Tech product names tend to get clunkier over time. The Tesla Model Y, one of the four original "S3XY" models, has now gotten another variant in the U.S., and while it's the company's most important model in a while, the full name doesn't actually roll of the tongue: Tesla Model Y L.
In fact, the full model name of the only available variant right now is the Tesla Model Y L Premium Launch Series.
Not-particularly-sexy naming aside, the Model Y L is a longer variant of the Model Y with a three-row, six-seat configuration, making it the optimal choice for larger families (now that the Tesla Model X has been sunsetted).
The car is not new; it's been available in China for about a year, and it was later expanded to several other markets, including Australia and New Zealand. And yes, a seven-seat variant of the Model Y does already exist in the U.S. But this is still a huge deal for anyone in America shopping for a truly larger Tesla, as the new Model Y has a roughly six-inch longer wheelbase, and about seven more inches in overall length than the regular Model Y.
Alas, it also comes with a significantly higher price, starting at $61,990, a full $4,000 more than the Model Y Performance.
For the price, you get dual motors, 325 miles of range, and 4.4 seconds from 0-60mph, and a total of 89 cubic feet of cargo space.
The amenities include first row heated and ventilates sport seats, second-row heated and ventilated seats with powered armrests, an eight-inch second-row touch screen, and an 18-speaker audio configuration. The Launch Series trim brings a few additional, mostly visual perks, including Launch Series badging, fancy floor mats, and puddle light.
The rest is mostly a combo of what you get in the Premium and Performance version, with some minor differences; for example, the Model Y L is the only one that gets the choice of Zen Grey interior (replacing Black and White Premium interior that's available on the other models).
Is it a good deal? It's tough to tell: If you really want a Tesla and you need six seats, it's the only version out there. For another three-row electric car, you'll have to look at other brands, or perhaps wait until Tesla starts offering the regular, non-Launch Series version, which will probably be a little cheaper.