Tesla’s lineup is decreasing to only two models for 2026, and it’s the Model Y’s job to take over as the largest SUV in the selection with the discontinuation of the Model X. The Model Y L now sits as the most expensive version of this car, featuring a lengthened wheelbase and far more creature comforts than you’d expect. But it’s not being launched into a vacuum – there’s a lot of competition from overseas, most of which comes from the South Koreans.
Kia and Hyundai’s joint venture has meant that they’ve been able to launch three-row SUVs at lower prices compared to their rivals, and if you tick a few boxes, they become seriously plush for the whole family. Does a longer wheelbase Model Y mean Tesla can still compete in this segment? Or is a slightly cheaper Korean alternative the better choice?
Meet the Korean Duo Challenging Tesla’s Dominance In Three-Row EVs
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It’s no secret that Tesla has been thriving with such a small model lineup. The Model Y was the bestselling EV in America in 2025, only five years after its initial introduction in 2020. The latest L version replaces the Model X, grows by a few inches, and has a longer range and two extra seats courtesy of that bigger floor. There’s even revised suspension for this model which is better-tuned for more passengers.
The other two big (literally and figuratively) players in this segment are theHyundai Ioniq 9andKia EV9. They share the same 800V E-GMP platform, offering long range and fast charging.But sharing a platform only gets you so far – the real question is whether Korean luxury can match Tesla’s single-trim value play.
The New Tesla Is Super Plush
2027 Tesla Model Y L interiorTesla
The wheelbase isn’t the only thing that’s grown with the Tesla Model Y L. The price has too – but for good reason. There are numerous creature comforts in this car, including a panoramic roof, heated and ventilated seats in the rear, and a larger 18-speaker sound system, so even passengers in the rearmost row enjoy the music. For a limited time, the Launch Series also gets you custom puddle lights, sill plates, and special badging.
Space inside is also obviously bigger thanks to that extended wheelbase. Unlike its Korean rivals, though, the Tesla can only seat six, and middle-row legroom is reduced to give the third row more space. Headroom has grown by a few inches, which is great for taller passengers, but both the Hyundai and Kia offer more cargo space with the seats up, useful for long holiday trips. There’s no word yet on whether Tesla will release a seven-seat base model of the Model Y L.
The Others Are Also Luxo… If You Pay
2026 Kia EV9 30-inch digital cockpitKia
While they may all be similarly priced to begin with, it’s when you start adding extra options that the Korean choices get expensive, especially when you compare them to the single-trim Tesla. For example, to get heated and ventilated seats in the Hyundai Ioniq 9, you’d have to spend $10k more for the Limited trim compared to the Tesla. The big plus for both of these cars, though, is the fact that they have the option for seven seats.
“Without the need for a transmission tunnel in the Kia EV9, and the benefit of a completely flat floor, there’s a ton of space inside and that translates into one of the most useable third rows of seating we’ve sat in for some time. While not as comfortable as the second row, which consists of captain’s chairs on the GT-Line, a couple of six-footers will be quite comfortable in the rear seats.”
– Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz
In terms of space, the second row is marginally better in both Korean options, but the all-important rearmost row is largest in the Hyundai. Cargo space is also better in the twins compared to the Tesla, although the Kia has much less space when all the seats are folded down. Honestly, there aren’t many massive differences between these three cars space-wise, so we’d recommend getting into each one for a test drive. But luxury materials and cargo space only matter if the car can actually handle the demands of family road trips – and that’s where these three start to seriously diverge.
All Three Options Are Easy To Live With
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There aren’t huge differences in space or features between these cars, but the performance specs are where the personalities diverge. The Tesla is the most powerful at around 500 horsepower (versus a 422-hp max for the Hyundai and 379-hp max for the Kia) with all-wheel drive, which is far more than you’d ever need for a family car. The Tesla’s towing capacity is limited to only 3,500 lbs, compared to 5,000 lbs for the AWD Korean models.
The Kia has the most torque (only in the top GT-Line trim), meaning that when you have a full car for a road trip, performance won’t be hugely restricted. Be aware, though, that the most basic trim returns only 230 miles of range.
“The Ioniq 9 is pricey for a family vehicle, but it could pull buyers who want all the bells and whistles of a luxury marque without the expensive maintenance. We believe the Ioniq 9 truly justifies its price tag, feeling on-par with more expensive models from Cadillac and Rivian. It’s truly great at everything.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz
For an electric family car, though, what you want is range. All three cars achieve over 300 miles of range in their top trims, but the Hyundai edges out the most with 335 miles in its base rear-wheel-drive variant. The Hyundai and Kia take about24 minutes to gofrom 10–80%, while the Tesla manages that in a similar time, although there’s no official figure yet. Both the Hyundai and Kia have access to the Tesla Supercharger Network, too.
Being family cars, they’re also great at making things easy on the move. The Tesla is the only one with a self-driving feature, which works well but carries a $99 monthly subscription fee. Kia includes many of its safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic monitoring, in the base trim, while convenience features like a 360-degree camera remain on the options list. Top trims of the Korean models also feature one-touch folding seats, making it much easier to access the rear.
Summary And Pricing: Where The Tesla Shines
North America-spec 2027 Tesla Model Y L rear three-quarter viewTesla
On the whole, Tesla appears to offer better value than its rivals when comparing features. It starts at just under $62k, for the three-row, which makes it the most expensive Model Y variant, but unlike the other options, it’s just the one trim here. That means Tesla has been able to include far more creature comforts, which are otherwise expensive add-ons on the other electric seven-seaters. The Kia starts at a very basic $54k, and the Hyundai at a similar price to the Tesla.
When you fully load the Hyundai, though, it goes all the way up to $76k. You might find a few more features in this car over the Tesla, but it’s still a huge price to pay for an electric three-row SUV. It’s hard to decide between these three options: you have power and capability at a lower price with the Tesla, but the Hyundai’s top trims are genuinely luxurious. Their similarity just shows how impressive Tesla’s new car is.
Sources: Tesla, Hyundai, Kia
