Tesla's Three-Row Model Y Is Coming Back, But Is It Worth It?
Does Cramming Extra Seats In The Model Y Make Sense?
The updated Tesla Model Y Juniper was revealed earlier this year, with changes including Cybertruck-inspired styling and a refined interior, all aimed at helping this electric crossover maintain its best-seller status. What the Model Y Juniper did not offer was the option of a third seating row, as had been available on the pre-facelift version. Well, a new Tesla customer email shared on Twitter shows that this option is returning, but this is one box we'd leave unticked if we were buying a Model Y.
Oops! We're unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
A Third Row Unfit For Adults
Source: Tesla
The Juniper isn't an all-new model, so shares the same exterior dimensions with the pre-facelift Model Y. That means it shares the same amount of interior space, too.
Looking at the data, the three-row Model Y has only 26.5 inches of third-row legroom and 34.6 inches of headroom. For some perspective, the Toyota GR86 – which is technically a small 2+2 sports car – has more legroom at the back than this Model Y does in its third row. You can free up more third-row legroom if those in the second row are willing to move their seats forward, but this impacts their comfort levels.
While smaller adults and teens can technically fit in there, the space is unbelievably cramped and claustrophobic. Most will find their heads pressed up against the back window, and if the car stops suddenly, it's easy to bash your forehead into the low roof panel.
The only real use we can see for this third row is if you will often be transporting two smaller young kids.
Third Row Eats Into Cargo Space, Too
Source: Tesla
Whereas the five-seater Model Y Juniper has 29 cubic feet of trunk space behind the second row, the pre-facelift seven-seater model has 26.6 cubes. Admittedly, this is still an acceptable size for what isn't a large vehicle. If the third row of seats are in use, the cargo capacity shrinks to 12.8 cubes.
How Much Will The Three-Row Option Be?
Tesla Model Y Juniper —
Source: Tesla
Previously, pricing for the three-row Model Y added $2,000 to $2,500 more to the MSRP, depending on exactly when the car was purchased. Looking at the current Long Range Rear-Wheel-Drive variant, it costs $44,990, so will be closer to $47k with the option installed, assuming similar pricing for the Juniper.
Ultimately, unless you have a very specific use case – regularly transporting two kids in the third row – we'd suggest buying a more spacious three-row SUV. Then again, if you want to stay in the Tesla family, need three rows, and don't want to spend way more on a Model X, the Model Y with three rows is your only option.
It's not known exactly when the three-row option will become available again, but we expect it to arrive soon.
About the Author
Karl Furlong View Profile
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
26 minutes ago
- Reuters
Tesla says it started building initial versions of an affordable car; posts a steep sales decline
July 23 (Reuters) - Tesla(TSLA.O), opens new tab said on Wednesday it has built initial versions of an affordable car, a move likely meant to stem the steep decline in sales the company has experienced in markets across the world. Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker posted the worst quarterly sales decline in more than a decade and profit that missed Wall Street targets, but its profit margin on making cars was better than many feared. Tesla shares were down 2.6% in after-hours trading. Tesla said it expects volume production of the long-promised cheaper vehicle in the second half of this year, raising hopes it will rekindle demand as it battles rising competition from cheaper EVs, especially in China, and a persistent backlash against Musk's far-right political views. Tesla Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said on a call with investors that production of the cheaper car would ramp up next quarter, slower than initially expected, and the company did not provide an update on its full-year deliveries forecast. "Tesla's disappointing results aren't surprising given the rocky road it's traveled recently," said Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne. "A truly affordable model will hit the bullseye in terms of boosting sales if Tesla can effectively position it right without detracting from its higher-priced models." The second straight quarterly revenue drop, with a 12% fall, comes despite rolling out a refreshed version of its best-selling Model Y SUV that investors had hoped would help revive demand. A 51% dive in sales of automotive regulatory credits, which other automakers who have difficulty complying with government emissions rules buy from Tesla, also hurt revenue and profit. Revenue fell to $22.5 billion for the April-June quarter from $25.50 billion a year earlier. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $22.74 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Adjusted profit per share of 40 cents lagged the consensus of 43 cents per share. The automotive gross margin, which excludes regulatory credits, was 14.96%, above Wall Street estimates, helped in part by lower cost per vehicle. Tesla global deliveries dropped 13.5% in the second quarter, which was below Wall Street targets. Tesla had said in April it would start producing the more affordable model by the end of the first half and sources had told Reuters the vehicle, a stripped-down version of its Model Y SUV, would be delayed by at least months. Tesla on Wednesday did not disclose any details on the model, how many units it had made, or how it would be priced. The company said it continued to expect volume production of its custom-built robotaxi - called the Cybercab - and Semi truck in 2026. Much of the company's trillion-dollar valuation hangs on its bet on its robotaxi service - a small trial of which was started in Austin, Texas, last month with about a dozen Model Y SUVs - and on its development of humanoid robots. Investors are concerned about whether Musk will be able to devote enough time and attention to Tesla after he locked horns with President Donald Trump by forming a new political party this month. He had promised weeks earlier that he would cut back on government work and focus on his companies. A series of high-profile executive exits, including a longtime Musk confidant who oversaw sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe, is also adding to the concerns.
