Tesla Model Y pitted against Chinese rival in drag race - with a clear winner

The Tesla Model Y is one of the brand’s most popular EV offerings.

It also happens to be one of the best performing – with a 0-60 time of just over three seconds.

Now, a new video is showing Tesla’s crossover SUV take on its biggest Chinese rival.

And it’s safe to say there was one clear winner.

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Tesla takes on crossover SUV market

Having been teased since 2013, Tesla’s new EV, the Model Y, was formally unveiled in 2019.

Tesla’s latest offering was unmasked as a larger, longer version of the successful Model 3.

Interestingly, around 76 percent of the Model Y’s parts are shared with the Model 3.

First deliveries of the brand-new Model Y started in March of 2020.

Original rumours suggested that the new Model Y would come with the wing doors found on the Model X.

However, it would ultimately come with normal, standard doors instead.

Outside of the door offerings, the Model Y has proven to be a tremendous success.

Since its initial release in 2020, the Model Y has sold over 3.3 million units.

In 2023 alone, the Model Y sold over 1.2 million units in the U.S. and abroad.

This made it, officially, the best-selling car in the world that year.

Model Y Juniper takes on BYD rival in drag race

This year has seen the launch of the updated Model Y, codenamed Juniper.

First released in the Chinese market, the Model Y Juniper comes with a host of updates.

For example, the design is much sleeker, with a more streamlined front-end and a light-strip across the rear.

And the newly-updated Model Y got a chance to take on its biggest, Far-East rival.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, carwow’s Mat Watson managed to get their hands on the new Model Y Juniper.

The channel also got its hands on the BYD Sealion 7 – the direct rival of the Model Y.

The video shows the two EV rivals lining up side-by-side on the drag strip.

What makes the test fascinating is that the BYD is actually the more powerful car.

However, the BYD is also the much heavier car, tipping the scales at 5,335 lbs.

By comparison, the Model Y Juniper is over 1,000lbs lighter, weighing 4,398 lbs.

So, to answer the ultimate question – who comes out on top in this titanic, quarter-mile confrontation?

As it turns out, the Tesla.

The Tesla finished in 12.4 seconds compared to the 12.8 seconds of the BYD.

The channel also shows a rolling acceleration race, and the Tesla comes out on top in that, too.

So, despite the ever-growing presence from BYD, Tesla still appears to rule the EV world.

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