Tesla Model Y L Secures 5-Star ANCAP Rating Across Safety Tests

Tesla’s Model Y L, a six-seat all-wheel-drive variant positioned below the top-spec Model Y Long Range RWD in India, has secured a five-star safety rating in crash tests conducted by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The rating also applies to the standard two-row Model Y. The vehicle was assessed across key parameters including Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist. 

The Model Y range sold in India and Australia is imported as a completely built unit from China, with both markets sharing right-hand-drive specifications.

In Adult Occupant Protection, the SUV scored 36.52 out of 40, translating to 91 per cent. During the frontal offset test conducted at 50 kmph, protection for the driver’s chest was rated as adequate, while other body regions received a good rating.

In child safety evaluations, the front dynamic test conducted at 50 kmph using six- and ten-year-old dummies returned full marks, with protection rated as good across all critical areas. The side impact test, carried out at 60 kmph, showed good protection for the six-year-old dummy, although chest protection for the ten-year-old dummy was rated as poor.

The vehicle is equipped with a Child Presence Detection system for the second row, while the third row remains without this feature and was not assessed.

Restraint installation and onboard safety features received scores of 8.4 out of 12 and 9 out of 13 respectively. ANCAP noted compatibility issues with ISOFIX mounts in Australia and New Zealand, indicating that while correct usage improves outcomes, installation can be complex.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, contributed to the overall rating. Reverse AEB performance was assessed as adequate, while the lane support system for motorcycles, operational between 1 and 150 kmph, was rated as good. The AEB car-to-car function, active between 40 and 145 kmph, also delivered a good overall performance.

The results reinforce the Model Y L’s positioning as a family-oriented electric SUV with a strong emphasis on safety alongside performance.