- The 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance is now available in the United States.
- The refreshed version of the go-fast crossover has more range and is quicker than its predecessor.
- The Performance is the most expensive Model Y trim, but it comes with several nice features as standard.
The 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance has officially landed in the United States, one month after debuting in Europe and just hours before the $7,500 federal tax credit ended. The refreshed version of the fastest Model Y costs $59,130, including the destination fee and mandatory order fee, making it $8,500 more expensive than the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive and $2,500 more expensive than the Model 3 Performance.
For the money, customers get an EPA-estimated driving range of 306 miles, a 155 miles per hour top speed and a zero to 60 miles per hour sprint in 3.3 seconds. Compared to the pre-facelift model, the new Model Y Performance has 29 more miles of range and is 0.2 seconds quicker in the 60 mph sprint, but the top speed is unchanged.
Photo by: Tesla
Interestingly, the refreshed go-fast crossover has five more miles of range than the facelifted Model 3 Performance. That said, the sedan is quicker from a standstill and has a higher top speed. It’s also lighter, tipping the scales at 4,054 lbs, while the Model Y Performance weighs 4,466 pounds–the heaviest of all the Model Y versions.
In the United States, the latest sporty Model Y can be had with any of the six available colors without having to pay extra, whereas for any other version, customers have to pay $1,000 or $2,000 to get anything but the base Stealth Grey. The same goes for the white interior, which usually costs $1,000 extra. The Performance also comes out of the box with a set of staggered 21-inch Arachnid 2.0 wheels wrapped in all-season tires, and a tow package that’s usually a $1,000 option.
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Source: Tesla
There’s also an exterior body kit that includes new front and rear facias, as well as a carbon spoiler at the rear that increases downforce and reduces drag, according to Tesla. The company also said the upgraded crossover has increased charge capacity thanks to high-density battery cells, but the Performance is the slowest-charging of all the Model Ys, with up to 144 miles of range added from a 250-kilowatt Supercharger. By comparison, the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive can add up to 182 miles of range in 15 minutes, and the Long Range All-Wheel Drive can add up to 169 miles in a quarter of an hour.
Inside, the 2026 Model Y Performance gets a slightly larger 16-inch central touchscreen (the other versions come with a 15.4-inch screen) and an 8-inch touchscreen for the rear passengers, who also get perforated seats with heating and power recline. Meanwhile, the driver and front passenger have a pair of heated and ventilated sport seats with added bolstering and side cushions, compared to the non-Performance trims.
Under the skin, there’s an adaptive damping system that adjusts the handling and suspension for a smoother and stable ride. It works in conjunction with a set of new driving modes. That’s different from the Long Range versions of the Model Y, which have frequency selective dampers that don’t offer selectable modes.
The 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance is available now in the United States, but can only be purchased with cash. On Tesla’s website, the Lease and Finance options don’t currently show the new Model Y Performance as being eligible. That’s bound to change at some point, but right now, cash is the name of the game.
