My wife and I had been driving a 2016 Mazda CX-5 for about 8 1/2 years. Overall, it had been a very reliable car, with only about 65,000 miles on it. However, it began showing its age with respect to its dated technology (software and hardware) and an increase in maintenance.
So, we finally decided to take to plunge and get a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Of course, in early 2024, there were many options available. However, after doing our research, we ultimately decided on purchasing the 2024 Tesla Model Y Standard Range, rear wheel drive. Let’s discuss the many reasons why we chose Tesla, and in particular the Model Y, in that trim level.
As you may have noticed, my wife and I only drive one car. That’s because my wife does not work and I am semi-retired, working from home. We also don’t drive many miles per year…about 5,300+ miles per year, based on the mileage of our last car, the Mazda CX-5. I realize that’s well below the average number of miles driven by most people, but it is what it is.
We knew that the Tesla Model Y had begun deliveries of the Model Y in the U.S. as of March 2020. That meant the Model Y had been out 4 years by the time we made our purchase. This gave Tesla the time to refine, what has since become, the best-selling car in the world.
Reasons we made the Switch from ICE to BEV
Lower Maintenance – Saves Time and Money
Perhaps the most compelling reason to make the switch from an internal combustion engine vehicle to a BEV, was to minimize our time and money spent on maintenance. No more oil and oil filter changes, timing belt replacements, radiator fluid flushes, brake fluid flushes, transmission fluid flushes, brake pad and rotor replacement, etc. And Tesla vehicles, as of early 2022, reportedly no longer use a standard 12V lead acid battery. Instead, they use a 16V Lithium Ion battery, which should outlast its lead acid counterpart, by several years. So, not only do I avoid wasting hours sitting at a traditional car dealer’s service center, but I no longer get ripped off with all of their maintenance services, they are so eager to perform.
By the way, most BEVs have some type of regenerative braking. Tesla’s is quite good and is one of the reasons why you may never have to change your brake pads for as long as you own/drive it. Changing brake pads and rotors is expensive and can require a few hours of your time waiting at the dealership.
Performance
Although the Standard Range, RWD Model Y is the slowest trim, it can still do 0-60 in about 6.6 seconds. But, the Model Y’s instant torque (true of any EV) is simply amazing and makes driving a blast. Our 2016 Mazda CX-5 had a turbocharged, inline 4-cylinder engine, that had very noticeable turbo lag…ugh, it was horrible, especially when you needed to jet into a roundabout or zip into merging traffic.
Convenience and Savings
Of course, we also loved the idea of charging at home, rather than having to take a trip to the gas station to pump gas. It’s also nice to save money on fuel costs (electricity is pretty cheap). Right now, it costs us about $16 to drive about 250 miles in our Model Y. We drive mostly on local roads, so with regular gas going for about $3.50 a gallon, the cost to drive 250 miles in our Mazda CX-5 was about $38.
Better for the Environment
Okay, this was not a huge factor in our decision to switch from ICE to BEV, but it was an additional benefit that we certainly liked. Plus, we can sit in our Model Y, inside our garage with the door closed, and have the AC running while listening to music, without having to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning.
Reasons Why We Chose the Tesla Model Y
Although there were a few other BEVs we could have purchased, none seemed to come close to Tesla, all things considered.
Technology and BEV Leader
Tesla, is the pioneer and leader in the global BEV industry, in terms of sales and technology. It was also important to us that whichever BEV maker we chose, have a track record of successfully building BEVs at scale, with real-world range and the best technology. This is not to say that Tesla is perfect, but we found that Tesla BEVs offer the best mix of features/technology, range and reliability, for the price.
Moreover, we simply would not consider any EV startups, as many appear to have very uncertain futures (e.g. Fisker, Lordstown Motors, Canoo), leading to bankruptcies.
We also did not feel comfortable going with “legacy” automakers, who really lack the technological prowess and integration (software and OTA updates) found and implemented successfully in all Tesla vehicles. In many cases, it appears that legacy automakers are not fully committed to building BEVs from the ground up. In fact, some of the offerings from legacy automakers were ICE car platforms, adapted for batteries and motors.
Pricing and Incentives
Pricing and incentives in the year 2024 were the best fit for us, with respect to Tesla. At the time we were shopping for the Model Y, Tesla was offering discounted pricing of $42,290 for the Standard Range (260 miles), RWD Model Y in Stealth Grey. Deduct from that, the at point-of-sale, tax credit of $7,500 and that brought the price down to $34,790 (excluding tax and registration fees). Wow, who else offers a crossover BEV of that size (storage, roominess) and with that kind of advanced technology, for under $35K? There is literally no other EV in the U.S. market, that offers all that Tesla does, at that price point.
