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By Jonathan Crouch

The Model Y Performance adds zest to this Tesla hatch. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 36

Some very subtle styling cues mark out the ultimate small Tesla hatch, this one, the Model Y Performance. Power's up to 483bhp and the 62mph sprint takes just 3.5s. This is an EV on a mission.

Backgroundword count: 126

You'll have seen many Tesla Model Ys on the roads; it's the brand's best seller. But very few of them will have been this top flagship 'Performance' version, which has only a few exterior detail changes to mark it out from any normal Dual Motor 'Long Range' Model Y. It goes a fair bit faster though, so it'll be the variant of choice for anyone seeking Model Y motoring to the max. Tesla has gradually been improving its prowess when it comes to R&D development and the result is that its latest cars ride and handle to a significantly higher standard - try the improved Model 3 (this car's saloon counterpart) for proof of that. Can this top Model Y showcase that here?. Let's find out.

Driving Experienceword count: 331

It's the fashion amongst EVs these days for a little combustion-like linearity in the way they accelerate. But Tesla doesn't follow fashion and this car simply hurls itself away from rest, especially in this top 'Performance' form. That's because your right foot is commanding 483 braked horses, 49 more than in the standard Long Range version. As in that lesser variant, electric motors propel you from both front and rear axles, creating the car's 'Dual Motor' AWD system, producing 575Nm of torque and dispatching the 62mph sprint in just 3.5s (1.3s quicker than the standard version). Tesla's also disdained the current fashion for limiting top speed on EVs: this one will cruise on the autobahn at up to 155mph (20mph more than the standard variant). The Model Y doesn't have a 'Sport' drive mode - and it clearly doesn't need one, the ordinary 'Standard' setting quite enough to bring up your breakfast (and attract the constabulary's attention) if you engage too frequently in repeated right foot flexes. Better if you can to chill - quite literally, because that's the name of the second more laid-back setting that'll better preserve that all-important drive range figure. It's officially quoted at 319 miles for this 'Performance' version - 12 miles less than the ordinary 'Long Range' derivative manages, but that's still very good by class standards. It doesn't take many miles behind the wheel of this car to realise that there are clearly things in vehicle development that Tesla prioritises - stuff like drive range and acceleration. And equally obviously, there seem to be areas the brand feels deserve less attention - we would number ride quality and refinement amongst these. High speed undulations don't seem to trouble this Model Y very much, but it struggles much more than a car of this price should at lower speeds over poor surfaces. And unfortunately, it can't be embellished with the kind of adaptive damping system that Tesla doesn't want to offer at this price point.

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