Tesla has finally brought the seven-seat Model Y to the United States, but to the disappointment of fans, it is not the same as the six-seat Model Y L that arrived on the Chinese market.
To put it simply, the third row of seats was introduced by the brand as a US$2,500 option for the Tesla Model Y Premium and Performance trims.
Instead of offering a wider vehicle, as is the case with the Model Y L available in China, the seats were simply squeezed into the cargo area of the current Model Y.
Technically, this raises the total number of seats in the Model Y to seven, but at what cost? Most adults will not be able to sit in this third row, making it usable only for families with small children.
For comparison, the Chinese Model Y L has a longer wheelbase, with a 186 mm increase in length over the standard Model Y. This difference provides a very respectable amount of legroom in the third row of seats.
It is worth noting that this type of configuration had already been offered previously in the United States and Europe, but it did not last long. It remains to be seen whether consumers will actually embrace the new offering.
However, judging by the comments on the brand’s announcement post, this does not seem to be the case. “It makes no sense without the longer wheelbase of the Y L,” said one user on X. “Nobody wants this version, they want the Model Y L. You’re literally wasting your time,” argued another commenter.
Photos: Tesla / X @tesla_na. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
Model Y Premium now seats up to 7
Also, all configurations of Premium & Performance now come with black headliner + larger 16″ center touchscreen
All yours → https://t.co/OtbBOTYTTe pic.twitter.com/YcosQeD34o
— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) January 13, 2026
