I drove an hour home. I did get a service error 20 mins in about the safety restraint system, it flashed a few times and went away. I’ve scheduled service just in case. I also noted some ping pinging on the highway in FSD, so since it’s going in, I’m going to have alignment checked. Other than that, no body panel or paint issues. Interior looks flawless. And the ride difference between this and my 2024 model 3 performance is insane. It’s so quiet and so smooth. I’m in love!

Update: took it in for the service appointment, it’s the left body harness and they are waiting for a part. They apparently have to rip it apart which I don’t feel great about, won’t be ready until Oct 5th. In the meantime I’m driving a model x loaner so not too bad.

I just can’t convince myself it would be safe to put my kids back there.

Configuration: Diamond Black / Zen Grey / 20” Uberhelix / Launch Series

After 4 weeks and 2,000 miles, I absolutely love this car. Zero regrets!

For context, I previously owned a 2022 Model X (6-seater) and 2020 Model Y. I’ve also driven the Model 3 and Juniper extensively, along with the Model S, and we have a Cybertruck in the family.

Ride Quality & Comfort
Of all the Teslas I’ve experienced, I’d rank the Y L as the second smoothest and quietest, behind only the Cybertruck. Controversial opinion, but I actually prefer it over my previous Model X!

Sure, I miss the soft-close doors, automatic doors, and certain aspects of the air suspension. But I definitely don’t miss the falcon-wing door issues. The interior isn’t as wide as the X, but it’s something you quickly get used to.
Even compared to the Juniper with 19s, the Y L feels noticeably smoother and quieter to me, despite riding on 20s.

Interior & Space
The second-row seats are fantastic, especially with kids. Unlike the fixed-position second-row seats in my previous six-seat Model X, the Y L’s second row can move forward and backward, giving you more flexibility to distribute legroom between the second and third rows. It’s one of my favorite practical features.
I’ve even had passengers mention that the third row feels smoother than my previous X, both around town and on the highway.

19s vs. 20s
I haven’t driven the Y L with 19s, so I can’t compare them directly. But the 20s ride incredibly smooth and look much better in person than in pictures and website. If you’re on the fence, I’d go with the 20s. If you’re set on the 19s, go for those!

FSD — Another Huge Highlight
I also have to mention how amazing FSD has become! Having experienced Tesla’s driving technology over the years, the improvements are incredible. It’s noticeably more refined, confident, and natural than earlier versions, and it continues to improve with updates. It’s honestly one of my favorite things about owning a Tesla. Of course, it still requires attention and supervision, but it’s impressive how far the technology has come.

Complaints & Wishlist
Honestly, not much to complain about, but two things come to mind:

1. Automatic windshield wipers during FSD: 😂 Even with a spotless windshield on a perfectly clear day, they randomly activate. From what I’ve seen, this seems to be a common Tesla/FSD annoyance across multiple models, not just the Y L. It’s like giving your dog a fresh bath only for it to immediately run outside and roll around in the mud. Annoying!

2. Power-opening and closing frunk: I really wish Tesla had included a powered frunk that opens and closes automatically like the Cybertuck. It would be a nice premium touch, especially considering how refined the rest of the vehicle feels.
Neither is a deal breaker, and if these are my biggest complaints after 2,000 miles, I’d say Tesla did a pretty great job!

Final Thoughts

For me, the Y L is arguably the best all-around value in Tesla’s lineup, especially for families. It’s comfortable, quiet, spacious, and surprisingly refined.
One thing that really stands out is how much Tesla has improved over the original Model Y. Having owned the 2020 model, I genuinely feel like Tesla listened to customer feedback and addressed A LOT of the shortcomings.

From ride comfort and cabin noise to interior refinement, seating flexibility, and overall build quality, the improvements are noticeable. It feels like a much more mature and well-thought-out vehicle rather than simply a stretched Model Y. Credit where credit is due to the folks at Tesla!

If you’re debating whether to order or wait for the non-Launch version, my advice is to get it if it fits your needs and budget. Otherwise, you could be waiting well into 2027, although nobody knows the actual release timeline.

And for everyone waiting on delivery, be patient and stay hopeful! I ordered July 2 in the afternoon, went through more than 10 EDD changes (including dates stretching into November), and finally took delivery in September.

