The Tesla Model Y has been a consistent bestseller in the global market thanks to several key factors. Even though the range has been subject to a decline in sales since the beginning of the year, it remains the market leader by a very noteworthy margin. The minimalist midsize EV crossover excels at almost perfectly balancing practicality, efficiency, and performance despite its competitive pricing strategy.
Many prospective owners consider the Model Y as a long-term ownership experience, partly because of how it benefits from an impressive set of lower ownership costs. While previous model years have been subject to their fair share of gremlins, Tesla has invested a great deal of capital and research in refining the product to improve its overall longevity. Electric vehicles typically benefit from lower running costs compared to their ICE counterparts, but the Model Y is a prime example of just how low these costs can be.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Tesla and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, CarEdge, iSeeCars, and the EPA.
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The Model Y’s Appealing Long-Term Cost Estimates
According to the Edmunds True Cost To Own evaluation, a full five-year and 60,000-mile ownership experience of a Tesla Model Y Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive will cost you $53,685, on top of the base MSRP. $29,523 of this accounts for depreciation, $1,025 for maintenance, $1,780 for repairs, and $2,516 for electricity.
CarEdge‘s ownership cost evaluation looks at the entire Model Y range and indicates that you’ll spend $65,526. This includes $30,789 on depreciation, $1,975 on electricity, $22,695 on insurance, $8,672 on financing, and $1,395 on maintenance. iSeeCars gives us some more insight as to what we can expect in terms of depreciation over five years and 60,000 miles, indicating that you can expect the Model Y to lose $25,369 or 59 percent of its value from the day you take ownership
Tall But Competitive Starting Prices
Tesla currently starts the Model Y’s pricing at $44,990 for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive and $48,990 for the All-Wheel Drive. Thankfully, the standard features list for both models is identical, making it a straightforward range to understand. Key standard features include electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, power-folding rear seats with heating, a 16-speaker audio system connected to a 15.4-inch central touchscreen infotainment system, and a compact eight-inch screen for the rear bench.
You also get access to wrap-around, footwell, and door pocket ambient lighting with aluminum detailing and premium textiles, a hands-free electronically opening trunk, and multi-zone climate control with air vents for the rear bench. Stealth Gray is the only standard color for the Model Y. Pearl White Multi-Coat and Deep Blue Metallic cost $1,000, Diamond Black is a $1,500 option, and Ultra Red and Quicksilver are $2,000 options.
The 19-inch Crossflow wheels are a standard fitment for both derivatives. You’ll find yourself spending $2,000 if you want to fit the Helix 2.0 20-inch wheels. If you want access to the 3,500-pound towing capacity, you will need to specify the $1,000 tow hitch. Black interior upholstery is standard, while the black and white combination scheme will increase the price by $1,000. The range comes standard with Autopilot, but if you want access to the supervised Full Self-Driving package, this will cost $8,000. Tesla’s Home Charger costs $420, excluding installation.
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Attractively Low Running And Charging Costs
The Tesla Model Y also excels at being an efficient midsize EV crossover with incredible range estimates, according to the EPA’s testing. This is arguably the most noteworthy reason for its market success. The base Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive consumes 134/117/125 MPGe on the city/highway/combined cycle, or just 26 kWh per 100 miles on the combined cycle.
The 75-kWh lithium-ion battery holds enough charge to cover it for 337 miles before needing to be plugged in. Thanks to Tesla’s Supercharger technology, it recovers 10 to 80 percent of its charge in 27 minutes. The EPA also indicates that you can expect to save up to $5,750 in fuel costs over five years, and spend $600 on electricity over one year, and $1.01 every 25 miles.
Upgrading to the dual-motor system yields poorer efficiency estimates, but they are still reasonably impressive. This includes a 123/111/117 MPGe energy consumption average, or 27 kWh per 100 miles on the combined cycle, together with a 311-mile range estimate. You’ll get to enjoy $5,500 worth of fuel savings over five years, spend $650 on fuel every year, and $1.08 to drive 25 miles.
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Tesla Model Y Price History: How It’s Changed Over The Years
This is how the Tesla Model Y’s pricing has fluctuated since its launch.
Sports Car-Rivaling Performance Figures
Tesla currently offers the Model Y with two drivetrain configurations, namely the Rear-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive. The entry-level option features a single permanent-magnet motor attached to the rear axle, producing 295 horsepower and 309 pound-feet. This gets you from zero to 60 MPH in 5.4 seconds with a 125-MPH limited top speed.
Specifying the dual motor adds a permanent-magnet synchronous motor to the front axle, resulting in a combined 425 horsepower and 475 pound-feet output. This will get you from zero to 60 MPH in 4.6 seconds, with an unchanged 125-MPH top speed limit. We’re still waiting for Tesla to drop official details regarding the flagship Performance trim, but if the Model 3 is anything to go by, we could see a combined power output that exceeds 500 horsepower and a sub-3.5-second zero to 60 MPH time.
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Here’s The Resale Value Of A Used Tesla Model Y After 3 Years
The 2025 Tesla Model Y’s value retention could be better.
How A Five-Year-Old Model Y’s Running Costs Stack Up
For the sake of context, let’s compare how the 2025 Tesla Model Y’s five-year ownership costs compare to a model that’s already been on the road for five years. According to the Edmunds True Cost To Own calculator, if you purchase a 2020 Model 3 today, you can expect to lose $10,318 of its value over the next five years. Additionally, you can expect to spend $3,352 on maintenance and $7,786 on repairs.
According to CarEdge‘s depreciation calculator, a 2020 Tesla Model 3 in outstanding condition that has covered 60,000 miles will now be worth $14,745. When new, this would have cost you $35,000. According to J.D. Power‘s average used listings, the 2020 Model 3 range currently sells for anywhere between $21,677 and $31,216, depending on the trim, condition, and distance covered.
iSeeCars indicates that the same model year has lost 52.4 percent of its value over the past half a decade on average and currently sits with an $18,563 average resale value. It also grants this model year an 8.3/10 overall score, which includes 7.2/10 for reliability, 7.6/10 for retained value, and 10/10 for safety.
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