Official ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have landed for the Model Y L Premium All-Wheel Drive, coming in higher than the estimates Tesla originally listed on its configurator.
Longtime Tesla watcher @SawyerMerritt shared the newly released EPA range figures on X:
Model Y L Premium AWD with stock 19-inch Machina 2.0 wheels: 332 miles (vs. Tesla’s original range estimate of 325 miles)
Model Y L Premium AWD with the new 20-inch Uberhelix wheels: 328 miles (vs. Tesla’s original range estimate of 320 miles)
Notably, upgrading from the 19-inch wheels to the larger 20-inch ones only costs buyers 4 miles of range.
The confirmed range numbers arrive after Tesla originally launched the six-seat Model Y L in the U.S. back in July with exclusive Launch Series reservations. The first customer deliveries of the Model Y L in the U.S. are set to begin sometime this month. Curious buyers don’t have to wait to check out the roomier, longer-wheelbase Model Y, though, as Model Y L units are already on display at Tesla showrooms for in-person lookarounds and demo drives.
Model Y vs. Model Y L EPA Range Comparison
The official testing reveals an interesting dynamic between wheel sizes and body styles. On standard Model Y Premium builds, stepping up to larger 20-inch wheels incurs a steep 24-mile penalty. On the Model Y L, opting for the larger wheels drops rated range by only 4 miles.
Model | Wheel Configuration | EPA Range |
|---|---|---|
Model Y Premium AWD | 19-inch wheels | 327 miles |
Model Y L Premium AWD | 19-inch wheels | 332 miles |
Model Y Premium AWD | 20-inch wheels | 303 miles |
Model Y L Premium AWD | 20-inch wheels | 328 miles |
The Model Y L with 20-inch wheels actually delivers more rated range than the smaller standard Model Y riding on base 19-inch wheels.
Aerodynamics and Real-World Range
How does a heavier three-row electric SUV travel further than its two-row sibling? A lot of the credit goes to smart body molding. Tesla engineers designed a rear spoiler that’s integrated directly into the body shell rather than glued on, which they confirmed alone adds 15 miles of driving range. Integrating the rear brake light into that spoiler also freed up vertical room, giving third-row passengers extra headspace.
The stretched chassis also comes with efficiency improvements across the cabin, making it Tesla’s longest-range Model Y sold stateside. Interior comfort on the Model Y L is supported by advanced three-zone climate controls to reduce energy waste, a first for Tesla.
To top it all off, the Model Y L’s real-world endurance stretches even beyond the official EPA label. The Model Y L comfortably beat range estimates in recent real-world testing by Edmunds, achieving 358 miles on 20-inch wheels. With official ratings beating early estimates, Tesla’s new six-seater is proving that extra room doesn’t have to come at the cost of battery range.
