Tesla Drops Model Y All-Wheel Drive Trim

The cheapest all-wheel-drive Model Y is now the Premium AWD trim, starting at $51,630.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Tesla removed its cheapest all-wheel-drive Model Y trim, leaving the Premium AWD starting at $51,630 as the entry option for buyers seeking AWD. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tesla has removed the Model Y All-Wheel Drive from its online configurator, with the former trim previously priced at roughly $42,000. The cheapest all-wheel-drive Model Y is now the Premium AWD trim, which starts at $51,630.

Why it matters

The change raises the entry price for buyers who want all-wheel drive in the Model Y, a significant jump from the earlier roughly $42,000 cost. Shoppers in the United States who want the added traction now face a choice between the higher-priced Premium AWD and the rear-wheel-drive base model.

The discontinued Model Y AWD carried an EPA-estimated range of 294 miles and a 4.6-second zero-to-60 mph time, which is 2.2 seconds quicker than the single-motor counterpart. The base Model Y RWD starts at $41,630 and offers a maximum charging power of 225 kilowatts.

The players

Tesla

Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas, known for its Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y vehicles.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the chief executive of Tesla and a prominent entrepreneur whose companies also include SpaceX, X, and Neuralink.

The details

Tesla removed the Model Y All-Wheel Drive from its online configurator and dropped the "Standard" badge from its lineup when the trim was introduced in February 2026. The cheapest all-wheel-drive option is now the Premium AWD trim.

October 2025: Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard debuted.
February 2026: Model Y All-Wheel Drive introduced and the Standard badge dropped.
Earlier in 2026: Model S and Model X were discontinued.
2027: Cybertruck is scheduled to be retired.

Roadmap

The removal follows Tesla's earlier discontinuation of the Model S and Model X in 2026 and its planned retirement of the Cybertruck in 2027. Tesla's lineup is narrowing around the Model 3 and Model Y while the Cybercab two-seater is projected to take over the Cybertruck's floor space.

Buyers who wanted all-wheel drive in a Model Y now need roughly $9,600 more than the former trim cost to get it. Shoppers who can accept rear-wheel drive can still start at $41,630, though the all-wheel-drive option carries a meaningful price premium.

The takeaway

Buyers comparing Model Y trims should weigh the higher Premium AWD price against the rear-wheel-drive base model, since the all-wheel-drive premium has grown considerably with this change.