Tesla’s Cheapest Model Y Is Here
Meet the new Tesla Model Y Standard, with a starting price of $41,630 with destination.
Tesla has introduced a new, lower-cost version of its best-selling SUV. The new Model Y Standard starts at $41,630, including destination fees—making it $5,000 cheaper than the previous base model.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 Model Y pricing structure (with destination and the mandatory $250 order fee included):
| Trim | Price | Range | 0-60 MPH |
| Tesla Model Y Standard | $41,630 | 321 Miles | 6.8 Seconds |
| Tesla Model Y Premium | $46,630 | 357 Miles | 5.4 Seconds |
| Tesla Model Y Premium AWD | $50,630 | 327 Miles | 4.6 Seconds |
| Tesla Model Y Performance | $59,130 | 306 Miles | 3.3 Seconds |
What You Get (And Don’t Get)
The new Model Y Standard is essentially a stripped-down version of Tesla’s popular electric SUV. To hit the lower price point, Tesla removed several premium features. Gone is the panoramic glass roof, leather seats, and front light bars—replaced with a metal roof, fabric upholstery, and simplified lighting.
Buyers will also have to make do without some comfort features. The steering wheel is manually adjustable, ventilation is removed from the front seats, and heated rear seats are no longer available. Tesla also ditched the 8.0-inch rear touchscreen, though the familiar 15.4-inch central touchscreen remains up front.
Photos by: Tesla
The Model Y Standard rides on 18-inch wheels, with 19-inch wheels available for an additional $1,500. Paint options are limited to three basic colors: Stealth Grey (included), Pearl White (+$1,000), and Diamond Black (+$1,500).
Optional upgrades for the Model Y Standard include a tow hitch ($1,000) rated for up to 3,500 pounds, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for $8,000, and a high-speed home charger ($450), which adds about 44 miles of range every hour.
Range, Performance, & Pricing
Speaking of range, the Model Y Standard delivers an estimated 321 miles on a single charge. It features a single rear-mounted electric motor and a slightly smaller 69.5-kilowatt-hour battery, producing 300 horsepower and yielding a 0–60 mph time of 6.8 seconds.
By comparison, the Model Y Long Range offers 357 miles of range and does 0–60 mph in 5.7 seconds. So while the Standard sacrifices some range and speed, the difference isn’t all that dramatic.
Even with all optional upgrades selected (not including dealer-installed accessories), the Model Y Standard tops out at $53,630. That’s still significantly less than the Model Y Performance, which starts at nearly $60,000. While it’s not the long-awaited sub-$30,000 Tesla, the new Model Y Standard is still a strong value.
Source: Tesla
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Top comments
Michael S. The SUV And EV Hater11 hours ago
EVs are not a strong value as depreciate a lot.
1 respect
Hyundai Just Had Its Best September Ever
Hyundai sold more than 71,000 cars in the US for the first time in September. And it shows no signs of slowing.
Photo by: Hyundai
By: Jeff Perez
Oct 1, at 10:30am ET
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After Kia’s record-breaking performance in September—topping 80,000 units sold in a single month for the first time in the US—Hyundai is following suit. The Korean automaker reported more than 71,000 vehicles sold last month, marking its best-ever September in the US.
That figure represents a 14-percent increase compared to the same month last year, when Hyundai sold 62,491 vehicles. It also caps off the company’s strongest third quarter in the US to date, with 239,069 units sold. Overall sales rose 13 percent, while retail sales were up 11 percent.
Electric and hybrid models made up 38 percent of Hyundai’s retail mix. Notably, the Santa Fe saw a 45 percent sales increase, the Elantra Hybrid surged by 89 percent, and the Ioniq 5 posted a massive 151 percent gain. Both the Elantra Hybrid and Ioniq 5 recorded their best-ever sales months ever.
