The Affordable EV That Makes Road Trips Surprisingly Easy

Not too long ago, thinking of going on a road trip in your electric vehicle would’ve been a nightmare. Even if your EV may have all the space, features, and performance for a long trip, you’d be hampered by its short driving range and long charging times. Add to that lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety, and you have a recipe for a very stressful road trip.

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Fortunately, EVs have come a long way, and you don’t have to spend a bomb to get a good experience, either. Some of the current generation of electric vehicles can go over 300 miles with ease, while offering quick charging, space for your family and luggage, and an affordable price tag of under $40,000. In this price range, though, there’s hardly a better option than this versatile EV SUV.

EVs For Road-Tripping Finally Make Sense In 2026

People generally associate electric vehicles with urban commuting and short drives. You can’t blame them; EVs do fare quite well in the city compared to the highway. They are easy to drive, especially with regen braking, and they also cost a heck of a lot less than their gas-powered counterparts. This ease of driving is what has earned EVs a reputation for being more of an appliance than a real car, and while enthusiasts may hate them for it, you can’t deny just how good EVs are.

Mercedes

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But how do they fare on the highway for road trips? In the last decade, not so much. According to Bloomberg, back in 2013, the average range of an American EV was just under 130 miles. Good luck taking it for a road trip. But in recent years, that figure has risen to 290 miles, so a good set of electric vehicles is more than capable of hitting the road and chasing sunsets. In fact, some EVs, like the Lucid Air or Mercedes-Benz EQS, offer over 400 miles of range.

Lucid

There’s a catch with good range, though; it often comes at a cost. Both the Air and EQS are expensive cars, and not everyone would like to spend that kind of dough on electric vehicles. So, are there cheaper options? Yes! Many sub-$40,000 electric vehicles offer a decent range for road-tripping, along with plenty of space and features. Some examples include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevrolet Equinox EV, or, if you don’t mind slower charging times, even the Toyota bZ. However, these sub-$40,000 EVs are beaten by one American EV that offers perhaps the best balance of performance, range, and creature comforts.

The Tesla Model Y Is The Best-Selling EV For A Reason

Tesla

The EV in question is the Tesla Model Y, which is essentially bread-and-butter for the American manufacturer. This compact crossover SUV has grown to become the best-selling EV and the seventh best-selling car overall in the States. It also holds the title of the world’s best-selling car for the last couple of years. People love this car, and the secret to this immense success is the combination of practicality and space the Model Y offers, which also makes it a damn good pick for road-tripping.

A Versatile Package That Can Do Road Trips, Too

Tesla

Of the five models Tesla sells today, the Model Y is the most sensible pick. It may not be as capable or luxurious as the Model X, but it does something that matters to the masses, not the affluent. It’s a do-it-all practical EV SUV that can handle everything from road trips to urban commutes. And for 2026, it only gets better with a slight facelift with new lights, better interior materials, and extra features, like ventilated front seats, rear passenger display, and more insulation.

The 2026 Model Y shares its platform with the Model 3 sedan, but it also offers more interior and cargo space. For bigger families, you can also opt for the third row seats. The interiors are posh-looking and pack plenty of modern features, including a massive touchscreen. Power comes from five powertrain options, all with decent driving range and fast-charging times. These things help the Model Y strike a near-perfect balance that you’d expect from your EV for a road trip.

The Model Y Is Also Quite Affordable

Tesla

All this comes at a tempting price that starts at $39,990 for the base Model Y Standard. This is a new variant for 2026, which is a solid $5,000 cheaper than the Premium RWD (previously the Long Range RWD). It does miss out on ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, while getting a 300-horsepower motor and a smaller battery pack. The Premium trim starts at $44,990, and the Model Y Performance starts at $57,490. Regardless of the trim you pick, the Model Y feels like value for money, especially with the new Standard trim.

Space And Comfort For Long Hours On The Road

Tesla

What makes the Model Y stand out is also its interior space, making it arguably the best Tesla model for families. As standard, the Model Y can seat up to five, but the Premium AWD variant can be optioned with a backseat that can seat two more people. The Model Y’s second row is also spacious enough for three adults, with enough headroom and legroom. Despite the sloping roofline, owners often praise the Model Y’s high seating position.

Tesla

With enough space for you and your family, the Model Y also offers plenty of space for your road trip cargo. The SUV offers up to 29 cubic feet of cargo space, with some variants eating up a cubic foot or two, which is plenty for multiple suitcases. You can also fold down the second row to open up the cargo space even more. The Model Y also has a front trunk that can hold your groceries or everyday items with ease.

All Glass Roof For An Airy Feel And Good Views

Tesla

The Model Y features a heavily tinted all-glass roof, which should make your road trips even more fun. Essentially, the glass roof should make the cabin feel airy and less claustrophobic, which is often the case with fastback SUVs. At the same time, the glass roof should offer a good view of the canopies and the sky. Weirdly, Tesla seals up the roof with soundproofing material and a headliner on the Standard trim, which is said to keep the cabin cool and quiet, but it does feel a bit of a budget compromise.