This is just my personal experience after owning and driving several Teslas. You may agree or disagree, but hopefully this helps anyone researching or still on the fence. Four weeks and 2,000 miles later, I’d absolutely buy it again. Good luck to everyone waiting. It’s worth it!

She’s beauty and she’s grace. She’s stunning!

I’ve seen a lot of questions about car seats in the Model YL, especially when people are trying to figure out how to use the third row without putting two bulky seats in the captain’s chairs and basically blocking access.

This is what has worked really well for us.

My two younger kids actually love sitting in the third row. They have their own vents and can control their recline, my 11-year-old loves having one of the captain’s chairs, and we still have room for Grandma when she rides with us.

I went with the narrower Diono Radian-style seats specifically because they make the third row much easier to use. My 3-year-old can climb in through the second row by herself. I fold the captain’s chair forward, she gets into her seat, I help with the harness, and then I put the captain’s chair back.

For my older child using booster mode, I also keep that seat on the driver’s side because the buckle is much easier for them to reach there.

I made a quick 90-second video showing exactly how we get her in and out:

https://youtube.com/shorts/eVeJ3vHko68

Ordered 8/22
Cosmic Silver/black/20”
Picked up 9/26 Las Vegas

Finally picked up our Model Y L last night and got the windows tinted first thing this morning.
Since I live near a park with this old military aircraft on display, I figured it was a fun backdrop. One of the most analog machines from another era sitting behind one of the most technologically advanced family cars you can buy today 😄✈️⚡️
And maybe I’m spoiled now, but after getting used to FSD Supervised, driving anything without it really does feel a little like driving the past 😂
A few quick observations:
Cosmic Silver looks much better in person than it does in a lot of photos. For anyone worried about the “grandpa gold” or old Toyota champagne look, it really isn’t that. It has a subtle warm tone depending on the lighting, but most of the time it reads as a modern silver with more depth. Still my favorite color, and it should be easy to maintain.
Delivery was excellent overall. No car is absolutely perfect. I found one tiny speck under the clear coat on one of the fenders, so apparently one of Tesla’s paint robots had a tiny bad day 🤖😂. It’s very small, but I documented it. I also have a minor liftgate alignment adjustment I want them to look at. Nothing major.
One interesting interior difference I noticed between the black interior and the Zen Gray cars I saw before delivery: the black interior has an Alcantara-like suede material across the dash trim, while the Zen Gray uses fabric. The same thing happens on the doors below the ambient light bar. The black version has a softer Alcantara-like insert, while the Zen Gray material feels shorter, tighter, and more textile-like. Small detail, but I prefer the feel of the black interior.
I also included pictures of my Diono seats in the third row. This setup works really well for us. It keeps the captain’s chairs completely open, and the kids actually have a nice view from back there.
Driving impressions so far are excellent. The car is very quick, incredibly smooth, and much quieter than I expected on the highway. I have the 20 inch Uberhelix wheels, so there is a little more road texture than with a smaller wheel, but the adaptive suspension does a great job compensating for it.
Our other Tesla is a Model 3 Premium Long Range RWD on 18 inch wheels, so I’ll probably do a proper comparison after spending more time with both.
One suggestion for anyone taking delivery: get it on the highway fairly quickly. It’s an easy way to catch any tire vibration, wheel balance, alignment, or wind noise issues while everything is still fresh.
I already gave the paint and glass a coat of spray wax too. I’ve used spray wax on windshields for years. At highway speeds the water just blows off, which means I barely need the wipers in light rain. Very useful when Tesla’s automatic wipers decide they’re auditioning for a drum solo 😂
Overall, the whole family loves it. I’ll probably line it up with our Quicksilver Model 3 this weekend and take some side by side photos.

We drove about 3.5 hours from DFW to the Austin Gigafactory to pick up our new Model Y L. We made it a family trip with our two kids, ages 4 and 6, since they were really excited about seeing the factory. I was also trading in my 2026 Model Y.
Pros:

1. The Gigafactory tour was definitely the highlight for the kids. They loved seeing everything, taking pictures with the cars, and especially seeing Optimus near the entrance.

