Tesla owner from Detroit reveals true cost of ownership one year in to Model Y in ‘brutally honest’ review
- A Tesla Model Y owner has given his thoughts after a year owning the EV
- The American YouTuber traded in his Model 3 for the Model Y
- Issues such as the panel gaps were a problem for the Tesla owner
Published on Feb 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 03, 2025 at 9:19 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An American Tesla owner from Detroit has given a brutally honest review after owning a Model Y for just over a year.
Kevin, also known as the Tech Ninja, owns a Model Y Performance, having traded in his Model 3 for this new EV.
The YouTuber wanted to check out the car’s tech and performance and get his hands on the best EV he could afford.
The review is very honest, and it reveals the full cost of owning a Model Y after around a year.
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The YouTuber detailed the cost of his Model Y
Kevin breaks down the cost of the Model Y, showing his vehicle order agreement, which revealed he paid $64,440 for the EV.
The YouTuber also talks about the panel gaps on the Tesla.
This has been widely reported about the manufacturer’s cars.
He brands them ‘unacceptable,’ and he has spotted more of them over time.
Kevin also had a bumper hanging off, and while he was able to sort it out, that is another thing that has left a bad impression on the YouTuber.
In terms of range, he gets around 280 miles of normal driving and 170 miles in the winter.
Using the heat pump, however, boosted his range up to 205 miles.
Setting up his home charging, however, was costly.
Kevin says he ran the electrical cord to his charging panel from the basement.
That cost around $1,200 for him to install.
The car also came with a mobile connector. However, that wasn’t the case in early 2025, and they cost an extra $230 from Tesla.
The YouTuber found the Tesla app easy to use
Another plus point for the YouTuber was the Tesla app.
Kevin found this very easy to use and praised its control features.
This included functions like the climate control, heating in the seats, and where your car is parked.
Another contentious point was the lack of buttons inside the Tesla, with all significant controls located within the large infotainment screen.
The practicality was a big plus point for Kevin and his EV.
The ability to fold the seats down was a significant positive.
He said he has been easily able to carry some large loads around.
The car has also helped him find a charging point and estimate his exact range based on how he has driven the car.
While there are clear downsides to the Tesla, overall, the YouTuber is happy with his purchase.
Driving the car is a lot of fun, although he did mention the issues with the panel gaps and its user-friendliness.
For the most part, though, he was pleased with the vehicle.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