‘September marked our strongest third quarter on record, fueled by a diverse product lineup, outstanding dealer support, and robust consumer demand.’ — Randy Parker, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America.
| Model | Sept 2025 Sales | Sept 2024 Sales | Increase / Decrease |
| Hyundai | 71,003 | 62,491 | +14% |
| Tucson | 17,569 | 16,802 | +5% |
| Elantra | 13,808 | 11,186 | +23% |
| Santa Fe | 10,114 | 7,918 | +28% |
| Ioniq 5 | 8,408 | 3,336 | +152% |
| Palisade | 6,790 | 8,202 | -17% |
| Kona | 4,078 | 5,144 | -21% |
| Sonata | 3,722 | 5,575 | -33% |
| Venue | 2,836 | 1,602 | +17% |
| Ioniq 9 | 1,075 | — | — |
| Ioniq 6 | 814 | 599 | +36% |
| Nexo | 1 | 2 | -50% |
While much of Hyundai’s lineup saw strong gains in September, there were still a few models that underperformed. The Sonata dropped 33 percent in total sales, the Kona declined by 21 percent, the Santa Cruz fell 16 percent, and the outgoing Palisade—soon to be replaced by an all-new version—was down 17 percent.
Despite these dips, Hyundai’s overall performance is impressive. That momentum should carry into next year with the arrival of the redesigned Palisade, and continue over the next few years as the brand rolls out even more products.
Hyundai has already confirmed a new body-on-frame pickup truck and is reportedly considering a matching SUV. The performance-focused N division is also set to grow, with a second-generation Elantra N and more high-performance models in the pipeline.
Hyundai fans have plenty to be excited about.
The New Honda Prelude Is Already a Smash Hit, Especially With Older Folks
Honda has received eight times more orders than the Prelude’s monthly sales target.
Photo by: Honda
By: Adrian Padeanu
Oct 7, at 3:50am ET
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The Internet hasn’t been particularly kind to the Prelude. Some have wondered why Honda didn’t simply call it a Civic Coupe, while others questioned its success without a manual gearbox. Yet early signs are proving the skeptics wrong, as the revived nameplate is off to a strong start. Well, at least in its home market. A month after going on sale in Japan, the number of orders already exceeds the monthly sales target by eight times.
Honda initially expected about 300 buyers to sign on the dotted line each month, but between September 5 and October 6, around 2,400 orders were placed. Demand is so strong that some dealers have temporarily suspended new orders, though Honda plans to ramp up production to shorten wait times for early adopters.
As for who’s buying the Prelude, it’s mostly middle-aged and older customers. Honda says demand is driven by people in their 50s and 60s seeking a new primary or secondary vehicle. We even know their preferred colors: over half have chosen white (63 percent), followed by gray (16 percent), black (11 percent), and red (10 percent).
In Japan, the Prelude starts at 6,179,800 yen, equivalent to approximately $41,000 at current exchange rates. A two-tone Limited Edition available exclusively online for 6,480,100 yen ($43,000) has already sold out, as demand quickly exceeded production capacity.
The new Prelude will arrive at U.S. dealerships this late fall. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it’s expected to land around $40,000. For comparison, a Civic Hatchback with the same hybrid powertrain costs nearly $32,000. However, given the Prelude’s Type R bits, coupe body, and nostalgic appeal, a premium is inevitable.
Hybrid sporty cars remain rare in the mainstream segment, which raises the question: Who is the Prelude for? After all, those seeking an affordable performance coupe might gravitate toward a Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, or Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. The Prelude, however, might cater to buyers who prefer something less hardcore and instead prefer more comfort and efficiency.
Although it may still become a niche product, the Prelude’s Japanese debut has exceeded expectations. Even Honda appears to have underestimated the initial enthusiasm and is now ramping up production to meet the stronger-than-anticipated demand. The Prelude might not be the pure sports car enthusiasts were hoping for, but in a world dominated by SUVs, it’s refreshing to see more variety among regular cars.
Continuing to see the glass half full, at least the moniker hasn’t been diluted for a rebadged electric crossover. I’m looking at you, Mitsubishi Eclipse.
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