A Battle of Trims: Tesla's Performance vs. Long Range on the Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is one of the most popular luxury vehicles in the U.S., but which trim—the Long Range or the Performance—is the best buy? The Performance gives the Model Y a power boost, but the Long Range can keep it going for hundreds of miles.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Tesla
makes many eco-friendly good cars with excellent trim options. The Tesla Model Y is a great SUV option that's cheaper than the Model X, and customers can choose between speed or range. Here's a look at Tesla's Long Range and Performance trim options for the Model Y, and which trim option may be the better pick for families. 

The Tesla Model Y Long Range and its impressive range 

Although the Long Range is an optional trim, currently it's actually the standard trim, according to
MotorTrend
. And when it comes to range, the Long Range trim does indeed offer what its name suggests. 
The Model Y Long Range gets 330 miles on a single charge. Range is the big selling point of this trim of the Model Y, but it still comes with quite a few features, including 68 cubic feet of cargo volume and a 15-inch touch screen display.
It also has two electric motors, one in the front and one in the rear, which get a combined 384 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. This setup allows the Model Y Long Range to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.
This won't be a cheap Tesla, however. Tesla recently
raised the prices
of its two most affordable cars, including the Model Y, which now starts at about $59,000.
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How fast is the Tesla Model Y Performance?

MORE: Tesla Only Had One Model Make Popular Mechanics List of Best Electric Vehicles
The Model Y Performance significantly improves the Tesla's performance, but at a price. It starts at $64,000, which means that it's $5,000 more expensive than the Long Range trim.
This trim does give the Model Y a 72-horsepower boost, as its electric motors now get 456 horsepower and 497 lb-ft of torque. Tesla also offers a Performance Upgrade Package, free of charge, for anyone buying the Performance trim. 
When the Performance trim is equipped with that Performance package, it gets new wheels, new tires, and new brakes. In total, this allows the Tesla to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. 
The bad news is that the Performance Upgrade Package and the Performance trim have a significantly worse range. The Performance Upgrade Package only gets 280 miles, while the regular Performance trim gets 303 miles.

Tesla Long Range vs. Performance, which one is better?

MORE: Tesla Takes Second and Last Place in Consumer Reports Rankings: Why is the Model 3 Better Than the Model Y?
The Performance trim’s loss of range and that additional price tag is ultimately why the Long Range trim is the better buy right now. Tesla buyers who want performance should just opt for a Model 3 instead, which offers more performance than the Model Y does.
Tesla customers who want a Model Y will probably value practicality above all else. The Model Y has a lot of space, and the Long Range trim's range is also very good. The Long Range trim's speed is also good enough for most customers, so the performance upgrade is mostly unnecessary.

Every Tesla Model Y needs an insurance policy 

Tesla owners may never need to get a drop of gas again, but if you're thinking of getting a Model Y, you'll still need to get it insured.
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