The Tesla Model Y has been unveiled, and it will likely prove to be one of the electric car maker’s best-selling vehicles. Equipped with a robust set of features and offered at a reasonable price, the Model Y has the potential to disrupt the highly lucrative crossover SUV market the same way that its sibling, the Model 3, disrupted the passenger sedan segment in the US last year.
As the market prepares for the arrival of the Model Y, it becomes pertinent to compare it to other all-electric SUVs in the market. So far, there are two that are pretty close to the Model Y in size: the Audi e-tron and the Jaguar I-PACE. Faced with this competition, how does the Model Y stack up?
Tesla Model Y
The Model Y could be described as a larger, bulkier version of the Model 3. Similar to the electric sedan, the Tesla Model Y is offered in either RWD or AWD options. The vehicle starts at a $39,000 for the Standard Range version and goes all the way to $60,000 for the Performance variant. Just like Tesla’s other vehicles, the all-electric SUV is designed to go the distance, with the Standard version having 230 miles of range, the Long Range having 300 miles of range, and the Dual Motor AWD and Performance version having 280 miles of range per charge.
The Model Y is no slouch, as even the Standard version can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The range-topping Model Y Performance, with its dual motors, hits 60 in 3.5 seconds all the way to a top speed of 150 mph. Being based on the Model 3, the Model Y features a hyper-minimalistic interior, capped off by a stunning panoramic glass roof. A fully-loaded red multicoat red Model Y with Autopilot, Full Self-Driving, and the optional third-row seats (which would boost the car’s seating capacity to seven passengers), would set back buyers around $73,500.
A key advantage of the Model Y is its access to Tesla’s expansive and ever-growing Supercharger Network, allowing owners of the newly-released SUV to go on long road trips without any range anxiety. Being a derivative of the Model 3, the Model Y is also compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger V3 network, which has a maximum power output of 250 kW, or 1,000 miles per hour. Tesla estimates that Supercharger V3’s charging times will average around 15 minutes per vehicle.
Audi e-tron
The Audi e-tron debuted last year, at a time when the Model X was the only SUV in Tesla’s lineup. The size of the e-tron is more comparable with that of the Model Y though, making a comparison between the two vehicles a bit more appropriate. Price-wise, the e-tron is priced higher than the Model Y, costing just under $76,000 for the basic Premium Plus package, while the higher-end Prestige option starts at $81,800. With all the major upgrade boxes ticked on the Premium Plus offering, the e-tron would cost around $88,000.
Performance-wise, the e-tron falls behind the Model Y, with its 0-60 mph time of around 5 seconds and its top speed of 124 mph. Audi has been pretty secretive about the e-tron’s range, though the vehicle’s 95 kWh battery pack suggests that the SUV should have more than 200 miles of range per charge. Inside the vehicle, the e-tron is classic Audi, with multiple configurable screens and several creature comforts.
The Audi e-tron has some tricks up its sleeve when it comes to charging. The SUV could plug into a variety of chargers, including a 150 kW setup that is expected to charge the vehicle’s battery to 80% in just ~30 minutes. Such charging speeds are quite comparable to those of Tesla’s Supercharger V2 stations, which, as the Tesla community has proven over the years, is more than adequate for long trips.
Jaguar I-PACE
The I-PACE is priced at a premium compared to the recently unveiled Model Y, starting at around $70,000 for the S model all the way to the $86,000 HSE or “First Edition” trim. With all options checked, the I-PACE could breach the $100,000 barrier, thanks to rather expensive items like $500 floormats.
Just like the e-tron, the I-PACE falls a bit short of the Model Y’s specs, with its 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, its top speed of t 124 mph, and its range of 234 miles per charge. The I-PACE has one edge over the Model Y though, in the form of its plush interior, which would delight car buyers looking for a more traditional vehicle with more conventional creature comforts and accents. The I-PACE is also available now, unlike the e-tron and the Model Y, which are yet to start rolling out to customers.
The Jaguar I-PACE actually falls behind the Model Y and the Audi e-tron in terms of its charging systems, as it is capable of charging up to 100 kW. This means that charging the vehicle’s 90 kWh battery to 80% (provided that a 100 kW fast charger is available) would take about 40 minutes.
Conclusion
Overall, each vehicle would likely be perfect for specific car buyers. Those looking for an electric SUV that is familiar and conventional would best pick up an I-PACE or an e-tron. Nevertheless, when it comes to bang-for-your-buck value and sheer performance specs, it is difficult to argue against the Model Y.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
In Pennsylvania, we got between 10 and 12 inches of snow over the weekend as a nasty Winter storm ripped through a large portion of the country, bringing snow to some areas and nasty ice storms to others.
I have had a Model Y Performance for the week courtesy of Tesla, which got the car to me last Monday. Today was my last full day with it before I take it back to my local showroom, and with all the accumulation on it, I decided to run a cool little experiment: How long would it take for Tesla’s Defrost feature to melt 8 inches of snow?
Tesla’s Defrost feature is one of the best and most underrated that the car has in its arsenal. While every car out there has a defrost setting, Tesla’s can be activated through the Smartphone App and is one of the better-performing systems in my opinion.
It has come in handy a lot through the Fall and Winter, helping clear up my windshield more efficiently while also clearing up more of the front glass than other cars I’ve owned.
The test was simple: don’t touch any of the ice or snow with my ice scraper, and let the car do all the work, no matter how long it took. Of course, it would be quicker to just clear the ice off manually, but I really wanted to see how long it would take.
Tesla Model Y heat pump takes on Model S resistive heating in defrosting showdown
Observations
I started this test at around 10:30 a.m. It was still pretty cloudy and cold out, and I knew the latter portion of the test would get some help from the Sun as it was expected to come out around noon, maybe a little bit after.
I cranked it up and set my iPhone up on a tripod, and activated the Time Lapse feature in the Camera settings.
The rest of the test was sitting and waiting.
It didn’t take long to see some difference. In fact, by the 20-minute mark, there was some notable melting of snow and ice along the sides of the windshield near the A Pillar.
However, this test was not one that was “efficient” in any manner; it took about three hours and 40 minutes to get the snow to a point where I would feel comfortable driving out in public. In no way would I do this normally; I simply wanted to see how it would do with a massive accumulation of snow.
It did well, but in the future, I’ll stick to clearing it off manually and using the Defrost setting for clearing up some ice before the gym in the morning.
Check out the video of the test below:
❄️ How long will it take for the Tesla Model Y Performance to defrost and melt ONE FOOT of snow after a blizzard?
Let’s find out: pic.twitter.com/Zmfeveap1x
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 26, 2026
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
