Plenty of value in a big package

Tesla's Model Y RWD 110, specially created for Singapore's COE system, is a steal

- Lee Nian Tjoe

The RWD 110 is a special variant of the Tesla Model Y with a lower motor output, which qualifies it for the Category A certificate of entitlement (COE) in which the premium is usually lower than Category B's.

At current COE prices, the Model Y in RWD 110 form costs slightly over $200,000. In comparison, the more powerful Category B COE version of the car costs an additional $23,000 or so.

In this form, the Model Y undercuts rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID4 in Singapore. This is despite the electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) from Tesla being quite a bit bigger. And as a general impression, you would probably consider Tesla alongside brands such as Audi and Polestar.

It may be a reckless exaggeration to call it cheap because cars are never cheap in Singapore. But considering its size and features, the Model Y seems like a steal.

This is the second encounter with the Model Y facelift for The Straits Times, after a brief drive when the car was unveiled in March.

Gone is the slightly bloated look of the pre-facelifted Model Y. At the front, the car has a squarer "jaw" formed by the re-profiled bumper and new slit-like headlights connected by an LED light bar.

Changes to the rear are also quite significant. Particularly eye-catching is the grey panel between the tail lamps that lights up with a soft red glow.

Of course, with key areas like the windows and flanks unchanged, the car is immediately recognisable as the Model Y.

Another change is the colour option. The pearl-white hue on the test car is a $1,500 cost option (it was free for the pre-facelift version). Otherwise, the default and no-cost colour is a dark shade of grey.