Model Y L vs Model X: Which Big Tesla for a Week Away

The Model Y L has a 3,040 mm wheelbase, exactly 150 mm longer than the standard Model Y, and that single number changes how a week away feels for six people. The Model X P100D, by contrast, is a 2017 seven-seat chauffeur-driven SUV with falcon-wing doors and Ludicrous mode. Both are big Teslas, but they solve the same problem in very different ways.

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By Elie Arzoumlian, electric car expert at Drive Tribe

Two big Teslas, two very different briefs

When we added the Model Y L to our Sydney fleet, the first question from regulars was simple: why would I take the Y L over the Model X? It is a fair question. Both cars carry six or seven people, both are dual-motor all-wheel drive, and both have enough boot space to swallow a week of luggage. But the way you use them could not be more different.

The Model Y L is a self-drive six-seater with a long wheelbase, 681 km of WLTP range and a claimed 5.0-second sprint to 100 km/h. The Model X P100D is a chauffeur-only seven-seater with 568 kW, 967 Nm and a 3.1-second launch. One is a family hauler you drive yourself. The other is a driven experience with falcon-wing doors and Ludicrous mode on tap.

We have run both cars on the same Sydney roads, from the M4 at Parramatta to the Northern Beaches and down to the Royal National Park. Here is how we would choose between them for a week away.

Seating and space: six individual seats vs seven seats

The Model Y L uses a 2-2-2 layout: two individual second-row seats and a two-seat third-row bench. That means no middle passenger in the second row, which sounds like a small detail until you load four adults and two kids for a Blue Mountains run. Everyone gets their own space, and the walk-through gap between the second-row seats makes it easy to reach the third row without folding anything.

The Model X P100D is a seven-seater with a more traditional bench in the second row. It is wider in the shoulders, and the falcon-wing doors make loading kids into the third row genuinely easier in tight car parks. But because the X is chauffeur-only, the person arranging the seats is often not the person sitting in them.

Legroom is where the Y L pulls ahead. The 3,040 mm wheelbase is 150 mm longer than the standard Model Y, and most of that goes to the second row. Adults can sit behind adults without negotiation. The X is comfortable too, but its packaging is older, and the third row is best for shorter trips or smaller passengers.

For a detailed look at how the Y L handles family duty, see The Model Y L as a Family Holiday Car: Space, Charging and Kids.

Performance and driving feel

On paper, the Model X P100D is in another league. Its 568 kW and 967 Nm produce a 3.1-second 0-100 km/h time, and Ludicrous mode makes overtaking on the Hume Highway feel almost unnecessary. The Y L counters with 378 kW combined and 590 Nm, good for a claimed 5.0 seconds. That is quick for a six-seat family SUV, but it is not Ludicrous quick.

What matters more on a week away is how the car feels at 80 percent effort. The Y L rides on a longer wheelbase, so it settles quickly over the patched surfaces of the M4 and the concrete joints on the M2. The X has more power but also more mass and older suspension tuning. Around town, the Y L is the easier car to place in a shopping centre car park.

I drove the Y L prototype route near Parramatta and the difference over the standard Y is obvious: the extra 150 mm of wheelbase takes the sharpness out of speed humps without making the car feel lazy. The X, by contrast, is a car you appreciate most from the passenger seat, which is exactly how we offer it.

Range and charging on a Sydney week away

The Model Y L has a WLTP range of 681 km. The Model X P100D has 465 km. That gap is the single biggest practical difference for a week away. A Y L can do a Sydney to Jervis Bay return with a single top-up, while the X will want at least one proper charging stop each way.

Both cars use the Tesla Supercharger network, which in Sydney includes sites at Broadway, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Campbelltown. We tell every guest the same thing: charge where you park, not where you panic. A six-seat Y L with a full battery leaves Merrylands or Parramatta with enough range for a Southern Highlands day trip and back without touching a charger.

