hours? I have 5 Ford dealers and 3 Hyundai dealers and 3 VW dealers and 3 Kia dealers in my metro and can go buy an EV off the lot today.
IMO, even more than Musk losing his mind, their willful ignorance of physical locations (actually closing showrooms) has been their undoing.
I’d say “not having physical showrooms” is the least of their problems. That’s not to say it isn’t a problem, or even a big one, just that they are facing so many others, most of which are self-inflicted.
I have a hard time understanding the thesis of this article, which seems to imply that 2.8 vs 3.3 seconds to 60 mph is a huge difference, but *82* miles of range (not to mention $4,000) is nothing significant.
Agreed. I for one am happy there is no “track mode” as the model Y is no track vehicle.
Neither are at least half the cars that have one. Should they? Probably not. But apparently that’s something the average buyer cares about for some reason.
You’d be shocked to find out that Ford puts a “Sport” badge on Explorers, and Toyota writes “TRD” on their Tacomas 🙂
And Subaru adds a red stripe around the bottom of a car and calls it a “sport”.
I feel that if you’re buying the performance version of any vehicle, the performance is more important than the range/fuel economy.
I feel like fuel consumption probably wasn’t a deciding factor in buying a 10 cylinder car for you.
Eh, the range problem of shitty mileage is easily fixed with a bigger gas tank.
GM applied this approach to EVs as well. All it took was a curb weight that makes the Dodge Challenger look like a Lotus 7.
Something American got heavier. Did you expect anything else?
With the prevalence of GLP-1s, I was hoping we’d lighten the cars with some small battery packs and range extenders.
It’s also fixed by the fact that you can fill it up in less than 5 minutes virtually anywhere
Not at home though. Which would be nice.
I don’t know, do your neighbors park outside? 😉
Yeah, but there are too many cameras around.
Yes, that’s true, but if a competing performance vehicle was 30% more efficient I would consider that worthy of mentioning in more than a throwaway line.
Until EVs can recharge at gas car rates, range is going to matter, and matter a lot. This is still ostensibly a family vehicle capable of road tripping.
The performance variants always take a significant range hit, though. If max range is your goal, then you’re probably shopping the non-performance variants.
*Within the confines of the performance subcategory*, Tesla’s range is significantly higher than its competition, which I again believe to be important.
A Cayenne Turbo gets 30% better fuel economy than an Escalade V. That still might matter to some people, even if neither gets the mileage of a Highlander Hybrid.
However, Tesla trying to sell on the current EV market is like Porsche trying to sell to the Jewish population in the late 30s. Given VW’s political ties at the time.
I don’t think Tesla’s range claims should be taken as gospel, even though they’ve never lied about anything else, ever
/s
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/tesla-drivers-lose-class-action-bid-in-case-over-exaggerated-ev-range/
This article could have just as easily been titled “Tesla Performance model changes the game by offering 30% more range for 5% less money” and then gone on to talk about how competitors are offering more performance while buyers really just want range.
I’m as pissed as anyone about Elon dragging what is the most interesting American car company into our dumb culture wars, but this take – especially the headline – seems like some pretty gratuitous bashing. What car company was ever “saved” (or NOT saved for that matter) by a small volume performance variant of its mainstream model?
I feel like we should just be glad that companies are even making performance variants anymore and leave it at that, even if they’re a bit watered down like this one.
If Tesla was a normal car company with regular new products, fine. Nothing wrong with this variant on its own. I think the thesis is this is the only thing Tesla knows how to do at this point.
Agreed. To quote:
But the entire point of this version is to, in fact, keep up with the Jonses. So, like, mission accomplished?
That’s exactly what I thought. All of a sudden .6 seconds is the deciding factor on an EV?
Yeah, but isn’t Tesla notorious for overstating range? I’m betting the real world range difference is much smaller than that.
The ranges are rated by governments; the actual numbers may be aggressive, but comparing them between vehicles should be legit.
That doesn’t seem to be the case, judging from things like https://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/unversioned/img/car-news/ev-range-leaderboard-infograph.jpg (which I realize is a few years out of date, but basically every non-Tesla EV beats its EPA number, while basically every Tesla comes up short of it).
I’ll put the most aggressive version of my statement on hold then, pending real world test comparisons.
I still find the parsing of tenths of a second of 0-60 times (that are all faster than supercars) odd in comparison to range, whatever the exact numbers are.
Yeah, that’s fair. I honestly wonder how often I could even use a sub-3 second 0-60 time on public roads. That’s roller coaster launch kind of acceleration, which is scary enough when you’re literally on rails. I struggle to imagine doing that on a road.
It’s something the average buyer tries a few times in the first few weeks, convincing themselves it’s fun. And then never again. Also, when your kid turns 16, and assuming you care about them, you can’t give them your old car. Kind of terrifying to think how many parents will anyway and how many dead kids and ruined lives we’re going to have as a result.
