Tesla Model Y L Launches in the US — 6 Seats, 325 Miles, Starts at $61,990

The Model Y L is not simply a Model Y with an extra row of seats squeezed in. Tesla has physically stretched the vehicle — adding 150mm (5.9 inches) to the wheelbase and approximately 180mm (7 inches) to overall length — to create genuine usable space for six adults rather than the cramped, largely unusable optional seven-seat bench that existed in the standard Model Y. The resulting car is a distinct product from the standard version, built on an extended platform with a completely different interior configuration.

The seating layout is 2+2+2 — two front captain’s seats, two independent second-row captain’s chairs, and a proper two-seat third row. Second-row seats include heating, ventilation, powered armrests and one-touch fold functionality. Third-row seats feature heating, power recline and child-seat anchors — genuine features for real passengers rather than emergency jump seats. The cabin also gains a 16-inch central touchscreen, slightly larger than the 15.4-inch unit in the current standard Model Y.

Tesla is opening US orders exclusively with a Launch Series — an all-wheel-drive, fully-loaded variant priced at $61,990. That figure includes exterior paint, interior colour, wheel choice, 12 months of Full Self-Driving (Supervised), 12 months of Supercharging and 12 months of Premium Connectivity — all bundled in at no additional cost. Tesla has used this same Launch Series structure before with new variants, opening with a loaded, higher-priced configuration before rolling out more affordable standard trims once initial demand is satisfied.

At $61,990, the Model Y L sits $4,000 above the standard Model Y Performance ($57,990) and roughly $22,000 above the base rear-wheel-drive Model Y ($39,990). It is currently the most expensive Model Y in the US lineup — though standard trims at lower price points are expected to follow in the months ahead. Analysts had expected a US price around $54,000–$56,000 based on the roughly $4,000 premium the L commands over the standard Model Y in China; Tesla’s Launch Series pricing is therefore somewhat higher than those estimates, though the bundled inclusions offset a meaningful portion of that gap.

The US-spec Model Y L Launch Series is AWD, delivering 0–60mph in 4.4 seconds and an EPA-rated range of 325 miles. That range figure sits below the standard Model Y Long Range AWD (357 miles) — the additional weight of the longer body and larger battery packaging imposes a real efficiency penalty, though 325 miles remains a strong number for a three-row family SUV. Production of the US-market Model Y L is confirmed underway at Giga Texas in Austin, which has been retooled specifically to support the extended-wheelbase model.

The timing of the Model Y L’s US arrival is not coincidental. Tesla discontinued the Model S sedan earlier this year, and orders for the Model X SUV have also been quietly closed — removing Tesla’s only three-row option and its only genuine large premium SUV from the US lineup simultaneously. The Model Y L was clearly developed to fill that void: it gives families who needed more than five seats a Tesla option that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the current lineup, and it positions Tesla directly against three-row electric SUVs from rivals that have been gaining ground without Tesla competition.

The international rollout tells the same story. The Model Y L launched in China in August 2025, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines and India before arriving in the US. Each market launch added to Tesla’s global Q2 2026 sales of 480,126 vehicles — a 24.9 percent increase year-on-year and Tesla’s second consecutive quarter of growth. The US launch, Tesla’s largest single market, was the most significant remaining step in the Model Y L’s global rollout.

Official Name	Tesla Model Y L (Long Wheelbase)
US Launch Trim	Launch Series — AWD, fully loaded
US Launch Price	$61,990
Launch Series Inclusions	FSD (12 months), Supercharging (12 months), Premium Connectivity (12 months), paint, interior, wheels
Standard Trims Expected	To follow — pricing TBC
Drive	Dual motor AWD
0–60mph	4.4 seconds
EPA Range	325 miles
Wheelbase vs Standard	+150mm (5.9 inches)
Overall Length vs Standard	+180mm (7 inches)
Seating Layout	2+2+2 — six captain’s seats
2nd Row	Heated, ventilated, powered armrests, one-touch fold
3rd Row	Heated, power recline, child-seat anchors
Screen	16 inches (vs 15.4" standard Model Y)
US Production	Giga Texas, Austin — underway
Configurable	Now at Tesla.com (US and Puerto Rico)
Prior Markets	China (Aug 2025), Australia/NZ (Mar 2026), Malaysia, Philippines, India
vs Standard Model Y Performance	+$4,000 / +7" length / +1 row / -32mi range
Tesla Q2 2026 Global Sales	480,126 vehicles (+24.9% YoY)

At $61,990, the Model Y L enters a genuinely competitive three-row electric SUV market. The Rivian R1S starts at $76,990 — $15,000 more — but offers superior off-road capability and a more premium interior. The Hyundai IONIQ 9, expected to arrive in the US later in 2026, will bring seven seats, a more luxurious cabin and a lower anticipated starting price. The Volvo EX90 starts at $79,995 for a seven-seat configuration with a more refined interior. Against all of them, Tesla’s key advantages are the same as always: the Supercharger network, Full Self-Driving availability, over-the-air updates and the depth of the Tesla ownership ecosystem. At $61,990 as a fully-loaded six-seater, it is priced aggressively relative to what it includes.

One honest caveat worth noting: the 325-mile range is lower than some buyers will expect from a $61,990 Tesla, particularly those comparing against the standard Model Y’s 357 miles. That gap is a real physical consequence of the longer, heavier body — not a software limitation or cost-cutting measure — but it is worth understanding before ordering.