Model Y (2025 and newer): Driving & Lights

On cars that have it, we touch the fan icon on the touchscreen to open the climate controls, then touch the steering wheel icon. Once on, it warms the wheel to a comfortable temperature. Tesla notes availability depends on trim, configuration and build date. Tesla also asks us to keep hand sanitizer, lotion and sunscreen off the wheel, and warns never to adjust the steering wheel position while driving.

Left scroll button: press to play or pause, tilt to change track, roll to change volume; it also sets wiper speed and answers or declines calls. Right scroll button: a single or double click starts a Self-Driving feature, and rolling or pushing it gives more controls. Briefly pressing both opens the backup drive mode selector, and holding both restarts the touchscreen. We set the left button's long-press function in Controls > Display > Scroll Button Function.

On cars that offer it, we touch Controls > Dynamics > Steering Weight and pick one of three settings. Light reduces steering effort, which makes town driving and parking easier. Standard is Tesla's recommended setting for handling and response in most conditions. Heavy increases steering effort and feels more responsive at higher speeds. Tesla notes availability depends on trim, configuration and build date.

Controls > Lights shows a toggle named Adaptive Headlights or Auto High Beam, depending on which one our car has. Adaptive Headlights dim individual high-beam pixels to cut glare for oncoming traffic and adjust the beam for curves; Auto High Beam switches between high and low beams. Both are on by default every drive. To latch high beams, we press and hold the high beam button on the left stalk. Tesla warns we stay responsible for suitable headlights.

We turn on Controls > Lights > Headlights After Exit. After we park in low light, the exterior lights stay on for one minute or until we lock the car, whichever comes first. Locking with the Tesla app turns them off right away, while Walk-Away Door Lock turns them off one minute after it locks. With the setting off, the headlights turn off as soon as we shift into Park and open a door.

In Auto, Model Y detects precipitation and adjusts wiping speed and intensity; Tesla labels it Beta and suggests manual operation if we are unsure. We open the wiper menu with the wiper button on the steering wheel or Controls > Wipers, then roll the left scroll button to choose a setting. Self-Driving switches the wipers to Auto. Tesla cautions to close the hood fully and clear ice from the windshield before using the wipers.

Off-Road Assist is a traction control setting in Controls > Dynamics for rough or soft terrain. It allows wheel spin, balances torque between the front and rear motors and makes the accelerator more gradual for low-speed crawling. Turning it on disables traction control intervention, and it is not available with Self-Driving features. Tesla warns Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Avoidance do not operate while it is on, so we turn it off afterwards.

Slippery Surface is a traction control setting in Controls > Dynamics. It spreads traction evenly across all tires for rain, snow or ice. It works at any speed but is less effective at higher speeds, turns off traction control intervention, and is not available with Self-Driving features or Speed Limit Mode. We turn it off when conditions improve; if left on, traction control comes back at the next drive. Tesla warns traction control cannot prevent collisions caused by dangerous driving.

Usually we shift into Park and walk away with our key, and Model Y powers off and turns off the touchscreen. It also powers off by itself after 30 minutes in Park, even with us in the driver's seat. To power off while seated, we touch Controls > Safety > Power Off, which works only when the car is not moving. Pressing the brake pedal or opening the driver's door wakes it again.

If the touchscreen is unresponsive or acting oddly, we restart the touchscreen first. If that does not help: 1) Shift into Park. 2) Touch Controls > Safety > Power Off. 3) Wait at least two minutes without opening doors, touching the brake pedal or touching the touchscreen. 4) After two minutes, press the brake pedal or open a door to wake the car.

It means Model Y did not detect a key when we pressed the brake: the phone key was not found, or more than two minutes passed since we last used the key card. A low or dead phone battery can also stop the car detecting the phone. To fix it, we place the key card on either phone dock so it can be read, which restarts the two-minute window, then press the brake to drive.

With the brake pressed, we swipe up on the touchscreen drive mode strip for Drive or down for Reverse; switching between them only works below 5 mph (8 km/h). To park, we press the brake and touch P. If the touchscreen is unavailable, the overhead console has backup P, R, N and D buttons, and briefly pressing both steering wheel scroll buttons also brings it up. A chime sounds with each gear change.

Where available, Auto Shift (Beta) lets Model Y choose Drive or Reverse based on its surroundings, for example in multi-point turns or when reversing out of a space. It is off by default and set in Controls > Dynamics > Auto Shift (Beta), with the options On or from Park. It needs the driver's belt fastened, the brake pressed and all doors and trunks closed. Tesla warns we must confirm the selected gear before pressing the accelerator.

Each is in Controls > Mirrors, where equipped. Mirror Auto Fold folds the mirrors when we exit and lock, and unfolds them when we unlock; Tesla suggests turning it off if ice may form while parked. Mirror Auto Tilt tilts both side mirrors down to a saved position in Reverse. Mirror Auto Dim dims the rear view and side mirrors at night to cut glare. Availability depends on trim, configuration, market and build date.

