Tesla has rolled out a fresh set of upgrades for the 2026 Model Y lineup in the United States. The move targets the higher trims in the range and aims to keep the company’s best‑selling SUV competitive in a crowded EV market.
Model Y gains seven‑seat option
Tesla has brought back a third row for the Model Y Premium All‑Wheel‑Drive, giving buyers a seven‑seat configuration again. The option costs about $2,500 and adds a compact third row that Tesla describes as “seating for up to seven and enough room for everyone’s gear.”
The extra row is tight, so it is mainly suited for children on shorter trips, according to early owners and reviewers. Even so, it gives families more flexibility than the standard five‑seat layout and helps Tesla compete with other three‑row electric crossovers in the segment.
Larger 16‑inch QHD display
The most visible tech change sits in front of the driver and front passenger. Premium and Performance versions now use a 16‑inch QHD display with a 2560×1440 resolution in place of the earlier 15.4‑inch unit.
The panel has slimmer bezels, offers about 80% more pixels than the old screen and adds roughly 3 square inches of usable area.
The higher resolution and contrast make maps, video playback and vehicle controls look sharper and easier to read. This larger screen first appeared on updated Model Y versions in China and is now moving into the U.S. lineup in these upper trims.
Cabin moves to black headliner
Inside, Tesla has dropped the lighter headliner and now fits a black headliner on both Premium and Performance trims.
The darker material gives the cabin a more uniform look and reduces light reflections, which some drivers had criticized in earlier cars.
This change brings the Model Y interior closer in feel to many premium SUVs that favor darker roof fabrics. The update sits alongside existing minimalist design cues, so the cabin still keeps its clean layout but with a slightly more upscale tone.
Exterior tweaks
On the outside, the key hardware change is the new Dark Gray 20‑inch Helix 2.0 wheel option for the Premium trim. These wheels replace a lighter finish and give the car a more muted look.
Tesla has also switched the exterior badges to black, moving away from the previous chrome finish on the Model Y. The darker badges tie in with the new wheel color and black trim pieces.
These upgrades target the Premium and Performance versions, setting them apart from the less expensive Model Y variants that launched earlier.
Elon Musk has previously indicated that the Chinese stretched Model Y L may not reach the U.S. market before late 2026, if at all, so the current updates are likely to carry the U.S. car for some time.
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