Before the so - called "Model Y killer" arrives, Tesla has already thrown down the gauntlet.

Just as popular people tend to attract more controversies, so do popular cars. Since its launch, the Model Y has been a huge success and has become a thorn in the side of every car manufacturer.

Many mid - to large - sized SUVs priced between 250,000 and 350,000 yuan have repeatedly "trumped" the Model Y at their press conferences, eager to become the "Model Y killer" that can really dethrone it from the top of the sales chart. However, looking at the monthly sales list of "Model Y and its killers" summarized by netizens, one can only say:

None of them can really compete.

Last month, Xiaomi launched the YU7, and it received nearly 300,000 large orders in just 3 minutes, finally giving people a glimmer of hope for a "Model Y killer". However, the sales of the Model Y seemingly remained unaffected, easily surpassing 40,000 units. Even the long - range version of the Model 3 increased in price by 10,000 yuan.

Well, it's just for fun. Being invincible is really a kind of loneliness.

Of course, the Model Y's leading position doesn't mean that Tesla can rest easy. In 2024, Tesla delivered approximately 1.789 million vehicles globally, a 1.1% decrease from the 1.81 million vehicles in 2023, marking the first sales decline in over a decade.

The Chinese market is one of the few markets that is still growing positively and at a relatively fast pace. According to official data, Tesla sold over 657,000 vehicles in China in 2024, a year - on - year increase of 8.8%, reaching a historical high.

On the other hand, China is also the market with the most "Model Y killers". After the Model 3 has lost its absolute leading position, it is very important to launch a new model to stabilize Tesla's position in the Chinese market.

Tesla revealed at the Deutsche Bank investor conference that it plans to launch a three - row, long - wheelbase Model Y specifically designed for the Chinese market in 2025.

So, here comes the Model Y L.

The Nature of a Killer

What makes the Tesla Model Y sell so well? Most Tesla owners attribute their choice to the three - electric system, chassis handling, reliability, being a global model, and a sense of technology. However, there are also drawbacks such as limited space and a spartan interior.

Especially for SUVs, what buyers want is space, the ability to carry either people or cargo. From this perspective, the arrival of the enlarged Model Y is inevitable.

Therefore, this time the Model Y L doesn't strive to be a pioneer in "cool technology" but instead aims to meet the widespread demand of Chinese family users for "space".

Let's first look at the core data of the Model Y L. According to the information from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the length, width, and height of the Model Y L are 4976*1920*1668 millimeters, and the wheelbase is 3040 millimeters. The curb weight is 2088 kg, and it still uses the traditional 3D3/3D7 dual - motor combination found in the long - range versions of the Model Y and Model 3. The maximum power of the front motor is 142 kw, and the maximum power of the rear motor is 198 kw.

In terms of design language, there is no obvious difference between the Model Y L and the refreshed Model Y. It's not easy to distinguish the new and old models just by looking at features like the headlights and taillights.

However, to highlight the "L" positioning, Tesla redesigned a set of nameplates for the Y L. Instead of simply writing "Model Y L" at the rear, it chose to add two "after - image" effects after the "Y".

This kind of vehicle nameplate design is the first of its kind and is very interesting. It's like deliberately elongating the pronunciation of "Y" and also resembles "three rows of seats", reminding people that this is a three - row, six - seat vehicle.

However, when it comes to a three - row, six - seat SUV, fancy features don't matter. The real deal is whether the space is large enough.

From the side silhouette released by Tesla, it can be seen that the rear part of the Y L is significantly higher than that of the standard - wheelbase Y. Some netizens made a 1:1 overlay comparison of the silhouettes, and indeed, there is an obvious elevation in the expected area of the third row, which may improve the headroom in the third row.

Even so, concerns about the space of the Model Y L still remain.

It's easy to recall the "seven - seat Model Y" test - driven by well - known car reviewer @Chen Zhen in the United States in June this year. The space in that vehicle was a disaster.

The ultra - thin, ultra - narrow, and tiny seats were so cramped that Chen Zhen had to curl up his body when sitting in them. Not only adults but even children would feel uncomfortable in the third row. If the third - row space of the Model Y L is at this level, it's better not to sell it and start over.

However, the three - row, seven - seat Model Y test - driven by Chen Zhen was a modified vehicle based on the standard - wheelbase model, while the Model Y L is apparently a vehicle with a redesigned white body according to the data.

