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2020 Tesla Model Y

Here's How Our 2020 Tesla Model Y Fared in Its First 20K Miles

It lives up to the Performance name, but at the cost of ride quality

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  • Ronald Montoyaby
    Senior Consumer Advice Editor & Content Strategy
    Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at Edmunds and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.
  • Seat-pinning acceleration
  • Rides too stiff for our taste
  • Build quality has been an issue

It's been about 27 months since the 2020 Tesla Model Y Performance joined our long-term test fleet. We took delivery of it back in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then we've driven it over 22,000 miles. We usually sell the vehicles we purchase after a year has passed, but because Tesla is constantly making tweaks to the Model Y's software, we figured it would be good to hang onto the car a while longer. This gives us a chance to test out those firmware upgrades and also get more experience with long-term reliability. In celebration of our Tesla Model Y's two-year anniversary, we take a look back at a few highs and lows of our ownership experience.

2020 Tesla Model Y

Earned its Performance credentials

We bought the Model Y Performance trim, and it's certainly lived up to the name. In Edmunds' testing, our best recorded 0-60 mph time was 3.7 seconds, and we ran the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds at 115 mph. Those are amazing numbers for an SUV — or any other vehicle for that matter.

Since that initial testing, our Model Y went on to have an impressive 2021 drag race season, going 6-3 against a Dream Team of performance vehicles. Here's how the Model Y Performance stacked up against all comers, listed in no particular order. We've also linked videos of each race below.

Ride quality was unanimously disliked

Nearly everyone who drove our Model Y complained about its harsh ride quality. It is that noticeable. You will feel every imperfection in the road, and if you're sensitive to motion sickness, this vehicle may not be for you.

We have 21-inch wheels equipped. These were included in the Performance Upgrade package offered at the time, but are now standard on Performance models. Larger wheels generally equal a choppier ride, though we've also read reports from owners that the 19- and 20-inch wheels aren't noticeably better. We understand this is the sporty version, but we've been in faster cars that have a softer ride.

2020 Tesla Model Y

Shake, rattle and roll

Build quality has been an issue with Teslas since our first long-term test of a 2013 Tesla Model S. In our Model Y, we've had a sun visor pop out of place, loose trim on the interior b-pillar and seat belt adjuster, plus a foglight that became loose and sunk into the front bumper.

The cabin booms when you go over a bump and it rattles as though it had been assembled with a glue stick. We were able to identify one of the causes of the rattles. The driver's side front window regulator needed to be replaced, as it was rattling the door when the window was down. We have a Ford Mustang Mach-E in our fleet and it sounds like an anechoic chamber compared to the Model Y.

Finally, this 2020 Model Y has been issued 13 recalls by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration, though not all of them applied to our specific vehicle. For some perspective, the 2021 Mach-E — also a first-year new model — has five open recalls and the hybrid 2020 Lexus NX 300h has zero recalls. Last but not least, Consumer Reports gave the 2020 Model Y one of their lowest reliability scores.

Edmunds says

The 2020 Tesla Model Y is at its best when you're accelerating quickly on a smooth surface, but if you live in a city with roads in disrepair, the firmness of its ride will be an issue. Its build quality also hasn't been the best.

Ronald Montoyaby

Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at Edmunds and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.