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Tesla looks to cheaper model as revenue suffers worst drop in over a decade
Tesla has started limited production on a cheaper model in a bid to boost sluggish demand after revealing its worst slump in quarterly sales for over a decade. The electric carmaker, effectively run part-time by founder and CEO Elon Musk for much of this year after his now-defunct spell at the heart of Donald Trump's government, reported a 12% drop in revenues over the second quarter of the year. Its update showed a total of $22.5bn, despite aggressive discounting and low-cost financing put in place to help shield Tesla from many headwinds. They include strong competition from cheaper electric vehicles and a backlash against Musk's former political alignment with the president. Sales and profits came in lower than analysts had predicted. Tesla said it was looking to ramp up production of the more affordable model during the second half of this year. It gave no further details but it is a nod to investor concerns that the appeal of Tesla's range is restricted when compared to that of competitors. The results were the first for shareholders to digest since the so-called bromance between Mr Musk and Donald Trump ended acrimoniously in June. 1:25 Tesla's shares remain almost 18% down over the year to date - lagging a recovery among rivals - and were flat in extended trading. The drag can mainly be explained by the 2025 sales slowdown, Tesla's particular exposure to the president's trade war and the often violent backlash against Musk's former role in the Trump administration which enacted big cuts to federal government spending. Globally, customers have been put off by interference by Musk in national elections, particularly in Germany, and stiff competition from cheaper alternatives to Tesla's electric car ranges. 0:19 While his departure from Washington allowed the tech tycoon to focus more on his vast business ventures, his beef with the president over the cost of the Big Beautiful tax and spending Bill has left Tesla exposed to retaliation from the White House. Recent analysis by Sky News showed the extent to which the company's profitability is threatened through the potential loss of billions of dollars in government subsidies - a sanction threatened by the president. The latest set of results showed a steady income from these so-called regulatory credits, amounting to $435m between April and June. That was down from the $458m reported for the same period last year. 3:31 Tesla had revealed earlier this month that production and deliveries covering the quarter were below expectations. A total of 384,122 Teslas were delivered in the period, a 13.5% fall on the same period last year. It marked the second consecutive quarterly sales decline and were not helped by the changeover to the refreshed Model Y. One other thing investors were eagerly awaiting news on was the supervised self-driving Robotaxi trial - launched last month in Texas. Videos have since suggested some evident driving mistakes. Musk has previously said the service would soon reach the San Francisco Bay Area, depending on regulatory approvals, and no update was given on whether papers had yet been filed.
NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
Tesla continues its financial struggles even after Elon Musk's White House exit
Tesla's financial position is getting worse, as the fallout continues from CEO Elon Musk's politics. The electric automaker reported Wednesday that both revenue and profits fell in the second quarter of the year compared to a year earlier. It's the second-straight negative earnings report from the company, which has suffered damage to its brand and become a lightning rod for street demonstrations. While Tesla is still the No. 1 seller of electric vehicles in the U.S. by a wide margin, the earnings report shows a deteriorating situation with no obvious quick fix for Musk, the world's wealthiest person. Revenue was $22.5 billion for the three months ending June 30, down 12% from a year earlier, while earnings were 40 cents per share, down 23% from a year earlier. Musk has angered people across the political spectrum this year, first with his embrace of far-right politics and his chainsaw-wielding tenure as an adviser to President Donald Trump, and then when he and Trump had a high-profile falling-out. Musk has vowed to start a political party but so far has not followed through in any visible way. The earnings report covers Tesla's finances for April, May and June — a period that overlapped with Musk's tenure in the White House. Musk left his government job May 30. Shares in Tesla were flat in after-hours trading immediately after the earnings report. Tesla had already warned this month that vehicle deliveries were sagging, down 14% in the second quarter from a year earlier. It was the second straight quarter of falling deliveries as Tesla faces not only damage to its brand but also increasing competition, including from Chinese electric vehicle makers. Musk has tried to keep shareholders happy with developments on other fronts, including by trying to launch a nascent robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, although that service is small and still uses human safety observers in the vehicles. Musk has also hyped humanoid assistants as a future potential Tesla product, but none have shipped. On Monday, Tesla opened a diner and drive-in in West Hollywood, California. Musk's companies are also increasingly intertwined. He merged his social media app, X, with his AI startup, xAI, in March, and his rocket company, SpaceX, is an investor in xAI. This month, Tesla began integrating xAI's chatbot, Grok, into Tesla vehicles, days after Grok went on neo-Nazi tirades. Musk has said that while he does not support merging Tesla and xAI, he will put a potential Tesla investment into the company up for a shareholder vote. Wall Street analysts had expected Tesla revenue of $22.74 billion and earnings per share of 43 cents, according to an average of estimates compiled by LSEG. Tesla executives, possibly including Musk, are scheduled to hold a conference call with analysts at 5:30 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results and their outlook. Musk is deeply unpopular with the American public, with 58% having an unfavorable view of him and 33% having a favorable view, according to a polling average run by statistics writer Nate Silver. public schedule of the events. A demonstration is scheduled for Saturday at the newly opened Tesla Diner.
