YOU’VE GOT TO hand it to Tesla. A decade ago it was nowhere, and even five years ago, those of us supposedly in the know gave the American brand next to no hope of challenging the traditional big car makers. Today, though, it’s bigger than BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
And even if you scoff at the sometimes fickle nature of the stock markets, Tesla is finally delivering profits and competing at the pointy end of the sales charts. Indeed, for much of the past two years the Model 3 saloon has been Britain’s top-selling electric car, and for several of those months it was the bestselling car of all.
What’s behind the incredible growth? Well, like most success stories, equal slices of flair and fortune. Tesla had the foresight to build a worldwide ‘Supercharger’ charging network that’s both reliable and easy to use, plus its cars have always had long ranges between charges. Moves by various governments, including our own, to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the not-too-distant future have also helped put Tesla in an enviable position.
But while the Model 3 has taken Tesla’s sales figures to a whole new level, thanks largely to its more realistic pricing than the Model S and Model X, it still isn’t suitable for everyone. Its saloon boot isn’t great for families, for example, and it isn’t an SUV; for many buyers, that’s an instant turn-off. That’s where the new Model Y comes in. It is, in effect, a Model 3 that’s been pumped full of growth hormone to give it a higher driving position and more room inside.
Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av What Car? UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av What Car? UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone
Greater stamina and a lower price would have enhanced our opinion of this upmarket electric SUV
Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport
Our new posh estate has to deal with a mega-miles commute and an older sibling. How will it get on?
Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution
It's our reigning Small Car of the Year, but will the latest Clio continue to impress in daily use? We're finding out
ALL POSHED UP
Looking to buy an upmarket SUV? For around £35,000, you could have a new Lexus LBX or a used BMW X1. Let's see where your money should go
JOINING UP THE TOTS
Small, cheap cars bring numerous benefits, especially if most of your driving is around town. We take three leading examples on a road trip to see which of them paints the most complete picture
GRIPPING STUFF
Tyre choice can make a huge difference to how your car behaves in changeable weather. We search for the best
Audi A6 e-tron
BMW i5 rival uses the same tech as the Q6 e-tron SUV for serious pace and range On sale Late 2024 Price from £62,000 (est)
Renault Symbioz
Slightly smaller than Renault's existing Austral, this new hybrid family SUV has its sights set firmly on the popular Nissan Qashqai On sale Now Price from £29,295
Volkswagen Golf
Family car celebrates its 50th birthday with an update, including much-improved infotainment On sale Now Price from £27,035
Hyundai Tucson
Update for Hyundai's family SUV includes a redesigned interior and a revised engine line-up On sale Now Price from £32,000