Tesla Model Y Vs Sony Afeela Ev: Which One Wins?

As electric vehicles (EVs) become popular among consumers, more carmakers are investing in cutting-edge EVs. Established EV brands like Tesla are also widening their product lines to keep up with new competitors and to entice more buyers. The company is building gigafactories in Texas, Nevada, Berlin, and Shanghai to ramp up production. One of the EVs to roll out of its gigafactories in Berlin and Shanghai, as well as the company’s facility in Fremont, California, is the Model Y.

Another company looking to establish a foothold in the EV industry is Sony. The company has presented EV prototypes for several years at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). However, the company could not produce the cars hence their partnership with Honda to develop the Sony Afeela brand, which they unveiled at the 2023 CES. The partnership will begin EV production in 2025 and subsequent distribution in 2026. Below, we put Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela EV through the paces. Keep reading to know wh

Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela EV: Side-by-Side Comparison

Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela EV: What’s The Difference?

The differences between the Tesla Model Y and the Sony Afeela EV are apparent from the moment you lay your eyes on them. Let’s look at some of their major difference in detail.

Design

A car’s appearance is a crucial buying factor for many. No one wants to drive around in an unattractive car, especially as car designers become bolder in their design of stylish vehicles. Luckily, the Tesla Model Y and the Afeela check this box. Model Y is a compact SUV and resembles a coupe more than a sedan. While it has a high roof, the designers ensured its shape did not interfere with aerodynamics. Model Y also has muscular lines to distinguish it from the Tesla Model 3 and to add character to its appearance.

The most glaring design element on the Tesla Model Y is the missing grill, which can take time to familiarize with because grills have been a constant feature in traditional cars. Other design features include door handles built into the door. You have to push the wide section of the door handle for it to pivot outward and allow you to open the door. The Tesla Model Y also has a hatchback and a flat cargo floor to allow easy loading and unloading of cargo.

On the other hand, the Sony Afeela is a sedan with a longer body than the Model Y. Designers of the Afeela opted for a more futuristic design. The car has fewer muscular or decorative lines, giving it a smooth look. The sleek design makes the car look like it would glide or cut through the air, similar to a spaceship. The Afeela also features well-designed front and rear lights. The front and rear lights have a thin strip covering the car’s width. A screen on the front emits different lights based on your mood or preferences. Like the Model Y, the Sony Afeela does not have a grill.

The Afeela also has expansive windows and a transparent roof, making it look more spacious. Other interesting design features in the Sony Afeela include its steering wheel and dashboard. Though less complicated, the steering wheel looks like a blend of an airplane’s steering wheel and an IndyCar’s steering wheel. The car’s dashboard has one large screen across the entire section. This differs from the Tesla Model Y, which has a large screen on the center console.

Dimensions

Tesla Model Y and the Sony Afeela vary in dimension and size too. Model Y is a compact SUV, while Afeela is a sedan. SUVs tend to be muscular and have higher roofs than sedans, while sedans are typically longer and slimmer than SUVs. Those design principles seem to hold for Tesla Model Y and the Afeela. The Tesla Model Y is 187 inches long, 75.6 inches wide without mirrors, and 64 inches high.

On the other hand, the Sony Afeela is 192.7 inches long, 74.8 inches wide, and 57.5 inches high. The Model Y also has a wheelbase of 113.8 inches, while the Afeela has a wheelbase of 118.1 inches. Moreover, the Model Y has a ground clearance of 6.2 inches, a turning circle of 39.8 feet, weighs 4398 lbs, and has a maximum cargo volume of 76 cu ft. 

Some information about Afeela is not available to the public because the car is still a prototype. These include the car’s weight, ground clearance, turning circle, cargo capacity, headroom, shoulder room, leg room, and hip room in the front and rear seats. 

Exterior

The Tesla Model Y offers three factory options for the wheels. Buyers can order cars with 19-inch, 20-inch, or 21-inch wheels. However, it is worth noting that the rear 21-inch wheels are wider than the front 21-inch wheels by an inch. Similarly, the Sony Afeela uses 21-inch wheels, with the front wheels being 245/40R21 and the rear wheels being 275/35R21.

Model Y and the Afeela have a double-wishbone front suspension, ideal for high-performance cars. Moreover, it provides rigidity and durability to withstand tough terrains. The vehicles also have a multi-link rear suspension, which ensures comfortable rides and better handling.

Interior

The Sony Afeela offers a spacious interior that can hold up to five passengers. Tesla Model Y has two options; a 5-seater and a 7-seater vehicle. In both versions, the second row of seats reclines to increase the car’s cargo capacity. The Model Y and Afeela have minimalistic interiors and monochromatic colors. Such elements give the vehicles a futuristic feel while reducing factors and colors that can distract drivers. Afeela’s interior could have the upper hand because it will have unique fabrics to purify the air. That means Afeela buyers will not have to deal with car stuffiness, increasing the car’s comfort level. 