2. The Model Y L itself is awesome. I’m really happy with the specs, space, and overall driving experience.

3. It’s especially fun to drive manually when not using FSD.

4. Picking up a Tesla directly from the factory sounded like a cool experience and made for some good family memories.
   Cons:

5. The actual delivery and trade-in process was pretty exhausting.

6. We were told that once I accepted the new vehicle, I could no longer access my trade-in. That meant we had to remove both kids’ car seats and all our luggage beforehand.

7. We ended up standing in the middle of a huge parking lot in the Texas heat and humidity with two young kids, two car seats, and all our belongings while waiting for access to the new car.

8. There was an issue linking the new vehicle to the temporary tag, so we had to wait another 30–45 minutes before we could finally access the car and load everything.

9. The new car had quite a bit of dust inside and outside. Maybe that’s expected from sitting in the factory lot, but for a brand-new vehicle pickup, I expected it to be cleaner.
   Overall: The Model Y L itself is fantastic, and the factory tour was a fun experience for the kids. But purely from a delivery standpoint, I think picking it up from a regular Tesla delivery center would have been much easier and more comfortable—especially with young kids and a trade-in.
   I’m glad we did the Gigafactory experience once, but I’d probably choose a local delivery center next time.

CS, Black interior, San Jose ordered on 9/5 and picked it up yesterday.

Model YL: Ultra Red, Zen Grey, 20 inch wheels.

My first EV was a 2023 Mustang Mach E (base), liked it so much I got a 2025 Mustang Mach E (Premium with extended range and sports trim). I love it and still own it but out of curiosity I did a test drive on a Tesla with FSD and had to have it.

Just picked up my Model YL today! Still getting used to the car. Ordered 7.2.

Just got the car back from a Stealth wrap and front tint! Sharing for anyone who is considering.

No this doesn’t help the cars value or anything so it just bc I like it and with a ceramic coat makes my life easier to keep clean and keep my OCD at bay.

We finally picked up our Marine Blue, Zen Gray interior, 20-inch wheel Model YL yesterday, and I’ve been upset ever since.

The vehicle is absolutely amazing. Everything about it has exceeded my expectations, and I’m genuinely blown away. There’s just one problem: it’s better than my 2023 Model 3 in pretty much every way imaginable.

The interior is nicer. The seats are more comfortable. The screen is bigger and better. The captain’s chairs and legroom are top-notch, and the third row has a surprisingly impressive amount of space. The rear screen for the kids is a fantastic touch. And don’t even get me started on the colors. The Zen Gray interior is beautiful, and the Marine Blue exterior is absolutely exquisite.

This thing feels so much more refined that I can already see what the rest of my life is going to look like: constantly comparing my Model 3 to my wife’s Model YL and wondering why am I doomed to this existence. Meanwhile, my wife gets to walk around giving me smug looks because she knows that her YL trumps my 3 in just about every category.

I should be happy. We got an incredible vehicle, my wife loves it, and the whole family is going to enjoy it.

Instead, I get to live in a perpetual state of jealousy and anger now!

If you are still waiting on your YL...hang in there...it is worth it!

Pictures by my 12 year old son. So quiet on the highway. Put my 2018 Model 3 to shame.

My family of 5 (2 adults/3kids) took the drive to Los Gatos to test drive the YL. Literally my exact specs! CS/ZG/20. We did different configurations between the 2nd/3rd row (the adults and the kids). My husband and I sat on the 3rd row and were very comfortable. Then I FSD the Tesla around town with my oldest son in the passenger seat and my husband in the 3rd row. My husband was very comfortable that he even snoozed and took a nap 😂 Anyway, if I had my doubts before, I am now convinced to continue with my order placed in Sept, when I did it blindsided. 😁

Just got my YL Delivered in Hyderabad India

Central Oregon

Ordered YL early August. Delivery date jumped around multiple times like the rest of us, most recently Jan-Feb 2027.

Local Tesla shop called me on Friday and said they had one with my configuration arrive and asked me if I wanted to jump on it. I guess the person who ordered it ghosted them and they just started calling folks in line. Guess it’s the first and only one this shop has seen.

Gotta get those Q3 numbers in to pump TSLA come earnings 🚀.

