Tesla Just Made the Cheapest AWD Model Y $8,000 Pricier: Is RWD Enough?
Tesla quietly dropped the $41,990 Model Y AWD. The cheapest AWD is now the $49,990 Premium, so all-wheel drive costs $10,000 more than RWD. We compared the 10-year cost of every trim.
In this article
Tesla has quietly removed the $41,990 Model Y All-Wheel Drive from its US configurator. The cheapest AWD Model Y you can now order is the Premium AWD at $49,990, which is $8,000 more. As Electrek first reported on 13 November 2026, Tesla made no announcement. We worked out what the change costs AWD buyers, and whether the rear-wheel-drive Model Y is now the smarter buy.
The short answer
All-wheel drive on a Model Y now costs $10,000 more than rear-wheel drive, up from $2,000.
Over 10 years, including charging, the Premium AWD costs about $57,700 to buy and run, against $47,100 for the RWD. On a typical 60-month loan, that’s about $178 a month more. Unless you need AWD for snow or performance, the RWD is now by far the better value.
What changed
- Removed: the base Model Y All-Wheel Drive at $41,990, which Tesla launched in early February 2026. Some units are still in Tesla’s inventory, according to Electrek.
- Cheapest AWD now: the Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive at $49,990.
- Unchanged: the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive at $39,990.
- Tesla’s explanation: none so far. The trim simply disappeared from the US order page.
Every Model Y trim: price and running cost
| Trim | Price | EPA energy use | Charging per year | 10 years: price + charging | Loan payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Y RWD | $39,990 | 25 kWh/100 mi | $715 | $47,141 | $713/mo |
| Model Y Premium RWD | $45,990 | 26 kWh/100 mi | $744 | $53,427 | $820/mo |
| Model Y Premium AWD | $49,990 | 27 kWh/100 mi | $772 | $57,713 | $891/mo |
| 27 kWh/100 mi | $772 |
*10% down, 7% APR, 60 months. Prices before destination and fees. Charging at 12,000 miles a year: 85% at home at 18¢/kWh and 15% at Superchargers at 56.9¢/kWh. Energy use from fueleconomy.gov.
The real cost of all-wheel drive
Until this week, AWD was a $2,000 option over the RWD. Now it costs $10,000, because the only AWD left also comes with Premium features. Charging costs barely change: the AWD’s extra motor adds about 2 kWh per 100 miles, which is only about $57 a year at our rates. Nearly all of the extra cost is the purchase price.
- Over 10 years: the Premium AWD costs about $10,600 more than the RWD to buy and charge.
- Every month: about $178 more on a 60-month loan, before higher insurance on the pricier car.
- What you get for it: faster acceleration and the Premium trim’s extra features, not just two driven axles.
Model Y vs a gas SUV: run your numbers
See the 10-year cost of a Model Y against a gas or hybrid SUV with your own mileage, electricity price and loan terms.
FAQ
Did Tesla discontinue the Model Y AWD?
Tesla removed the $41,990 base Model Y All-Wheel Drive from its US configurator around 13 November 2026 without an announcement. Some units remain in inventory. The cheapest AWD you can now order is the Premium AWD at $49,990.
How much is the cheapest Model Y now?
The Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive at $39,990, before destination and fees. Its price didn’t change.
How much more does AWD cost to run than RWD?
Very little. Per the EPA, the AWD uses about 27 kWh per 100 miles against 25 for the RWD. At 12,000 miles a year and typical charging prices, that’s about $57 a year more.
Is RWD enough for winter?
For most drivers on plowed roads, a rear-wheel-drive EV with proper winter tires copes well. AWD helps most on steep, icy or unplowed roads. Weigh that against the $10,000 price gap.
How we calculated this
- Prices: US configurator prices before destination and fees, as reported by Electrek on 13 November 2026.
- Energy use: EPA combined figures on fueleconomy.gov: RWD 25, Premium RWD 26, Premium AWD and AWD 27 kWh per 100 miles.
- Charging: 12,000 miles a year; 85% at home at 18¢/kWh (US residential average) and 15% at Superchargers at 56.9¢/kWh (Paren, Q3 2026 non-member average). Today’s prices, no inflation.
- Loan: 10% down, 7% APR, 60 months. Insurance, servicing, taxes and resale are not included.
Sources: Electrek (13 Nov 2026) · fueleconomy.gov · Electrek: Paren Q3 2026 Supercharger prices
Faisal is the founder and editor of EV vs Gas Car Cost. He builds the site’s ownership-cost calculators and reviews new cars with one question in mind: what will this car really cost to buy, finance, fuel and run? His reviews are based on manufacturer specifications, official fuel-economy and efficiency ratings, and public fuel and electricity price data, which he cites in every article.