Let's compare the Model Y L with its "predecessor", the 2025 Model Y Rear - Wheel Drive version. The length of the Model Y L is increased by 179 millimeters, the height by 44 millimeters, and the wheelbase by 150 millimeters. The overall size is larger than that of the refreshed Y. It's impossible to lengthen the wheelbase just by modifying the third - row seats.

In addition, compared with the Li Auto i8, which has dimensions of 5085*1960*1740 and a wheelbase of 3050 mm, the Model Y L only has a 10 - mm difference in the key wheelbase, so they can be regarded as vehicles in the same class. The Li Auto i8 is well - known for its excellent space, so the Tesla Model Y L should at least not have extremely cramped space.

Personally, I think currently, the vehicle with the closest space to the Model Y L should be Tesla's own Model X. First, it has six - seat and seven - seat configurations, and its body dimensions of 5037×2070×1684 mm and a wheelbase of 2965 mm are also relatively similar.

The Model Y L is shorter and narrower than the Model X, but its wheelbase is significantly longer.

As a long - established model, it's not difficult to find test - drive and ride - experience feedback on the Model X. According to the feedback from the car media Echo’s Ev Life, the main problems in the third row of the Model X are that people over 1.75 meters tall may hit their heads and the legroom is limited. Now, with the increased wheelbase of the Model Y L, the problem of insufficient legroom in the third row is expected to be solved.

Therefore, considering the dimensions, space, and positioning, and given that the Model X has been quite popular in China but has never been locally produced, the Tesla Model Y L is very likely to be a Chinese - version alternative to the Model X. The only concern is that the second - row seat experience in the six - seat version of the Model X is extremely poor, so Tesla should not copy it directly.

In addition, Tesla China specifically mentioned during the promotion of the Model Y L that it is a "full - scenario, six - seat luxury SUV". To keep up with the trend of family SUVs, it's possible that the new vehicle will be equipped with some currently popular comfort features, such as zero - gravity seats, a refrigerator, a color TV, and a large sofa, becoming the first product to bid farewell to the "spartan interior".

On top of that, the Model Y L has a curb weight of only 2088 kg, which is much lighter than its competitors, and is equipped with wide tires of 255 in the front and 275 in the rear. It can be expected that the chassis and handling will still be the advantages of the Model Y L over its competitors.

Just being a "bigger Model Y" makes the Model Y L very appealing, but it seems that the real strength of the Y L goes beyond that. As Li Xiang said, "A respectable six - seat pure - electric SUV has arrived", and Tesla is steadily advancing the launch of new products.

It may not make a big deal out of seat heating, HUD, or a hot - and - cold cup holder, but it will enhance customer loyalty in deeper aspects, such as the three - electric system, chassis tuning, and lightweight body, making a large number of people who have driven Tesla "reluctant to switch to other brands".

Tesla wants to tell everyone that the only one that can surpass the Model Y is the Model Y L.

Addicted to the Six - Seat Configuration

Although it was expected that there would be a larger - sized Model Y, and even a three - row version wouldn't be a surprise, Tesla's choice of a three - row, six - seat configuration was still a bit unexpected.

In most people's stereotypes, SUVs are either five - seat or seven - seat, and a six - seat SUV is almost equivalent to an MPV. However, in recent years, the SUV market has been rapidly changing this perception.

The most convincing evidence is the actual market feedback: The Li Auto L series has always adhered to the six - seat design in the L9 and L8, winning the favor of many family users. High - end new - energy vehicles such as the XPeng X9, AITO M9, and NIO ES8 also all adopt the six - seat configuration.

According to the research data from Che Fans, among family users with a budget of 300,000 - 500,000 yuan, more than 60% prefer the six - seat layout.

This is because six - seat SUVs have three core advantages in actual use: independent second - row seats and a central aisle improve the seating comfort, the three - row seating experience is better with more space, and the loading space is more flexible.

In the past, car manufacturers chose the seven - seat configuration mainly to meet the extreme scenario of "fitting one more person". However, now consumers value the seating comfort more than the possibility of "squeezing in seven people".

In addition, to accommodate large battery packs, new - energy vehicles are generally longer and larger, and their wheelbases easily reach the level of MPVs. Therefore, it's natural for SUVs to become more like MPVs.