Image: Tesla
Tesla has expanded the Model Y lineup in the U.S. with the launch of a new, more affordable all-wheel-drive option — and it fills a pretty notable gap. According to Tesla’s official X account, the new Model Y AWD is now available in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, starting at $41,990 and offering an EPA-estimated 294 miles of range.
This new variant effectively adds all-wheel drive to Tesla’s entry-level Model Y. The Model Y has now topped U.S. EV sales for four straight years, and this move gives buyers in colder climates or those who simply want extra traction a cheaper way into AWD ownership.
Alongside the launch, Tesla has also simplified its naming scheme. The base Model Y, previously known as the Model Y Standard, is now simply called the Model Y RWD. That rear-wheel-drive version starts at $39,990 and delivers 321 miles of range with segment-leading efficiency, still outpacing the new AWD model — a tradeoff that’s expected given the added weight and complexity of dual motors.
The updated U.S. Model Y lineup now looks like this:
Image: Tesla
The Model Y AWD does 0–60 mph in 4.6 seconds, making it notably quicker than the base RWD, even if it gives up some efficiency. This new trim builds on Tesla’s strategy from last fall, when it debuted cheaper “Standard” variants of the Model 3 and Model Y in the U.S. Tesla’s most affordable offering to date, the Model 3 Standard RWD, is also being renamed to simply Model 3 RWD.
Interestingly, Tesla is taking a different approach internationally. In Europe, the company recently launched a longer-range, still-RWD version of the base Model Y, while North America is getting AWD instead. Canada also received Tesla’s entry-level Model Y last month, and it’s actually priced lower than in the U.S.
What many buyers are still waiting for, however, is the elusive Model Y L — the China-exclusive three-row, six-seat version. That variant remains unavailable in the U.S., though Tesla did recently roll out a new seven-seat configuration of the Model Y Premium AWD for customers who need extra space.
Overall, the new Model Y AWD makes Tesla’s best-selling EV even more accessible, especially for buyers who want all-wheel drive without jumping to the more expensive Premium trims.
