Reviews

Tesla ‘CubbyCap’ Product Review for Model S

Published

10 years ago

July 30, 2015

The inside of a Tesla Model S is minimalistic. No coat hanger hooks or cup holders in the back and no center arm rest compartment. It has a storage compartment (sometimes referred to as a glove box) and a small, open shelf below the touch screen. There is an open space where a traditional gas car’s center console would be housed, but for Tesla it’s like placing things on the floor of the car.

I love the clean design, but always felt that open shelf seemed an afterthought and one left unfinished at that. On the positive side it’s strategically located; easily accessible by driver and passenger alike.

ALSO SEE: Review of Tesla Model S aftermarket coat hooks

EVANNEX, the Model S aftermarket accessories maker, has come up with a cap for that cubby, brilliantly called, CubbyCap. The concept is so simple I’m surprised it’s taken this long for anyone to come up with it. CubbyCap is a small door that attaches to the bottom of the cubby with adhesive strips on soft, bendable hinges, and a metal strip that adheres to the top of the inside of the cubby, serving as the target of a magnetic latch. It is available in all the Model S trim finishes. I’m one who doesn’t like clutter, so hiding whatever I’m storing on that shelf is appealing to me.

THE PRODUCT

The most important aspect of the product is the finish. It’s all you see. I have Obeche wood gloss detail trim and I held the CubbyCap next to the dash to compare how well they reproduced the pattern and color. The CubbyCap is not nearly as rich as the Tesla trim. It’s lighter in shade and the material is quite thin and bendable. It seems flat in comparison to the deepness of the Tesla material. Since the door will be set low in the car the difference is not obvious, but for the asking price of $99 I expected it to be of higher quality.

EVannex “CubbyCap”

There was a noticeable residue strip running all across the top of the cap surface and multiple fingerprints on it as well, likely from packing. I used an eyeglasses cleaning cloth and some elbow grease to banish the residue. The shape of the small silver handle at the top of the door was a good choice, but mine was mounted slightly crooked and had a scratch on the right side. In practice the affordance of the handle seems appropriate and opening the cap is made easier because the ends were not cut at 90° but on an angle in towards the center of the door.

The grain direction on the door runs vertically. This choice is addressed by EVANNEX in the FAQ section of the CubbyCap product page on their site. They explain that the overall flow of the center channel runs front to back (therefore vertical) and newer Tesla yacht floors run in that direction as well. My Model S VIN is pretty low, and Tesla was installing trim with the grain going vertical in the early builds. They seem to have changed that decision somewhere along the way and the grain now runs horizontal. For me the vertical grain is a match.

INSTALLATION

I found an installation video of the CubbyCap on YouTube that walks you through the process. The installation went smoothly with one minor hitch. Positioning the door was easy and it seems to be the right size all the way around. The metal latch was the problem. I repositioned it several times and my efforts ranged from not making magnetic contact at all when I closed the cap, to what seemed like a weak contact. The curvature of the Tesla shelf roof prevented me from getting a solid, confident closure. Through trial and error I found the strongest point.

IN USE

The CubbyCap performed as expected. I drove most of the day running errands and varied my driving styles. Strong acceleration, braking and some rough roads and railroad tracks. The CubbyCap did not come open once, which was one of my worries. My instinct when I reach to open it is to grasp the top and bottom, but it’s easier to place a finger on the ends of the handle (as mentioned above). The knob could have been made larger, but since it’s not a high frequency use, so it will probably work out fine.

They warn that the adhesive is very sticky. I wonder what would happen should you decide to remove the CubbyCap?

FINAL THOUGHTS

Adding small touches to your Model S from suppliers like EVANNEX makes it unique and potentially more desirable. But I am cautious about overdoing it. The Model S is already a well designed automobile. I look for accessories that fit my lifestyle and have specific purpose, vs. being showy. That’s a personal choice of course.

Overall I’m satisfied with the Cubby Cap, but my ratings are on the low side for all the things mentioned above. To summarize. Grain not as rich as expected, weak latch mechanism and the product not delivered in pristine condition (surface residue and knob scratch). The $99 price seems too high for what you get.

News

Tesla Model Y wins U.S. News ‘Best Luxury Electric SUV’ award

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has won U.S. News award for “Best Luxury Electric SUV,” beating out a heavy lineup of worthy battery-powered sport utility vehicles.

The Model Y first was delivered to owners in early 2020 and was the automaker’s answer to the widely-popular crossover SUV sector. A sibling of the first mass-market vehicle the company offered, the Model 3, Tesla’s Model Y has quickly become the company’s best-selling electric car, and that’s saying something considering it is not the most affordable Tesla vehicle and starts at $62,990.

U.S. News recognizes Tesla’s influence in the changing automotive market, identifying that it was likely the catalyst in bringing EVs to mainstream status. Despite the rapid expansion of the EV segment, Tesla has remained at the top of the hill, fending off worthy competitors like Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors, who have spent decades developing some of the best automotive technology the world has seen. However, Tesla has also managed to stay above tech-focused and savvy automotive startups entering the electric sector, with battery powertrains being their only focus. Rivian and Lucid, two of the most notable names to fit that description, still have not managed to catch up with Tesla.

The Model Y effectively expanded Tesla’s product line to include a new body style. While the Model X has been offered for seven years, the falcon-wing door-equipped SUV is still only produced for sentimental reasons, according to CEO Elon Musk. It also is much more expensive than the Model Y, and starts at $114,990.