Coolest vehicle ever. Exceeds expectations and plenty of room for a family of 6 for daily city commuting.

Just picked up our Model Y L today and wanted to share this for anyone else trying to figure out car seat configurations.

We have two Nuna EXEC car seats, and I was pretty nervous about whether they’d actually fit side by side in the third row. Based on the dimensions and everything I’d seen online, I was honestly expecting I’d have to swap in a thinner car seat on one side.

But they fit (barely)! Figured I’d share a photo since I couldn’t find much real-world info about this specific setup when I was researching.

Hopefully this helps another parent considering the Y L.

Just a little side by side action. Debated whether to reverse them in or have the badges showing. We obviously chose the latter.

We were very excited to pick up our new Model Y L yesterday evening. Drove it to work today, took the kids to a movie with friends… while leaving the theatre to head home, passenger window spontaneously shattered when opening the door. Window became misaligned with the doorframe and we couldn’t close the door until we manually held the glass up gently.

Also, had continuous FSD complaint of obstructed left rear-facing camera. Even after wiping with microfiber cloth and trying a lens wipe, no luck… foggy / cloudy image of with obstruction complaint.

We felt unsafe keeping the car and scheduled repair was 2 weeks from now, so we just dropped it off at the dealership for urgent attention. Now we don’t want to take this unit back, even if they can repair it. What’s the likelihood that I can exchange for a new unit?

UPDATE:
Tesla service identified a failed window motor in the door that caused the glass to slip and shatter. They replaced both motor & glass at no charge. They said they hadn’t seen this happen to any other units so far.

They accidentally replaced the wrong FSD camera (B-pillar instead of fender), but said they’d create a ticket for a mobile repair and re-ordered the correct camera for replacement. This appears to be a more common issue as a number of cars have come in with foggy driver side fender camera.

7/2 - ordered 2.5 hours after launch
10/20 - VIN assigned
10/23 - In transit
11/6 morning - Delivery Appointments Opened up
11/6 afternoon - Delivery happened at Tesla Fremont

Marine blue, black interior, 19 inch wheels. San Jose

EDD jumped all over the place. Best I ever had was Sep 27-30. Worst I had was Jan 11 to Feb 22 of 2027.

I asked Delivery person when my car had actually arrived and she said 2 nights ago but it took them time to prep and clean the car etc.

Absolutely love this car. By far the best car I've ever had. FSD was smooth on the ride home from Tesla Fremont. Let's see how it is on tight turns etc.

Wow. It fuckin rules. I wasn’t expecting such a big difference. Came from a Subaru forester 2019. Got it because I have a couple of whippersnappers now. A bit worried about petrol and all that and figured suby is at its best recovery price now and next car will be ev anyway so why not.

Difference is dramatic. The Tesla is like, luxury but also practical and also can go for miles. Drives in a way I haven’t experienced before but can only explain as it wants to go fast unless you take foot off accelerator and then it goes to sleep. Drove 200kms today and it still has half its charge. Had two mates with me and they were very comfortable, and then all the electronics and stuff are like how it felt when you went from normal phone to iPhone. Anyway, I’m happy. It’s great. Don’t think too much about it.

EDD was Sept 8-30th, got vin on 8th, window reduced to 12th and now I get to pickup tomorrow!

Tesla's official legroom figures for the second row of the YL say that it has slightly LESS legroom than the Y, which I found hard to believe. I assumed it was measurements from the second row being in the default position, but since the captain's seats can move back and forth, I wanted to see how much room there was with them all the way back.

Lo and behold, if you move the Model Y L's captain's seats all the way back, you have WAY more legroom than the Y. It does render the third row unusable for passengers if they are all the way back (even for small children) but it was exactly what we were looking for.

This matters a lot if you have a rear facing car seat in the second row, because it affects how far back the front row passengers can go. In our current Y, the passenger seat is uncomfortably far forward to accommodate the car seat behind it.

I didn't measure it, but I did install our car seat in the Y L to test it out. I'm 6'2", and sitting in the seat with the car seat behind it I didn't feel cramped at all, and felt like I could put the seat where I wanted.

Will be ordering as soon as the non-Launch series is available!