I reckon that Tesla haven’t had much need to spend money on advertising their brand this year, as almost every day since Donald Trump was re-elected US president we have seen Elon Musk, the public face and CEO of Tesla, sitting at Mr Trump’s right hand in the White House and elsewhere.
Elon didn’t establish the company which was founded in 2003 by two American entrepreneurs, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. He joined the following year when the founders were looking for venture capital funding.
I have reviewed a lot of electric cars in recent years, but neighbours keep asking me about Tesla cars. Well, last week, I was able to show them the new version of the Tesla Model Y. I have yet to review a new car that the manufacturers didn’t say was bigger and better than the previous version and it’s the same with Tesla’s Model Y with the new car 40mm longer than the previous version.
After five years and sales of 2.4 million units, this new version of the Model Y, which is officially known as the Juniper, has got a major revamp. It has a more premium exterior, upgraded interior and numerous engineering improvements that help to maximize efficiency and comfort. The redesign has also improved cabin quietness thanks to sound-deadening and double-glazed windows.
Inside, there is a minimalistic and dark look, with most of the controls operated from the infotainment screen on the dash. Now, I have seen larger screens in other electric cars, but you would be advised to make all your selections before commencing your drive as it can be dangerous to take your eyes off the road.
Yes, I liked the car, the high driving position and the range of over 600km was impressive, but it was strange to have to use the infotainment screen for the majority of the controls. You get a stalk to the left of the steering wheel to use the indicators and on the steering wheel there are two slave controls, one to adjust the radio volume and the other is for cruise control.
The interior is minimalist and dark, but a full-length sunroof certainly brightens the interior. It’s a very safe car with cameras at the front, back and side when indicating. And the camera quality is impressive.
The boot is massive and you can leave down the full back seat or individual seats by pressing a button in the boot. There is space in the boot for chargers, but no spare wheel. There is also a decent-sized frunk at the front of the car where you can store valuable items.
Like most electric cars, the Tesla takes off like a greyhound and you can get from zero to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. To be honest I didn’t find a safe location to check out that claim, but I tend to believe them.
My son-on-law, who has been telling me for a few years that he wants to buy a Tesla, was impressed with the smooth feel of the car; maybe it was my driving! Meanwhile my wife’s only small complaint was the lack of a grip over the passenger door to gain entry. She likes to grab something to climb into cars.
You are advised to download the Tesla app which the company say is an integral part of the Tesla experience. You can do so much with the app, lock and unlock your car without your swipe card and manage climate controls. If you have a home charger you can schedule a start and finish time. And it will help you to find your car in the car park!
Tesla has outlets in Bracken Road, Sandyford (near the Beacon Clinic) and in Fota Retail Business Park in Cork. They also have pop-up outlets in Athlone, at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords and Shannon Airport.
If you are calling into Sandyford, a pleasant young lady called Laura will be glad to help you. If you have a trade-in enquiry, just email head office in Sandyford and they will respond with a quote. Prices start at €44,990, which is competitive.
