Even Tesla Has Adapted in China
Despite serious competition from homegrown brands, Tesla is doing well for itself in China. In terms of specs, the Chinese-built models are identical to the ones for the rest of the world, but the company made its first big step into adapting to local tastes.
It’s not by adding more tech or giving it a larger battery pack. Instead, it’s the Model Y receiving more space between the wheels to make it nearly as long as a Model X. Dubbed the Tesla Model Y L, it was launched in mid-2025 with a six-inch wheelbase stretch and seven inches longer than the standard version. Oh, and it gets an additional row of seats, too.
A True Three-Row Crossover?
The extra row made us genuinely curious about it, although access to one isn’t as easy as it is only sold in China for now. Thankfully, there are some videos of it floating around YouTube, and the channel ChineseCarGuy checks out the space inside.
It’s worth pointing out that the Chinese Model Y L has seats for six, not seven. The second row ditches a bench for a pair of captain’s chairs. Still, the extra length means more room for those in the middle, but what about the third? Well, it’s a bit of a split decision, as ChineseCarGuy points out.
While the additional seats are welcome, it’s not what anyone would call commodious. The presenter stands at 5 feet and 9 inches, but even then, he had to be in a fetal position of sorts to really fit. There’s really not much space under the second row for feet to slide underneath, but at least one leg can stretch out because of the free space in the middle from the captain’s chairs. Also, heads will come very close to the tailgate, and its position means scalps will get a little warm in the summer.
All in all, it’s a typical three-row crossover; it’s best for short adults and children.
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There are Good Points, Though
It’s far from the ultimate people carrier, but the body stretch does have its benefits. Aside from more room for second-row occupants, there are massive gains in the cargo area. The more bubble-like profile of the Model Y L also means more vertical space for taller items. Couple that with the massive underfloor storage area, and you end up with what’s possibly the most practical version of this EV crossover.
Also, the Model Y L benefits from a larger battery as it gets the long-range model’s 82 kWh pack. Tesla China claims a range of up to 466 miles, although China’s testing methods are more forgiving. A more realistic figure would be around 330 miles on a full charge. Power figures are identical to the version sold in the rest of the world before the Performance variant, meaning 384 hp and 376 lb-ft.
The price? In China, the Model Y L starts at 339,000 yuan, or just over $48,000 at current conversion rates. That’s about the same as the Premium AWD model sitting in showrooms at the moment, so it’s a pretty sound value proposition (if that pricing sticks, but we doubt that). That said, expect it to cost more should it make its way to America, but there seems to be no plans to offer it stateside for now.
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