2026 Tesla Model Y Interior Review: Updated, but Improved?

We've spent thousands of miles in the 2026 Tesla Model Y. Is this interior an improvement?

written by Jake Sundstrom
edited by Duncan Brady
9/7/2026
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What's new: We've lived with a 2026 Tesla Model Y as part of our One-Year Road Test fleet for over 10,000 miles.
Why it matters: Tesla updated the interior of its popular SUV, addressing some (but not all) of the issues we had with the original Model Y.
Edmunds says: This is definitely an improvement, but there are still a few things that drive us crazy.

The Tesla Model Y, like every other vehicle built by the California-based automaker, features a spartan interior. You get the big screen dead center in the vehicle and not much else.

Depending on who you ask, this is either sterile and cheap or a clean, minimalist design, but a Tesla interior is more than just its screen and lack of physical controls. So when Tesla unveiled a refreshed 2026 Model Y with a bunch of interior changes, we knew we wanted to spend some time with it. How does this Model Y interior compare to previous iterations of the electric SUV? Let's find out.

Yes, this thing still has traditional turn signal stalks

Thank god. Tesla replaced turn signal stalks with buttons on the steering wheel for the updated 2024 Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Cybertruck. This was not a wise choice, as Tesla clearly knows, since the Model 3 has since reverted to the old design. There was concern that the updated Tesla Model Y would get the same treatment, but thankfully, it was unveiled with mostly normal turn signal stalks. Mostly.

"The turn signal buttons on our Model 3 were terrible, but this turn signal stalk is still not great," wrote senior manager of video content Will Kaufman. "Most modern turn signals have a detent for just a couple blinks for a lane change, and then you push past that to leave the signal on for a turn. Not the Model Y. The stalk in the Y is basically like the buttons; it just tells the car you want the signal, and then the car decides how long it stays on. The car is pretty good at that, but I've still found myself having to tap it multiple times when it gets my intentions wrong."

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Is the Model Y more comfortable than its predecessors?

I spent a fair amount of time driving the 2020 Tesla Model Y that was previously in our One-Year Road Test fleet. I did not enjoy that time. That Model Y creaked, rattled, groaned, and jittered no matter what road surface I was on. The abundance of plastic wasn't put together well, looked crummy and wasn't comfortable.

So, is this better? Yes. It's not superlative, but it's absolutely an improvement on what it replaced … with a couple of exceptions.

"Tesla is bad at headrests," wrote Kaufman. "Across the board, the seat design puts aesthetics above function. They're aggressive, narrow, and kind of bouncy. On a good day, they make my neck hurt. But over the repetitive bumps of LA's concrete-slab freeways, my skull just keeps bouncing off them like a basketball being dribbled down the court."

And director of written content Brent Romans wouldn't mind better side padding given the sporty nature of the Model Y.

"I appreciate having thicker side bolsters for the Model Y's front seats to better hold me in place," Romans wrote. "As it is, I slide around quite a bit when I'm driving around corners. Granted, I'm skinny compared to most people, so it probably makes sense for Tesla to give the Y flatter seatback contouring to better match American physiques. Still, I know I'd enjoy the Model Y's sporty handling more if it had sportier seat bolsters."

I, uh, don't have that problem in the Model Y. Brent might be onto something here.

More functional than ever

"I applaud Tesla's move to add power folding to the rear seats and a ton of control redundancies; buttons on the sides of the seats, the rear screen, and controls in the cargo area all let you fold the rear seats with ease and convenience," wrote director of testing Jonathan Elfalan. "I also love that I can scoot the passenger front seat forward using the rear touchscreen. It's such a nice thing to have as I'm loading my 2-year-old in his car seat and wanna avoid further shoe marks on the back seat.

"Also, little-known fact here, but Tesla has made raising the rear headrest much easier. This was a bit of a chore in the previous Model Y, but now all you have to do is lift up to get some good clearance."

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by Jake Sundstrom

Jake Sundstrom has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles. Jake is currently a features editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to National Hot Rod Association publications. When he's not driving cars, he's eating takeout inside of them (probably burgers, burritos or pizza).

edited by Duncan Brady

Duncan Brady has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. In the years, he's written hundreds of reviews, news pieces, comparisons, and buyers guides, all while getting behind the wheel of anything and everything he can. Duncan is Edmunds' senior features editor but has previously been on staff at MotorTrend and contributed to Car and Driver. In his spare time, Duncan is often found camping, trying new recipes, exploring LA's restaurant scene, and hoping his early 2000s Porsches don't break

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