TL;DR
- The US Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive now shows 348 miles of EPA estimated range on Tesla's order page, up from 321 miles.
- The price didn't change. It still starts at $39,990 before fees.
- Tesla hasn't explained the change or announced any new hardware. The base Model Y now sits within 7 miles of the $45,990 Premium RWD.
The cheapest Tesla you can order just got a longer range rating. Tesla's US configurator now lists the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive at 348 miles of EPA estimated range, up from 321 miles, according to TeslaMagz, which says the new figure went live on Friday, November 13. Electrek and Digital Trends also list the base Model Y at 348 miles in their configurator checks. Sawyer Merritt flagged the change on X Friday morning.
That's 27 more rated miles, or about 8.5%, and the price is the same $39,990.
What changed, and what didn't
| Before | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| EPA estimated range | 321 mi | 348 mi |
| Starting price (before fees) | $39,990 | $39,990 |
| Price per rated mile | about $125 | about $115 |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.8 sec (per Electrek) | |
Tesla hasn't said what's behind the higher number. TeslaMagz notes that Tesla hasn't announced a new battery, a different motor or any other hardware change, and the trim name and price are unchanged. Tesla has raised ratings on cars already in production before, often without a separate announcement.
The base Model Y vs the Premium RWD
The update makes the entry Model Y a much closer call against the next trim up. In Electrek's configurator check, the Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive lists 355 miles at $45,990. That's now a 7 mile gap for $6,000.
- Pick the base RWD if range is your main reason for stepping up. It now gets within a few miles of the Premium on paper.
- Pick the Premium RWD if you want its nicer interior, extra features and quicker 5.4 second sprint to 60 mph.
Remember that EPA numbers are a starting point. Highway speed, cold weather and wheel size all cut real range, which is why your Tesla's rated range and actual range don't match.
What it means if you already own or ordered one
A new rating on the order page doesn't change the EPA label on cars already delivered. TeslaMagz says current owners keep the label their car had at delivery, and suggests that anyone with an order in progress ask Tesla which rating applies to their build, since cars in transit may still have paperwork listing 321 miles.
The change also comes a day after Tesla pulled the $41,990 Model Y AWD from its US order page, which leaves the $39,990 RWD as the only entry-level Model Y you can order. Our story on how Tesla dropped the $41,990 Model Y AWD has the details.
