Is Tesla's Bland Styling Keeping YOU From Owning One?

The Tesla Model Y is expected to be the company’s highest-volume vehicle yet, with Elon Musk noting during the recently-held third-quarter earnings call that he expects the crossover to outsell Model S, Model X, and Model 3 combined. Former GM vice chair Bob Lutz, on the other hand, has some doubts, and a lot of that has to do with the way the Model Y looks. 

The Model Y is created as the crossover version of the best-selling Model 3, and as such, the vehicle shares around 75% of the components of its sedan sibling. This makes the two vehicles look very similar, though the Y could be described as a taller, heftier 3. So similar were the two electric vehicles that even Tesla enthusiasts who took test rides in the Model Y during its unveiling event found it a bit challenging to tell the crossover apart from the Model 3.

jeffgall - 10/29/2019 1:44:13 PM

+11 Boost

Not as much as it’s Fit and Finish, and Reliability. I’m waiting to the regular manufactures come to the table with an option with better build quality, and engineering standards.

jeffgall - 10/29/2019 1:45:47 PM

+11 Boost

The Model S was a good design, but it is not getting a bit long in the tooth. The design translation to the Model 3 and X has created a “jelly bean” look that looks somewhat cartoonish. So to answer your question, yes, styling is not helping these days.

atc98092 - 10/29/2019 1:46:36 PM

+17 Boost

I'm OK with the exterior, but not a fan of the minimalist interior of the 3. I realize some people prefer it, but I'm not one of them.

vdiv - 10/29/2019 2:08:20 PM

0 Boost

I like the bland styling, it fits my personality ;)

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 10/29/2019 2:16:00 PM

+1 Boost

To my eye the 3 would look better with a more defined trunk. The new Y is a mini X and both should be more upright in the back to have more room and be more practical. IE like an SUV. If Tesla builds a traditional SUV off the pickup platform I think they will sell well.

countguy - 10/29/2019 2:50:45 PM

+10 Boost

Bland exterior, crap interior, horrible build quality, poor reliability. If I want a EV sedan I will get the Taycan or one of the many others hitting the market within the next 1 to 2 years.

SanJoseDriver - 10/30/2019 4:51:46 AM

-5 Boost

Four false statements.

Truthy - 10/29/2019 3:54:04 PM

+4 Boost

Good choice.

Section_31_JTK - 10/29/2019 3:46:11 PM

+10 Boost

The exterior is ok except for the funky looking beluga whale nose. The interior OTOH looks like crap. I'm not paying that kind of money for an interior that belongs in a KIA. Also, I'm loathe to purchase something from a company that's essentially losing money on every vehicle it sells. This is not a sustainable business model.

SanJoseDriver - 10/30/2019 4:52:21 AM

-5 Boost

Not this past quarter.

Hauerg - 10/30/2019 5:25:05 PM

-2 Boost

BS, you should know this now.

SanJoseDriver - 11/4/2019 5:00:26 AM

+1 Boost

Not BS, they would be profitable any way you slice it this past Q.

Truthy - 10/29/2019 3:56:13 PM

+12 Boost

It is not the styling that keeps me away. It is the crap interior, the build quality, the technical glitches, the fires, the service reputation, cold weather range, the company being based on a mountain of BS, not wanting to be a beta tester for my $50 K large, etc...

supermoto - 10/29/2019 4:11:12 PM

+10 Boost

Tesla's U.S. sales plummeted 39% to $3.13 billion in the latest quarter, from $5.13 billion a year earlier, according to the 10-Q.

Oops.

mini22 - 10/29/2019 6:37:24 PM

+8 Boost

Well there is such a think called reliability, quality control, proper service times etc. Tesla still seems to be challenged in these areas. So If I got 100 grand to spend on a luxury EV sedan why would I buy a Tesla over a Porsche Tacan. If I buy the Porsche I get to take my car to a dealership if any service or repair is required. I get much, much better quality, a more normal looking dash, a 2 speed transmission, 800 volt charging capability. But Tesla just had a more profitable quarter so I guess this makes everything they are doing alright...NOT

MDarringer - 10/29/2019 8:09:59 PM

+9 Boost

Teslas are not poorly styled, but they just aren't especially attractive. The Model X is borderline terrible in its proportions.

SuperCarEnthusiast - 10/29/2019 10:03:06 PM

+10 Boost

Do not like the minimalist looking interior with only one instrument cluster, infotainment combo in the center.

Section_31_JTK - 10/29/2019 10:36:32 PM

+8 Boost

Another reason to stay away from Tesla - the Tesla Forum is rife with complaints about the deterioration of customer service. There are MANY threads about how CS has severely deteriorated. Here's just one example: https://forums.tesla.com/forum/forums/terrible-service-huge-decline-previously-excellent-standards

netegrity - 10/29/2019 10:58:28 PM

+8 Boost

Style? maybe - it's getting boring. But charging is a concern since for ICE it only takes about 5 min to gas up and will be good for 300 miles or so in average, but for Tesla, you need at least 30 min or longer to get say 150miles (if not lesser). That's not convenient. Plus Tesla's fit and finish is horrible, and suspension issues (bushings?) which is ridiculous for a 100k car. It probably cost alot cheaper to build a dash (w/ the ipad) in a Tesla than the ordinary dashes for ICE vehicles since there's just not that many parts required in a Tesla....and the big ipad isn't that expensive to produce. Tesla is charging too much.

SanJoseDriver - 10/30/2019 5:24:11 AM

-6 Boost

They're up to 160 miles of range in 10 minutes, really not too shabby. Run one errand and your car is fully charged. Fit and finish is pretty good today, haven't had any suspension issues ever.

MDarringer - 10/30/2019 8:31:53 AM

+7 Boost

The problem with that is that Tesla itself has said that incessant fast charging destroys the batteries. Fit and finish is shabby. Look at the chrome on a Tesla that is several years old and it is dull and decaying. You can walk around a Tesla and see evident quality glitches.

Hauerg - 10/30/2019 5:26:20 PM

-4 Boost

Get your numbers right, then come back.

SanJoseDriver - 10/30/2019 5:53:34 PM

-5 Boost

Constant fast charging is now okay... they analyzed billions of miles of charging over the years. If the battery degrades past a certain point, the fastest rate gets reduced by 5 or 10%, which still lets you charge pretty damn fast. Most people will also charge at home in their garage or at work, which are the most convenient options. Also, my 6 year old Model S has no issues with chrome. It does have some panel gap inconsistencies, but nothing bad enough to even notice until after everyone made a big deal about the Model 3 panel gaps (which are now perfect on new cars).

carloslassiter - 10/31/2019 8:36:48 AM

0 Boost

I like the understated detail, I don't like the shape of the X or Y.