2026 Tesla Model Y battery boost pushes range to new benchmark: Electric car SUV king now better prepared for battle with BYD Sealion 7, XPeng G6 and soon to arrive Zeekr 7X

Tesla is moving to reestablish its position on top of the Aussie electric car pyramid with a battery boost for the dual-motor version of its Model Y SUV.

A comprehensive update of the popular mid-size EV arrived in Australia in April this year, bringing a sleek cosmetic refresh, standard features upgrades, new tech and a retuned suspension.

And now, less than three months later, the top-spec dual-motor, long-range AWD model has picked up a close to 10 per cent range boost, from the previously quoted 551km (WLTP) to a round 600km.

This comes as Model Ys built in China for export now feature a more powerful LG Energy Solution Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery previously confined to cars built for domestic consumption.

Tesla is notoriously protective of its battery specs but extending the range improvement to battery size equates to an increase in gross capacity from close to 82kWh (around 75kWh usable) to an estimated 89kWh (82kWh usable). 

For reference, Standard Range RWD Model Ys use a long-life LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery with the Long Range AWD using the higher density NMC chemistry.

Maximum DC charging capacity is 250kW, allowing the addition of up to 283km in 15 minutes at that rate.

Despite the battery and range boost, the flagship dual-motor’s powertrain is unchanged with 0-100km/h acceleration still sitting at a rapid 4.8 seconds.

At the same time, a new colour, ‘Diamond Black’ has been added to the Model Y palette as a $1500 option, bringing available exterior paint choices to six.

Price for the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD is unchanged at $69,900, before on-road costs.