Germany's motoring club ADAC has tested the Tesla Model Y Performance against three new electric SUVs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo, and ranked it last. The Mercedes GLC 400 EQ won narrowly with an overall grade of 1.8, on the German school scale where 1 is best. The BMW iX3 50 xDrive and the Volvo EX60 P10 Electric Ultra AWD shared second place on 1.9, and the Model Y Performance AWD came fourth on 2.2. ADAC published the test on 29 October 2026.
The club framed it as a contest of platforms. BMW, Mercedes and Volvo have launched newly developed models with 800-volt technology, while the heavily revised Model Y stays on a 400-volt system.
Range and charging decided it
| Mercedes GLC 400 EQ | BMW iX3 50 xDrive | Volvo EX60 P10 Ultra | Tesla Model Y Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAC grade (place) | 1.8 (1st) | 1.9 (2nd) | 1.9 (2nd) | 2.2 (4th) |
| Test consumption incl. charging losses | 20.4 kWh/100 km | 18.3 kWh/100 km | 20.8 kWh/100 km | 20.2 kWh/100 km |
| Range in ADAC test | 559 km | 669 km | 508 km | 443 km |
| DC charging, 10 to 80% | 23 min | 25 min | 17 min | 35 min |
| Range added in 10 min | 247 km | 271 km | 266 km | 156 km |
| Maximum AC charging | 22 kW (option) | 22 kW (option) | 22 kW | 11 kW |
| Measured boot volume | 470 l | 440 l | 480 l | 420 l |
| Braked towing limit | 2.4 t | 2.0 t | 2.4 t | 1.6 t |
The Model Y was the second most efficient car in the test, but its smaller battery gave it the shortest range: 443 km on ADAC's mixed profile, against 669 km for the iX3 with its 108.7 kWh pack. At the fast charger the gap was wider still. The Volvo charged from 10 to 80% in 17 minutes and the Model Y took 35, adding 156 km of range in ten minutes where its rivals added 247 to 271 km. ADAC also faulted Mercedes for charging about €650 extra to make the GLC compatible with 400-volt fast chargers.
Where the Model Y won
On price, none of the rivals came close. The Model Y Performance starts at €62,990 with extensive standard equipment. The tested EX60 Ultra costs €72,790, and the cheaper Plus version starts at €65,990. The BMW and the Mercedes start above €70,000 before options. Tesla also sets no fixed service intervals, and ADAC called its warranty generous: four years or 80,000 km on the car, and eight years or 192,000 km on the battery with at least 70% of its capacity. The other three end their battery cover at 160,000 km, although Volvo extends it to ten years or 240,000 km with regular battery checks.
The Model Y was also the sportiest car. It is the lightest of the four, and Tesla quotes 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed, although it has the least power, 460 PS against the Volvo's 510 PS. Inside, ADAC rated its choice of materials the best in the test.
Where it lost points
Beyond range and charging, ADAC marked the Model Y down for uneven panel gaps and transitions that are not flush, for controls that put even gear selection on the touchscreen, and for recessed door handles that must first be pushed out with a thumb. Its driver assistance was the weakest of the four. Lane guidance and adaptive cruise control reacted "more hectically and less reliably" than in the other cars, and only the BMW offers a motorway assistant for hands-free driving at up to 130 km/h. Tesla Assisted Driving, the supervised system formerly called FSD, is not approved in Germany.
ADAC's verdict was that there is no single winner for everyone. The Mercedes is the most balanced, the BMW the range champion and the Volvo the leader for comfort and charging, while the Tesla delivers "a lot of car and performance for the money".