The X is thirstier, but because it is chauffeur-only, your driver handles the charging logistics. If you are self-driving the Y L, plan your stops around meals rather than around the battery. For a broader look at running costs, see Tesla Rental vs Petrol Performance Car: The Weekend Cost, Line by Line.

Self-drive vs chauffeur: the real decision

This is the fork in the road. The Model Y L is self-drive, delivered anywhere in Sydney, with age and licence requirements confirmed at booking. The Model X P100D is chauffeur-only, which means a professional Drive Tribe driver handles the car, the parking and the charging. There is no minimum driver age for the X because you are not driving.

If your week away involves school pick-ups, beach parking and spontaneous detours, self-drive wins. If it involves a wedding, a corporate guest or a wine tour where nobody wants to be the designated driver, the X wins. We have run the X for airport transfers to Mascot and for full-day Hunter Valley itineraries, and the falcon-wing doors never fail to start a conversation.

The Y L is the better choice for families who want to control their own schedule. The X is the better choice for groups who would rather be driven. Neither is wrong, but mixing them up leads to a disappointing trip.

Charging and luggage: what actually fits

With six seats in use, the Model Y L still has a usable boot behind the third row. We have loaded it with three medium suitcases and a pram for a Central Coast weekend. Fold the third row and it becomes a proper load-lugger. The front trunk adds a useful spot for charging cables and wet gear.

The Model X P100D has a larger overall footprint and a power-folding third row, but with all seven seats up, luggage space shrinks fast. For a week away with seven people, you will be using roof space or travelling light. For six people with bags, the X is comfortable.

Both cars have Tesla's native navigation, which routes through Superchargers automatically. In the Y L, that means fewer stops. In the X, it means the driver plans around the car's 465 km range. If you are comparing the Y L to the standard Y, our breakdown in Model Y vs Model Y L: Six Seats, More Legroom, Same Charging covers the charging similarities.

Cost and booking: what to check before you reserve

We do not publish rates in articles because they change with season and duration. The rate, bond and every fee are shown on the car's page and in the booking total before you pay. For the Model Y L, there is no car page yet, so all bookings go through the Tesla hub page. For the Model X P100D, the car page lists the chauffeur inclusions.

Both cars are delivered anywhere in Sydney, or collected from their base: Merrylands for the Model X and the Model Y, Parramatta for the Model 3 Performance. The Model Y L is delivered anywhere in Sydney. If you are weighing up a self-drive week against a chauffeur-driven one, the booking total is the honest comparison, not the headline rate.

For answers to the questions we get most often, see Tesla Rental Sydney FAQ: The 25 Questions We Get Every Week.

Which big Tesla for your week away?

Choose the Model Y L if you want six individual seats, the longest range in our fleet, self-drive freedom and a car that fits Sydney family life without fuss. Choose the Model X P100D if you want seven seats, Ludicrous performance and a chauffeur who handles everything while you enjoy the ride.

If you are still deciding whether the Y L is the right six-seater for your family, our explainer Tesla Model Y L: What the Six-Seat Long-Wheelbase Y Means for Sydney Families goes deeper on the packaging. And if you want to see the whole fleet, including the Model 3 Performance and Model Y, start at the Tesla hire Sydney hub.

We book both cars year-round, but school holidays and long weekends fill first. If your dates are fixed, reserve early and confirm delivery details at booking.

How we tested and what we watch

We do not run instrumented tests on public roads. The numbers in this article come from Tesla's own specifications for each model. What we do test is real-world usability: how the car loads at the kerb, how it behaves on the M4 and the M1, and how easy it is to charge without disrupting a family day out.

On a recent Merrylands handover, the Y L swallowed a full week of luggage for five people with the third row folded. The X, with seven seats in use, needed a more disciplined packing approach. That is the kind of difference a spec sheet does not show you.

If you are planning a longer trip, read our family holiday guide linked above. If you are comparing the Y L to the standard Y, the six-seat explainer is the place to start. And if you simply want to book, the Tesla hub page has the current fleet and the booking form.