Battery Life, Range, and Charging

We cannot have a complete review of the Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela without comparing their battery performance, range, and charging options. The Tesla Model Y has a 75 kWh battery pack that can last a distance of 303 miles on a full charge. The long-range AWD version of the Model Y can go 330 miles on a single charge. However, figures for both versions of the car are estimates meaning the range will vary depending on weather conditions, driving environment, and usage.

There are two charging options for a Tesla at home. You can buy a Tesla Wall Connector or a mobile connector and adapter. The Tesla Wall Connector is the better option for charging at home or the office. It adds 44 miles of range for every hour of charging. That means it takes about 6.9 hours to fully charge the Tesla Model Y performance version and 7.5 hours to charge the long-range AWD version.

The Tesla Wall Connector costs $425, which may be costly for most consumers. Alternatively, you can buy mobile connectors. The first is the level 1 charger, which plugs into the standard three-prong 120-volt outlet and offers 2 to 3 miles of range per hour. That means it will take between 4.2 to 6.3 days to charge the performance Model Y and between 4.6 to 6.9 days to charge the long-range AWD Model Y.

You can also buy a level 2 charger and adapter to plug the Model Y into a 240-volt outlet. This type adds 30 miles of range per hour, meaning it takes 10.1 hours to charge the performance Model Y fully and 11 hours to charge the long-range AWD Model Y fully. 

Drivers traveling for long distances or not close to their regular charging spots can opt for a Tesla Supercharger. It is the company’s version of a level 3 DC charger with a rate of 250 kW. The supercharger can add up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes. Tesla has over 40,000 Superchargers located on major roads and highways globally.

With the Sony Afeela still in the prototype phase, the company is yet to release information on the battery pack output, its range, and charging options and durations. However, we will update you as more information becomes available. 

Technology and Safety

The Tesla Model Y has a 15” center touchscreen, enabling users to set up numerous functions. They include adjusting climate control settings, offering access to maps and navigation, and facilitating access to media applications like radio, Bluetooth, streaming, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and TuneIn. Moreover, you can enjoy playing games on the screen, making phone calls, and accessing web conferencing. The touchscreen is also vital in setting up safety and security features. For instance, you can set the alarm to notify you if your Model Y detects movement inside your car or if the vehicle gets tilted, for example, by a jack or a tow truck.

Additional safety features include requesting personal identification numbers (PINs) to access the glove compartment or to start driving. The Model Y also has a dashcam that records videos of the car’s environment when driving, which can be helpful in the event of an accident. Lastly, the touchscreen helps set up sentry mode, which activates the car’s sensors and cameras when locked and parked. The sentry mode is a security system that notifies a car owner of suspicious activity around their vehicle. 

Other technologies in the Tesla Model Y that improve safety include lane assist, which helps monitor lane markers, ensures drivers stick to their lanes and notifies them of objects in blind spots. The car also has collision avoidance assist that helps prevent frontal collisions by informing the driver of objects in the car’s path, applying emergency braking to reduce the severity of impact, or decelerating when at risk of a collision.

On the other hand, the Sony Afeela has a panoramic screen across the entirety of the dashboard that is suitable for gaming, an industry dominated by Sony. The partnership plans to use Epic Games’ Unreal Engine to improve the mobility experience. The Afeela also has 45 cameras and sensors to improve the car’s safety and security and boost autonomous driving capabilities. 

For instance, the manufacturer states the Afeela will have level 2 and level 3 driver assist technology, which allows letting go of the steering wheel for limited periods. That is in addition to normal driving assist technology like automated emergency braking, lane switching assist, and adaptive control. 

Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela EV: 6 Must-Know Facts

• The Tesla Model Y has a cabin camera that monitors the driver’s attentiveness and notifies the driver to stay alert when they become disengaged.
• The Tesla Model Y goes from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds without factoring in the rollout time.
• The Model Y has a 4-year or 50,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first, while the battery and drive unit come with an 8-year or 120,000-mile warranty.
• The Sony Afeela utilizes the Sanapdragon digital chassis, a set of technologies that help improve connectivity, telematics, driver assists, and autonomy.
• The Sony Afeela has a media bar on its exterior that facilitates communication with the driver. For instance, it can indicate the level of charge.
• The Afeela has sensors that assess the driver and adjust the seat, steering wheel, and sound acoustics to fit their physical appearance.

Tesla Model Y vs. Sony Afeela EV: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

It isn’t easy to make a definitive choice between the Tesla Model Y and the Sony Afeela EV, as the latter is still in the development and production stages. It will be easier to make a better comparison once all the specifications of the Afeela EV are available for review. 

If you want to buy an EV, you should get the Tesla Model Y because it is on sale and has numerous features that guarantee comfortable and reliable driving. However, for car and EV enthusiasts, the Afeela EV is a vehicle worth waiting for or upgrading to once it hits the showrooms.