Tesla Model Y L May Never Come To America—Here Are 3 Alternatives

Three-row EVs at an affordable price point are almost non-existent

There’s a lot to like about the Tesla Model Y L that just launched in China. More than a stretched version of the standard Model Y, it also has many refinements and luxury-car features for passengers in all three rows. Unfortunately, Elon Musk said this week that the Model Y L may never reach America, bizarrely citing the progression of “self-driving” as the reason, reports Eletrek.

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Assuming the Model Y L never reaches our shores, what other options are there if you need a reasonably practical three-row EV without an exorbitant price tag? Well, the choices are exceedingly scarce. Only two vehicles get close to the overall package of the Model Y L, while the other option isn’t even a full EV.

1. Mercedes-Benz EQB

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This is the only vehicle in America that’s somewhat close in concept to the Tesla Model Y L. It’s fully electric, combines three seating rows with a relatively compact footprint, and starts at well below $60,000. The Model Y L starts at around $47,000 in China, but it will likely start at $50,000 or so in America if it ever gets here.

The base EQB 250+ starts at $53,050 and has a front-mounted electric motor making 188 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. Its 0-60 mph time is 8.5 seconds, far slower than the Model Y L, and the EQB’s maximum range of 251 miles isn’t at Tesla’s level, either.

Related: Should you buy the Mercedes EQB? Here are 4 pros and 2 cons

Inside, the EQB can be upgraded from a five-seater to a seven-seater for another $1,250. Legroom in that third row is just 29.1 inches, so it’s not a place an adult would want to spend a lot of time. While it lacks the Model Y L’s powered second-row armrests and heated seats in every row, the EQB does get synthetic leather, power front seats, and dual-zone climate control as standard.

Overall, the EQB shows the practicality and range limitations of trying to build a three-row EV at a lower price, let alone from a luxury brand. It’s a vehicle that’s simply trying to tick too many boxes at the same time.

Related: 2025 Tesla Model Y vs. 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5: 5 Key Differences

2. Kia EV9

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For not much more than the EQB, the base $54,900 Kia EV9 is a big step up from the EQB—quite literally. You simply won’t find another spacious three-row EV at this price point in the United States.

Legroom in the third row is 30.8 inches, or up to 32 inches on trims with second-row captain’s chairs. However, you can seat up to seven people, whereas the Model Y L can only seat six in a 2+2+2 configuration at present.

Related: Kia's 2026 EV9 Delivers More Miles for Less Money

The base Kia EV9 has a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive. It makes 215 hp and 258 lb-ft, and will get to 60 in 7.7 seconds. That’s quicker than the EQB, but nothing to bother the Tesla. The range on a full charge is 230 miles for the base model, but the Light Long Range RWD gets a more competitive 305 miles—this variant costs $57,900.

Kia isn’t a luxury brand and the lower EV9 trims don’t have as many features as the Model Y L, but the airy and high-tech cabin makes a good first impression. Tri-zone climate control and power front seats with heating/ventilation are standard. The second-row seats can also be heated on upper trims.

This is a solid alternative to the Model Y L, and we’d argue that it looks better, too.

3. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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The only other affordable three-row crossover that can run on electric power alone is one of Mitsubishi's best models, but it’s a plug-in hybrid. Combining a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, it can be driven for 38 miles on electric power alone, which may be enough to cover your daily commute to the office. It starts at $40,445, so it would definitely be cheaper than the Model Y L, if the Tesla were sold here.

With 248 horsepower combined, the Outlander PHEV is much more responsive than the non-hybrid model, accelerating to 60 in under seven seconds. It’s quicker than the EQB and EV9, but still no match for any Tesla.

Seating for seven is standard, but the third row is hopelessly cramped for adults, and should only be used for emergencies or smaller children. That immediately makes it less practical than the Model Y L, which can actually accommodate adults in its third row.

In driver-assistance tech, performance, and electric range, the Mitsubishi is outclassed by the Tesla, but its inclusion here clearly illustrates the lack of direct rivals in this market for the Model Y L.

Final Thoughts

Besides the Cybertruck, Tesla hasn’t released an all-new vehicle in years, and its overall sales and declining market share indicate that updates to the existing lineup just won’t cut it anymore. The brand needs something fresh and new to attract first-time customers. The Model Y L, while not a completely new vehicle, is different enough to the standard Model Y to at least drum up some excitement.

Its exclusion from the U.S. market is also curious, given our appetite for practical three-row vehicles, something the smaller Model Y three-row never was.

For now, limiting the Model Y L to China looks like a missed opportunity, especially since there are so few genuine rivals for it here.

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.