Tested: 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance Takes the Edge Off

Tesla reintroduces the Model Y Performance for 2026 with an 81-kWh battery and 510 horsepower, delivering a 0–60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and an 11.5-second quarter-mile. The powertrain uses front and rear motors shared with the refreshed Model 3 Performance, and the battery updates are accompanied by an engineering emphasis on practicality over track hostility. Track mode is removed, and drive modes are simplified to Chill, Standard, and Insane, with Standard and Sport dampers and yaw-intervention limited to a Reduced setting. A 3,500-pound tow rating and a standard trailer hitch expand usability, while braking from 70 mph runs about 179 feet. The car’s interior features a larger 16.0-inch touchscreen and a driver-focused control surface.