Where equipped, Park Assist uses the cameras on the front, sides and rear to show nearby objects on the touchscreen, red for closer and yellow for farther. It alerts us to objects ahead in Drive and behind in Reverse, with beeps if Controls > Safety > Park Assist Chimes is on. Objects lower than about 8 in (20 cm), like curbs, may not be detected. Tesla warns never to rely on it to confirm an area is clear.

Vehicle Hold keeps the brakes applied after we release the brake pedal while Model Y is stopped in a driving gear. A gray H in a circle shows on the touchscreen while it is braking. We release it by pressing the accelerator, or by pressing and releasing the brake pedal; shifting into Neutral also releases it. After about ten minutes of holding, the car shifts into Park and Vehicle Hold cancels.

We touch Controls > Dynamics > Acceleration and choose a mode. Tesla notes that higher settings give more torque and power but can reduce range and efficiency. In cold weather, a lower mode lets the heat pump draw more heat from the battery for the cabin; after switching back to a higher mode, the battery must warm up before full acceleration returns. On Performance cars, the Insane setting is also used for Launch Mode.

On Model Y Performance, we touch Controls > Dynamics > Ride & Handling. Standard adapts to many roads and driving styles for a fluid, well-controlled ride. Sport gives a firmer, more controlled ride with more driver engagement and road feel. In Controls > Dynamics we can also enable the Standard Ride & Handling option for Self-Driving, which adjusts the suspension for a more comfortable ride while Self-Driving is active.

Easy Entry moves the steering wheel and driver's seat to make getting in and out easier. It works in Park when the driver's seat belt is unbuckled; when we return and press the brake, the seat and wheel go back to the last driver profile. We turn it on by checking Use Easy Entry when adding or editing a driver profile. Tesla warns not to let it move the seat fully back if a child seat is behind it.

In Park, we touch Controls > Safety > Valet Mode, or the driver profile icon at the top of Controls, and create a 4-digit PIN the first time. Valet Mode limits speed to 70 mph (113 km/h), reduces power, locks the front trunk and glovebox, and hides Home and Work. To end it, we touch the Valet Mode icon and enter the PIN; the Tesla app needs no PIN. Tesla warns not to use it when towing.

Whenever Model Y is moving and we release the accelerator, regenerative braking slows the car and feeds surplus power back to the battery. It is limited when the battery is cold or fully charged; the setting Apply Brakes When Regenerative Braking is Limited keeps deceleration the same by using the regular brakes. The brake lights turn on when it slows the car aggressively. Tesla warns it may cause traction loss on snow or ice.

It is the Pedestrian Warning System. Model Y emits a sound so pedestrians can hear the car coming, below about 19 mph (32 km/h) and whenever it is out of Park, including Reverse; the sound gets louder as speed rises. Tesla warns that if the sound cannot be heard, pedestrians may not notice the car, so we should never rely on it and should schedule service if it is not working.

On Performance cars: 1) Touch Controls > Dynamics and set Acceleration to Insane. 2) In Drive, at a complete stop, firmly hold the brake pedal with the left foot. 3) Fully press and hold the accelerator while still holding the brake. 4) When Ready to Launch appears on the touchscreen, release the brake. Launch Mode is not available when traction control is set to Slippery Surface or Off-Road Assist.

Deceleration Mode sets how strongly regenerative braking slows Model Y when we release the accelerator. We find it in Controls > Dynamics > Deceleration Mode. Reduced limits regenerative braking, so the car takes longer to slow and coasts farther. Standard gives maximum regenerative braking, so the car slows more and we use the brakes less. Tesla warns that on snow or ice, regenerative braking may cause traction loss, especially in Standard.

We open Controls and press and hold the Neutral icon until Neutral engages; the overhead console also has an N button as a backup. Opening the driver's door shifts the car into Park, so to keep it in Neutral we use Tow Mode: 1) Shift into Park. 2) Press the brake. 3) Touch Controls > Service > Towing. 4) Touch Enter Tow Mode. We then roll it only at walking speed and for short distances.

In cold or wet weather, Model Y automatically and repeatedly applies a barely noticeable brake force to clear water from the brake discs. It happens on its own when those conditions are detected, so there is nothing for us to turn on. Tesla warns that brake disc wiping does not replace proper braking, and that we should always keep a safe following distance.

We touch the App Launcher, then the Energy app, then Trips; trip info also shows in the cards area of the car status display. Trips show distance, duration, and total and average energy use since the last charge, plus the current drive and any trips we add. For the odometer, we touch Controls > Software, check the Trips card, or scroll to the bottom of the Tesla app's main screen.