We Drove the 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance. It’s Speedy, Now With More Refinement

Plenty of go

Power has been increased to 510 horsepower, 50 more hp than what you get in the Model Y Premium. This also decreases the Y’s 0-to-60-mph time to an estimated 3.3 seconds.

With or without the launch control activated, this thing has plenty of off-the-line burst. The Model Y Performance comes standard with all-season tires, so there’s a bit of squeal when you’re launching, but after a slight hesitation, power comes on immediately. This EV offers way more straight-line speed than you’d need from any family vehicle but, hey, you’re buying the Performance for a reason.

One difference between the Model Y Performance and the Model 3 Performance: no Track mode. Tesla tells me that its data indicates that people weren’t using it enough in the last generation of vehicles, so it was removed. There is a reduced stability control mode, but the nannies are still too aggressive for my liking. A set of more aggressive settings would unlock the vehicle’s full performance potential.

My biggest complaint while driving the new Model Y Performance is braking. Not the performance, but the lack of feel from the pedal, and that under hard braking the antilock braking system activates but you don’t get any feedback or pulses, just a small pop-up on the screen, which, because Tesla, isn’t actually in front of you. Plus, with the tendency of the Model Y’s rear end to get a bit squirrely during panic stops, the lack of pedal feel is disconcerting.