Based on what I’ve read and watched, the 5Ns sportiness win is about a LOT more than 0-60 acceleration. If I were shopping for a fun hoonable EV (admittedly not my jam) the Y would not be a contender.
Dropping off my 12 year old daughter at school earlier this week, we were behind a new Model Y in line and my daughter looks up from her phone and says “What is that in front of us and why is it so ugly?”
This is the state of Tesla in 2025.
It’s been the state of Tesla since the drop of the X.
4 Russian nesting dolls and one dumpster does NOT make a product line.
Imagine buying a new Tesla in 2025. I’m usually a “don’t make assumptions” person but in this case I think it’s pretty safe to assume a few things about the driver….
CT driver, yes. Other Tesla driver: could be same as CT driver, or also someone who “doesn’t care about politics” (upper middle class who could care less about what’s happening in the world, so long as their 401k is fine).
So… Someone who’s willing to hide support of bigotry behind the flimsiest of fig leaves?
I’m thinking more the folks MLK was talking about when he said the real problem were the white moderates: folks who would never wear a hood but also don’t care or think much about anyone who isn’t them. In other words, people who are indifferent. I don’t think they’re necessarily bigots (bigots care…usually a lot), but they may be the bigger problem.
100% agree.
What???? So, everyone who buys a Tesla is a neo Nazi? I think it is possible to separate the art from the artist. I’m a Republican, but I think Trump is a clown.
Everyone who buys a Tesla is okay with lining the pockets of an out and proud Neo Nazi who was one of the primary forces behind putting fascists in power, yes. It’s nice that you can separate the art from the artist, but I’m fairly confident that if you ask one of the folks who’s getting assaulted and whisked away in an unmarked van by the masked gestapo they probably wouldn’t agree.
I care about them. Based on your affiliation and privilege, I think it’s unlikely that you do. But hey, I’d be happy to be wrong!
“… and my daughter looks up from her phone…”
Way to bury the lede!
I dunno. It and all the competitors are already plenty fast enough. Actually they are probably already way too fast for any road driving purpose.
I think this amount of acceleration becomes irrelevant when comparing cars for most folks. The way it handles, the interior finish, the looks, etc, become more important
Yeah my car’s 0-60 is like 6-7 seconds which is shamefully slow according to the internet. And yet, if I ever floored it, most passengers would think I was a psychopath. Would it be fun to have a car that could do it in 3? Sure. But unless I want the contents of my coffee mug in my lap, or my groceries smushed, (you know, the consequences of what I actually use my car for), I’d have no use for such a feature. Certainly wouldn’t pay tens of thousands of dollars extra for it.
This is an article comparing the “performance” to it’s competition. If it were comparing a gt3rs to a 7% more expensive Ferrari would you be posting about how a Camry has more acceleration than you want? (Having typed that, I have to admit I might just do exactly that. I’ll see myself out). Sorry.
Ha. But who is this car for? In my mind it’s a soccer mom/dad who wants to have the “nice” one. Maybe I’m way off base on that assumption, in which case I agree with you.
It’s not the vehicle that is dooming Tesla. I saw a new Model 3 yesterday and it’s a handsome, sporty looking sedan for the price. Telsa’s blue is particularly striking in it.
The problem is that there are a lot of people (including my wife) who would NEVER consider a Tesla, even used, because Elon is, well Elon.
I’ve known that CEOs and founders and Big wigs of major corporations support some politicians more than others. Like the Walton family supports Republicans generally.
But during campaigning, I’ve never seen or heard of any Walton, Ford, or whatever that is running on stage with a candidate.
Regardless of what you think of Trump, there are a lot of Americans and even more foreigners in major markets for Tesla that loath him. That alienates a LOT of potential buyers and I don’t see how Tesla can make a car that overcomes this.
Specifically alienates the core of purchasers or EV’s. Great biz concept Leon. Creates companies that depend on federal govt handouts then pretends to be a libertarian. What could possibly go wrong?
I like his backup plan of making products that specifically appeal to a certain demographic and then making yourself radioactive to that demographic…
I especially liked his backup backup plan of let’s sell to the coal rolling demographic
Galaxy.Brain
Maybe that’s worse? I kind of wish all those folks WOULD be as public as Elon so people would see their true colors and take their business elsewhere.
As I’ve point out to my daughter, if you dig enough, pretty much every major company has a ‘dirty/ugly’ side.
We’d live in the Dark Ages if we knew what high Level Executives really though and bought according to what we think of them.
For sure.
If you would have told me 10 years ago that Tesla would be at this point today I wouldn’t have believed it.
I would have and even predicted it with a bet between a buddy of mine. Speaking of, I think he owes me $50 or something like that.
Tesla has always been an overrated company and their product offering was also always shite (remember the ones held together with zip ties and wood from Home Depot?!). Elon has always over promised and under delivered going all the way back. Eventually consumers were going to wise up as EVs with actual build quality started to arrive.
