Don't Buy A Tesla Model Y For $61,630, Do This Instead...

Right now, in the spring of 2025, the only brand-new Tesla Model Y that’s available for order from the American automaker is the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version in Launch Series trim. Without any options (a buyer can choose from four colors, but a black five-seat interior is the only choice) and with the standard 19-inch wheels, Tesla says the New Model Y can travel 327 miles per charge.

Opting for 20-inch wheels doesn’t change the price, but it drops range to 303 miles. No matter how you spec it, the price, including destination and ordering fees but not including the potential $7,500 federal tax credit that some American buyers qualify for, is $61,630.

This Launch Series model includes Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised) package—to be clear, the Supervised parenthetical is their term, not ours—which, in the automaker’s own words, “is a hands-on feature that requires you to pay attention to the road at all times.”

For the last several years, the Tesla Model Y has been not just the most popular electric car but the most popular vehicle of any type in the world. Because there have been so many sold, it’s a trivial matter to find a used one for sale. But it’s far from the only electric vehicle that’s easy to find on the used market.

We’ve narrowed this would-be list of used options down to three choices. As we always do when we consider these exercises, we’ve limited our picks to cars sold within the last few years and with no more than the average of 12,000 miles per year on their odometers.

Option 1: Cadillac Lyriq

The Cadillac Lyriq is an excellent electrified machine. It’s offered in both rear- (up to 326-mile range) and all-wheel-drive (up to 319-mile range) versions, and if it’s in at least Luxury 2 trim, it’s equipped with GM’s excellent Super Cruise technology. Like Full Self Driving (Supervised), Super Cruise is a Level 2 system. Which system is superior is a matter of preference.

Choosing the Cadillac will result in a more traditional and luxurious interior. Both are packed with technology, but the Caddy takes a warmer path to luxury than the Model Y’s spartan but functional duds. Tesla quotes a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds for the Model Y Launch Series, and the Lyriq isn’t far behind at 4.6 to 5.7 seconds, depending on trim. If you go for a used Lyriq (or almost any other used EV that would compete on equal footing to the Model Y), you’re probably over the budget to qualify for a tax credit in the States.

Option 2: Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo

The Porsche Taycan is an excellent electric sedan that competes with Tesla’s high-end Model S, which is a more expensive vehicle than the Model Y. As with many EVs, the Taycan is available in several versions, from a base rear-wheel-drive model that starts below $100,000 when new to a range-topping Turbo GT with over 1,000 horsepower and a $230,000-plus asking price.

On the used market, it’s not hard to find a Taycan Turbo from the 2020 model year within our budget, but in order to match the added utility of the Model Y’s crossover hatch design, we’re instead looking at the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. The low-slung wagon boasts more than 42 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded. That’s not as much as the Model Y, but it’s still very useful. It also sits higher off the ground for light off-road capability.

Porsche and the EPA estimate the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo will travel 277 miles on a full charge and go from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. While the Porsche comes with a nice suite of driving aids that include adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, it doesn’t have the capability of Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised) package.

Option 3: Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC

The depreciation stone has struck Mercedes-Benz’s top-shelf electric sedan right between the eyes. In 2025, it’s possible to purchase a lightly used German luxury EV for less than half of its original price. In fact, as this is written, there are more than 600 EQS sedans in various specifications for sale in the United States for less than $65,000. Only a few are in top-shelf AMG trim, but there are plenty of EQS 580 4MATICs for sale in our price range.

Mercedes-Benz quotes a range of 340 miles for the EQS 580 models that we’re looking at on the used market, but in reality, they’ll likely travel quite a bit further than that. They’ll also transport their occupants in true luxury, with a quiet and composed ride and every piece of technology in Mercedes’ well-stocked quiver. That includes Drive Pilot, by the way, which is the first Level 3 assisted driving package in America (its full capabilities are locked to specific areas).

Why Not Just Buy a Tesla Model Y?

We’ll state the obvious and leave it at that: A sizable part of the world’s population has shown itself to be increasingly put off by Elon Musk, the man who heads Tesla. If you fall into that camp and want an electric vehicle, one of these options may be to your liking.

The 2025 Model Y is a refreshed version of the original model. We expect more versions to roll out to customers in the future, but as of right now, the Launch Series is the only choice. If you don’t want this specific configuration, you’ll either have to wait an unspecified period, choose a lightly used pre-update Model Y, or find another alternative.

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