No Compromise On Safety, Either

Tesla

The Tesla Model Y also does not compromise on safety, despite being an affordable EV SUV in the manufacturer’s lineup. While agencies haven’t crash-tested the 2026 model yet, the 2025 model earned good ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it 5 out of 5 stars, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it the Top Safety Pick+ title. Additionally, the SUV’s solid structure is supported by a bunch of driver-assistance tech, and Tesla says it may get over-the-air software updates in the future that will make it even safer.

Among The Best Performance And Driving Range In The Price Range

Tesla

With comfort taken care of, the next most important thing you need for your road trip is performance, driving range, and charging speed. Thankfully, the Model Y nails these, too. The SUV comes with multiple powertrain options to pick from, starting with the RWD models. Tesla does not reveal their power figures, but they are estimated to produce around 300 horsepower. Then there are the AWD models, which add an extra motor to the front, bumping the power output up to 375 horsepower. These models offer a brisk zero to 60 MPH acceleration of 6.8 to 4.6 seconds, depending on the model.

Tesla

The standard and Premium models are good for most people, but if you want to have some fun on your road trip, you can also pick the Performance model. This trim sits at the top of the Model Y lineup, offering supercar-level acceleration and performance. Tesla claims it can go from zero to 60 MPH in just 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 MPH. That’s serious enough to put some sports cars to shame. This performance is supported by a wider track, adaptive suspension, and 21-inch wheels, which should also offer competent handling on the road.

Up To 357 Miles Of Range

Tesla

Despite high performance, the Model Y offers decent driving range across the lineup, so you won’t have to stop so often on your road trips. The Standard model’s smaller battery pack is limited to 321 miles of range with RWD, which is still plenty. The Premium model features the Long Range battery, which offers up to 357 miles of range with RWD and 327 with AWD. The Performance trim, however, trades in some miles for better performance, so it only offers 306 miles. According to the EPA, this range should cost you around $550 to $600 on “fuel” costs annually, considering you drive 15,000 miles a year.

Quick Charging And Tesla’s Trip Planner

Tesla

Some EVs offer decent range but take too long to charge, which can be a hassle on a multi-day road trip. And that’s where the Model Y stands out from the rest. Tesla claims the Model Y RWD can add up to 160 miles of range in just 15 minutes, while the premium AWD can add 169 miles in the same window. Meanwhile, the Standard and Performance trims add 160 miles and 144 miles in 15 minutes, respectively. The Model Y also gets Tesla’s Trip Planner navigation feature that automatically routes to any of the over 75,000 superchargers in the U.S.

Let Tesla Take The Wheel Sometimes

Tesla

The Tesla Model Y doesn’t stop there; it goes a step further in making your road trips easier with the available Full Self-Driving feature. This is not a full self-driving feature; you’ll still need to pay attention and occasionally intervene, but it can reduce driver fatigue on road trips. You can either pay $99 per month or buy it outright. The car also gets ActuallySmart Summon and Autopark features, which add a cherry to the cake in making your ownership experience easy.

Features And A Bunch Of Extras Complete The Puzzle

Tesla

The last piece of what makes a good road-tripping EV SUV is convenience and entertainment, which is also where the Model Y ticks most boxes. For starters, Tesla has kept the interior very clutter-free and largely free of buttons. Instead, the SUV moves the functions to a large 15.4-inch touchscreen placed in the center of the dashboard. The screen functions include most things, from the speedometer to climate control adjustment. Enthusiasts may not like it, but it keeps the interior convenient and easy to use.

Tesla

The touchscreen also features some entertainment features, including embedded Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu, along with some video games. These features keep you entertained when you’re waiting for the car to charge or taking a break after a long highway session. Tesla does not let you use these functions when the car is moving, so you don’t have to worry about getting distracted, either. Except for the Standard trim, other trims feature an eight-inch display on the rear center console, too.

Tesla

The Tesla Model Y gets the basics right for the price, including a power-adjustable steering column, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and more. That’s not all, though. The Model Y also gets features like Remote Climate Control, Dog Mode that keeps the cabin cool, and Sentry Mode that keeps an eye on the surroundings. Tesla also offers Phone Key, so you don’t have to carry a physical key around. You can also opt for optional accessories, like a center console tray, a roof rack, and all-weather interior liners, which can come in handy on road trips.

Tesla

Combine its interior space, driving range, charging times, and creature comforts, and it’s easy to see why the Tesla Model Y is the best affordable electric vehicle for road trips. It offers the best balance of space, comfort, and performance that will not only keep you and your family entertained and comfortable on long trips but also keep range anxiety at bay. Are there cheaper or more feature-packed options available? Yes, but none strike that balance quite like the Model Y.

Base Trim Engine

Electric

Base Trim Transmission

Single Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

425 HP

Fuel Economy

120 MPGe Combined

Make

Tesla

Model

Model Y

Segment

Compact SUV

Source: Tesla, Bloomberg, NHTSA, the EPA, and IIHS