I’ll give Tesla credit to the fact that they took EVs from an obscure idea to a practical option for most people but they were always a doomed company under Elons leadership.
I didn’t think Telsa was a stable company nor that Musk was stable either. The I/D was way off (still is by the way).
But expected a fall from Grace, but didn’t expect the plumet from Grace that the company has had.
However, that isn’t the shocking part. Telsa is STILL worth a lot. Sales are down like mad, competitors are coming up with great products, they have an administration that hates EVs. With all that “headwinds”, I would expect Telsa to be Penny Stock, not still one of the biggest automotive valuations in the world.
I’d never own a Tesla, but even as a current N owner I kind of have a hard time understanding the hype behind the Ioniq 5 N. To be fair I haven’t driven one yet, but on paper its limitations seem like a total non starter to me. If the forums are to be believed people aren’t even seeing 200 miles of range in the real world…and for whatever reason it’s now the only Hyundai EV without an NACS port.
So you’ve got dismal range, dismal charging to boot, and the $70,000 price to overcome. I’m not exactly surprised that they aren’t selling very many of them. There are dozens that have been sitting on lots for months in my area. Eventually I’d like to drive one, but I couldn’t make one work as a daily and am not going to drop 70 large on something that’ll be worth 40 in 18 months…
This is why I’m holding out some hope for the Ioniq 6 N. It’s weird looking, and Hyundai really, profoundly fucked up the packaging of the Ioniq 6 (why the fuck isn’t it a hatchback and why the fuck does a car that massive and heavy not have decent cargo space?)…but due to the lower weight and better aero it should offer more usable range, and maybe this time they’re putting the correct charging port on it.
I’ve not driven one, either, but the 5 N seems to be a genuine sports car. With expensive tires that are probably going to need replaced every 10k miles or less, I wouldn’t want to daily it, either, unless I had a short commute. Given that they seem intended to be used as weekend toys more than anything I completely get sacrificing range for performance in this instance.
Well only getting 200 miles with the 5N seems about right if you are constantly having fun and leaving it in sport mode.
My 5 AWD ultimate gets around 500km in typical city driving while using Eco mode. (Which is more than the 420km it’s rated for with the huge rims and tire standard for the trim.)
BUT. If I activate Sport mode and goof around my range can easily drop to 250-300km.
I have not tried a 5N but I’m pretty confident I could easily get the rated range if I wanted to. Now the challenge would be wanting to get the rated range when there is so much opportunity to have fun with such a fast car.
Why dismal charging? The E-GMP platform is one of the best charging platforms going?
Yeah. I was thinking the same. My experience using Tesla superchargers is my 5 charges faster than any Tesla at the stop.
I usually drop in with a low charge and leave with over 80% charge BEFORE Teslas that were already there before me. And the folks are usually sitting in the car waiting so it’s not like they are somewhere eating or anything.
My experience with 250kw CCS chargers is even better. I’m hitting 80% super freaky fast.
I meant public charging. You’re just not going to consistently find CCS charging infrastructure here in yee haw land, and with most manufacturers switching over to NACS it’s not like they’re going to be making much more. As a result it would be very difficult to take a road trip in the 5N.
Yeah, it’s very location dependent. I’ve put ~22k miles on my Ioniq 6 over the last year and a half and have had no issues. Have road tripped in the midwest, NE, and from Michigan to South Carolina recently with no issues. The Tesla adapter is great to have, it’s slower, but at least offers up a ton more coverage.
But it really depends on how busy the CCS chargers are nearby, and how many there area…obviously the Tesla network coverage is just so much better.
Overall though, I can’t speak highly enough of my I6. It gets 300 miles of range on the highway, and generally takes 15-25 minutes to go from 5-15% to 80%. The I6N looks awesome, though I’m probably checking out of the EV market for a bit when I return the lease in a few months.
Oh yeah. One other thing. The 5N is only made in Korea so no NACs port. All 5s made in Korea have the CCS port.
For example, all 5s in Canada still have the CCS port as well as they only are imported from Korea.
As a new Ioniq 6 owner, don’t knock the packaging too hard. It’s a functional family sedan. The trunk is pretty par for the course sedan-wise, and the back seats are the biggest, legroomiest things I’ve ever personally sat in (and roomier than in the Ioniq 5). I’m 6′ tall and can sit behind myself with room to spare, which means things like giant modern child seats will fit without the front seats needing to scoot forward.
It may contain all the right parts, and I’ve even soft-shopped, but I just can’t get past the awkward exterior styling to consider the 6 seriously. To each their own, though, and it seems like you’re quite happy with yours.
Quite happy, but the styling is definitely not for everyone. I love it, non-car-enthusiasts tell me unprompted that it looks like a Porsche…and every car enthusiast I know thinks it’s ugly.