Tesla Model Y seven-seater returns to UK for £54,490

Tesla is taking the fight to the new Mercedes GLB EQ, Skoda Peaq and Peugeot E-5008 with a new seven-seat option for its best-selling Model Y crossover.

The US brand offered the Model Y with three rows of seats for a brief period before it was heavily updated last year, but the current car has been exclusively a five-seater until now.

As of today, the top-spec Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive is available to order with two extra chairs for £54,490, £2500 more than the standard car, with deliveries due to start in May.

The extra weight trims the twin-motor Model Y's range from 391 miles to 372, but that's still competitive against the other three-row electric cars available at this price point.

There is no word on whether the seven-seater will be offered with the other powertrains in the Model Y line-up.

Tesla claims that with the rearmost seats in place, there is still a substantial 381 litres of luggage capacity in the boot, and that rises to 894 when they're folded flat - both figures measured to the roofline.

"This means that even with seven passengers comfortably seated in the cabin, two carry-on suitcases can be stored in the trunk and two large bags in the frunk," the company said. 

Aside from the extra accommodation – and the sliding, folding middle row that's been put in place to enable access to them – the only difference over the standard car is the addition of a pair of USB-C charge ports for passengers in the stern. 

As before, the rear seats are designed primarily for children, with substantially less legroom than in either of the other rows.