15:09 13-01-2026
2026 Tesla Model Y update: seven-seat option returns, Premium adds 16-inch display
Tesla has unveiled the updated 2026 Model Y for the U.S., reinstating the long-promised seven-seat setup and adding a handful of small yet noticeable tweaks to the Premium trim.
The third row returns: how useful is it?
Tesla first promised a third row back in 2019, but the option drifted on and off the market. Now, a year after its refresh, the seven-seat configuration is back in the U.S. configurator.
The option costs $2,500 and is available only on the Model Y Premium AWD Long Range. The third row’s dimensions haven’t changed, keeping it largely a solution for children. With limited leg- and headroom, it isn’t practical for adults.
By contrast with the stretched China-market Model YL, the U.S. Model Y has not gained a longer wheelbase, so third-row ergonomics remain the same.
Premium updates: interior, screen, wheels
The 2026 Model Y isn’t a full redesign, but it brings a few changes:
- a black headliner replaces the light one, visually tightening up the cabin;
- dark gray Helix 20" wheels instead of the previous lighter finish;
- a new 16-inch high-contrast display, previously limited to the Performance and the China-market Model YL;
- black badging instead of chrome.
These updates are exclusive to the Premium trim; the Standard version goes unchanged.
What the launch means for the market and buyers
Bringing back the third row broadens the Model Y’s appeal, especially for families. In practice, though, its usefulness remains limited, a point already raised by owners of pre-refresh cars.
Meanwhile, the upgraded cabin and sharper infotainment screen make the Premium spec more enticing, strengthening its case against newer EVs in the $55,000–$60,000 bracket.
In the end, the 2026 Model Y lands modest but timely improvements: a neater interior, a modern 16-inch display, and a reinstated—if compact—third row. It’s not a revolution, yet it nudges the Premium version into a more polished and competitive place.