Now, reduce that $34,790 by our Mazda CX-5 trade-in ($14,100) and our out-of-pocket cost was just $20,690 (excluding tax and registration fees). That’s just insane and too good of a deal to pass up!
Tesla no longer offers the Standard Range, RWD Model Y. Instead, the most affordable Model Y is their Long Range, RWD Model Y with an EPA range of 337 miles at a price of $44,990, before the tax credit.
While our Standard Range, RWD Model Y offers 260 miles of EPA estimated range, it’s been more than enough for our daily driving needs, which is about 10-20 miles per day. And should we need more, we could always purchase the $1,600 “Energy Boost” software upgrade that unlocks approximately 50 extra miles of range. For now, we simply don’t need it.
Aesthetics, Form Factor, Ergonomics
My wife and I really love the design of the Model Y. We think it’s a beautiful, elegant looking SUV crossover. We found the alternatives to the Model Y from other EV makers to be ugly and have gimmicky, if not downright cheesy, aesthetics.
The Model Y has plenty of legroom and headroom. It also has very comfortable seats. My wife and I geniunely enjoy the clean, minimalist interior layout, with a single screen to control many of the Model Y’s functionalities. Most cars have way too many buttons and dials.
We also like the fact that the Model Y is just the right length for our needs (it’s about 9 inches longer than our old Mazda CX-5), with an abundance of cargo room, including a sub trunk and frunk (front trunk).
Safety
The Model Y is perhaps one of the safest cars you can buy in its price range. In fact, the Model Y earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA. So, if crash safety is important to you, as it is for us, rest assured, the Model Y is a great choice.
Buying Experience
My wife and I hated going to the dealerships to waste almost an entire day “negotiating” a price. It’s a horrible and now, with Tesla, an unnecessary experience. We walked into the Tesla showroom, got a quote for our trade-in within 15 minutes and then just placed an order for the Model Y from the website within a few minutes. When placing your order, you’ll just need to make a one-time, non-refundable order fee payment of $250. After placing your order, you should get an email confirmation from Tesla with details about when you can expect your vehicle to be delivered. Our delivery day was literally 3 days after we placed the order. No haggling, no stress. How easy is that?
Supercharger Network
Although we have yet to take a long trip in our Model Y, it’s always nice to know that when we do, all Tesla vehicles have access to their extensive Supercharger network. In fact, all Tesla vehicles will map out when and where along your travel route, you can charge your car. Not to mention, that Tesla Supercharger network is the most reliable charging network in the country (and world).
Model Y Driving Experience
The 2024 Model Y has a firm, comfortable, generally quiet, ride. I will say that when I drive over a road surface that has many smaller imperfections or a rough texture, I do notice it, but not in a jolting or disturbing way.
Having test driven the new 2024 Model 3 Long Range, I can say that the ride in the new Model 3 is definitely more insulated, especially over the aforementioned roads with many smaller imperfections or rough texture.
My wife and I also love the way Tesla handles driver profiles. Our Model Y will instantly recognize who is about to enter it and adjust to that driver’s profile settings. The profile settings include seat positioning, exterior sideview mirrors and steering wheel position. We also like that the main display screen offers an option for “Dark Mode” making it easier to read.
Our Model Y’s voice command is another great feature. So, for instance, if you wanted to increase the fan speed of the AC, you could push the right ball/button on the steering wheel and say “Increase fan speed” and the fan speed would automatically increase by 1. If you said “Increase fan speed by 3”, the AC fan would be increased by 3. You can voice command music and many other things.
Features, Features, Features
There are way too many features to list here (Dog Mode, Auto Pilot, various safety features, such as Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Assist, Speed Assist, etc.), but suffice it to say, one of our favorite features is Sentry Mode. If you don’t already know, Sentry Mode is a motion activated video surveillance system that you can enable to record video of anyone interacting with your Tesla, while it is parked. You can set it to always be active whenever your Tesla is parked. Moreover, you can set Sentry Mode to exclude your home (for those who park inside their home’s garage).
Of course, you can always purchase or subscribe to FSD Supervised. This is something that we aren’t interested in right now, but nice to have in case we change our mind.
Final Thoughts
My wife and I have owned many different brands of ICE cars over the years, including BMW, Land Rover, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Mini, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda. However, we feel that our Tesla Model Y is the best car we’ve ever owned, or at least the one we’ve enjoyed the most, so far. It’s quick, responsive, quiet, comfortable and safe. We also like the way it looks (not a fan of the boxy SUV “trend” that seems to be prevalent with other carmakers, lately). And the software integration/technology is the best in its class.