Tesla plans to produce Model Ys with both 4680 and 2170 cells at Gigafactory Texas this year

Those who do not quite have the means to spend over $100,000 on an all-electric SUV have plenty of options, but if a consumer is looking for luxury, the Model Y may be the best choice. U.S. News highlights that, while the Model Y does offer less overall cargo and utility room than the Model X, it still boasts many of the same tech features that Tesla has been known to put in its cars. The Model Y has plenty of performance too, and its premier trim level will get you from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds, while still having over 300 miles of range and a 155 MPH top speed.

“Despite the onslaught of new competitors, the Tesla Model Y is one of the most capable and well-rounded luxury electric SUVs that you can buy at the moment,” U.S. News writes. “If you’re in the market, this is an option that’s well-worth a test drive.”

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

News

Tesla Model Y wins Cars.com’s Best Electric Vehicle of 2022 award

Published

3 years ago

February 21, 2022

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has captured Cars.com’s “Best Electric Vehicle of 2022” award, beating out several worthy competitors to be named the best EV of the year.

The Model Y is Tesla’s newest addition to its purchasable fleet of vehicles, and the first all-electric crossover to come out of the Fremont factory in Northern California. Tesla developed the Model Y to be a mass-market vehicle capable of handling a variety of tasks. Not only is the vehicle lightning fast in typical Tesla fashion, but it also packs enough cargo space to give full-sized SUVs something to sweat about. It is truly Tesla’s most well-rounded vehicle, suitable for nearly any lifestyle and at a price point that won’t break the bank.

“Tesla is an electric car innovator, and the Model Y reflects that leadership with its efficiency, charging capability, range, and options,” Cars.com’s synopsis of the Model Y said. “It checks a lot of boxes for consumers who have been considering making the jump to an EV.”

EVs are still a small slice of the overall passenger vehicle market in the United States. While EV adoption is continuing to grow at a fast rate, Cars.com says that about a third of active car shoppers are considering an electric vehicle. Additionally, the site stated that occurrences of searching for an EV on Cars.com have doubled in the past year, while inventory levels of EVs have dropped 30 percent since 2021, showing there is plenty of interest from consumers.

The Model Y may be one of the most appealing options for those who are considering switching to an EV from a gas car. Cars.com notes the Model Y’s incredible efficiency, which is paired with 326 miles of EPA-rated range in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant. Not only will the Model Y get you to where you need to go in a minimal number of charging stops, but it also gets better with age. The vehicle, like the rest of Tesla’s fleet, receives Over-the-Air software updates to upgrade vehicle capabilities, fix bugs, or increase performance.

The Model Y is also great for those who have a focus on purchasing cars with a focus on American manufacturing. The vehicle was ranked third on the 2021 American-Made Index, trailing its sibling in the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang.

Cars.com’s list is void of the Lucid Air, Rivian R1T, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6. The publication noted demand and production growth of electric vehicles will allow more models to be considered for the award in the future.

News

Ford Mustang Mach-E wins Consumer Reports’ Electric Vehicle Top Pick award

Published

3 years ago

February 17, 2022

Joey Klender

Available Ice White Appearance Package on appropriately configured 2022 Mustang Mach-E and Mustang Coupe models. Closed course.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has won Consumer Reports‘ award for the Electric Vehicle Top Pick. The Mustang Mach-E displaces the Tesla Model 3, which has held the award for the past two years.

CR credits the Mach-E’s rich heritage with the Mustang brand and its obvious popularity based on sales figures to determine the vehicle was in the running for the top pick. After Ford’s introductory EV, the Mustang Mach-E, solidified its prowess in the electric sector by earning the best Overall Score, which factors road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety, Consumer Reports had enough evidence to choose it over Tesla’s mass-market EV.

: Credit: Pirelli

: Credit: Tom’s Ford/Instagram

: Credit: Ford

“Make no mistake, the Model 3 is still a great choice, and Consumer Reports recommends it. It shines with the latest technology, a long range, an impressive charging network, and a driving experience closer to a high-performance sports car than a sedan,” CR said. “But the Mustang Mach-E is also very sporty, plus it’s more practical and easier to live with. The Ford is also quieter and rides better. Both cars have large infotainment center screens, but the Mach-E’s is far easier to operate and doesn’t require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using the defroster or adjusting the mirrors, as with the Tesla. Also, the Mach-E has an edge when it comes to reliability, according to first-year results in our Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.”

The report notes that the Mach-E is more similar to the Model Y than the Model 3, which is a fact. The two vehicles were the one-two punch in the electric crossover SUV sales figures for the U.S. last year, with the Model Y beating the Mach-E.

: Credit: Emma Berg/Twitter

: (Credit: Ford)

: (Credit: Ford)

Consumer Reports also said the Mustang Mach-E gained two additional points to the vehicle’s Overall Score due to the fact it has an active driving assistance system with an adequate driver monitoring system. Any vehicle that has these features gains two additional points. However, CR did not award Tesla Autopilot the two points because the system “can still be used if the driver is looking away or using a phone, as long as there is at least one hand resting on the steering wheel.”

Tesla activated its cabin-facing driver monitoring system in September as part of software update 2021.32.5. Drivers noted that the system worked adequately, alerting drivers following a brief look away from the road to glance at a cell phone or the floor of the vehicle. However, in CR’s in-house study, the publication stated that GM’s SuperCruise did a better job of monitoring drivers during vehicle operation.

Ford has a lot to be proud of as the Mustang Mach-E was its first crack at an EV, and it went pretty well. Mustang Mach-E sales totaled 27,140 vehicles in 2021, according to Ford. While it was not the best-selling EV crossover last year, it was one of the best, and it made a real splash on the passenger market.