LONG DIVISION

Tesla has given its Model Y Long Range family SUV an extra 90 miles of range. Can BMW's best rival keep up?

- Alex Ingram

MODEL Y vs iX1

Modern family transport has never been more compelling

IF any one brand can be credited for transforming the EV landscape, it's hard to look beyond Tesla. The Model Y is the company's most successful model to date, and with 1.2 million sold in 2023, it was the world's biggest-selling car last year. While the UK market isn't quite its strongest, it still ranked fifth in the charts here last year, and remains in the top 10 so far in 2024.

But with so many competitors flooding the market, standing still will mean falling back, which is why Tesla has introduced an improved model variant. The Long Range RWD is a new 'range-topper', but not in terms of price and spec; instead, it's the version with the longest range. Priced from £46,990, it's pitched at some very capable competition.

BMW makes many of the best EVs around. Strong efficiency, class-leading refinement and a driving experience that shows little compromise from its petrol models are becoming electric BMW hallmarks. Its competition for the Model Y comes in the shape of the iX1, so does one of the brand's smallest electric models have the talent to overcome the Tesla, or do the Model Y's updates keep it at the head of the pack?

CONTENDERS

Tesla Model Y

ON the outside, a new 74-plate registration is pretty much the only thing that separates this new Long Range RWD model from its predecessor, but that's because the key changes come under the skin.