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The Tesla Model Y does not have butterfly doors.
Tesla made a pretty big to-do about its “falcon wing” doors on the new
Model X
crossover. Despite the excitement, though, early negative reviews from owners reveal they may have only looked good on paper.So if you’re looking to get into a Tesla crossover, save yourself some cash up front (and on
car insurance
) by opting for the Model Y with standard side-hinged doors.MORE:
How to save on Tesla Model Y insurance costs
Does the Tesla Model Y have butterfly doors?
Tesla doesn’t actually manufacture any electric vehicles with butterfly doors, and this includes the Tesla Model Y. The Tesla Model X is the only Tesla car with a unique door system.
It utilizes a style of top-hinged gull-wing door, which the manufacturer has dubbed “falcon wing doors,” for access to the second row even in tight parking spaces.
While the Tesla Model Y may not have butterfly doors, let’s see what it does have to offer.
Tesla Model Y review
The Tesla Model Y shares a chassis with the best-selling
Tesla Model 3
. Essentially, it’s a Model 3 with extra cargo space. In theory, it should be a perfect option for those who need a bit more room than the Model 3’s trunk and frunk have to offer.Unfortunately, it doesn’t handle quite as well as a Model 3. That said, it features the same glass roof and center-dash touchscreen-controlled tech as its Model 3 sibling.
While the Model Y doesn’t offer swooping butterfly doors, it does feature the stunning acceleration and impressive range Tesla is famous for. The dual-motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) Model Y splits close to 500 lb-ft of torque and up to 580 horsepower between the front and rear electric motors, propelling Performance models from 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds.
Long Range models sacrifice about a second of acceleration for an additional 27 miles of range, traveling up to 330 miles on a single charge, according to EPA estimates.
Speaking of charging, Model Y drivers will have access to the Tesla Supercharger network, capable of adding 200 miles to your range in as little as 15 minutes. At-home charging takes a bit longer with Level 2 chargers averaging from 8 to 10 hours for a “fill up.”
MORE:
Tesla Model Y trunk space
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Find insurance savings (100% Free)How much does a Tesla Model Y cost?
The Tesla Model Y is available in two trims: Long Range and Performance.
Long Range models start at $67,440 MSRP, and Performance trims begin at $71,440 MSRP. Both price tags are well below the Model X’s starting MSRP of over $120K, but are the fancy doors really worth it?
According to Model X owners, the answer to that question is no. They’ve been plagued by so many glitches and malfunctions, that many drivers state they wish Tesla would do away with the top-hinged doors altogether.
MORE:
What is the maximum Tesla Model Y range?
What are butterfly doors?
What are butterfly doors, anyway?
Butterfly doors often get confused with other creative door styles often featured on high-end vehicles, collector cars, and supercars. However, there’s quite a bit of similarity between butterfly doors and standard car doors. The only real differences are that a butterfly door opens upward and outward on its hinge mostly parallel to the vehicle, whereas a standard door opens outward on its hinge and perpendicular to the vehicle.
The Tesla Model X falcon wing rear doors are not actually butterfly doors—they’re gull-wing doors. You may recognize this style of roof-hinged door, which opens upward, from Doc Brown’s DeLorean in the ‘80s classic Back to the Future.
In fact, we’d hazard a guess that Doc and Marty McFly’s DeLorean time machine was Elon Musk’s inspiration for Tesla falcon wing doors in the same way Spaceballs inspired many of Musk’s naming conventions for the rest of his Tesla electric car lineup and features. (We’re looking at you “plaid” and “ludicrous.”)
In addition to butterfly and gull-wing doors, car enthusiasts may also be familiar with scissor doors and suicide doors. Scissor doors open up, not out. The door travels along the side of the car like a scissor blade—hence the name. These are often referred to as “Lambo doors,” since they’re most often seen on Lamborghinis.
Lastly, we have suicide doors. These are rear-hinged doors that open out from the opposite side compared to standard doors. You’ll see these most often on full-size trucks.
MORE:
Illegal car modifications to avoid
Can you add butterfly doors to a Tesla?
Technically, yes. You can add aftermarket butterfly doors to just about any vehicle with the right modifications and a custom vertical door kit. However, you’re much more likely to find scissor door kits than butterfly kits—especially for the Tesla Model Y.
Vertical Doors, Inc.
sells an aftermarket Lambo (aka scissor) door conversion kit for the Model Y that runs about $2,800.RPM Tesla
also offers an aftermarket scissor door kit for the Model Y that costs around $4,800. Both will give you the sought-after supercar up-swinging doors, but neither is technically a butterfly kit.Also, keep in mind that just because you can add aftermarket door mods to your Tesla Model Y, that doesn't necessarily mean you should. Any aftermarket modification could affect your vehicle’s warranty. They could also affect your Tesla Model Y insurance costs, so be sure to do your research and talk with your insurance provider before making any modifications.
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Jerry
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Judith switched to Progressive
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By Sarah Gray
Updated on Dec 16, 2022
Reviewed by Jessa Claeys.
- Does the Tesla Model Y have butterfly doors?
- What are butterfly doors?
- Can you add butterfly doors to a Tesla?
TeslaCar Parts
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with seven years of experience. She is an accomplished researcher and self-proclaimed nerd. Sarah graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Ph.D. in English, and enjoys cooking, cross-stitching, and listening to true crime podcasts in her free time. Her dream car is a Midnight Silver Tesla Model S Plaid with black/white interior.