Our Model Y L delivery day was the easiest Tesla pickup we’ve ever done.

We rolled into Tesla Chattanooga with the whole family and a box of donuts for the crew. (Always bring donuts.) Our new Tesla Model Y L Launch Series was parked right in front of us.

The paperwork took almost no time. Most of it happens in the Tesla app now. We found our car, double-checked the VIN, signed three or four documents, and they rolled it out. We didn’t film the paperwork, out of respect for the service advisors, but trust us: it’s quick.

First look: Cosmic Silver and Zen Gray

Ours is Cosmic Silver. Next to Quicksilver, it has a warmer, almost champagne look, and it’s really shiny in person. Then there are the wheels: a new design you only get on the Y L.

I asked if I could do the interior reveal myself. Some service centers will let you, and I love this part. It’s like unboxing your first iPhone. We went with the Zen Gray interior, and it looks amazing. The Launch Series badging was right there too.

Because it’s a Launch Series, it came with some perks like floor mats, a mobile connector, a tow hitch, and more. I asked the team to leave the wheel covers off so we could put them on ourselves. The temporary plate was already on, so we were ready to roll.

Before we left, we of course looked over our Delivery Day Checklist. You don’t want to forget that. It helps make sure everything is in the best condition and nothing is forgotten before you hit the road.

The kids take over

The real test was the family. My wife’s first reaction: the trunk looks bigger. (It is with the third row seats folded down.) She liked the color right away, and she found the extendable leg rest on the front seat. It’s a feature from the Performance model, and it’ll be great on long drives. Her seat reclines a long way back too.

Our 5-year-old daughter went straight for the second row. “Look, you get your own chair,” I told her. With captain’s chairs, she doesn’t have to share space with her little brother anymore. She pressed the armrest button and the armrest came right up, and she loved it. The rear screen is still there too, which is her favorite.

The captain’s chairs are comfortable, full adult size, with adjustable headrests. Then she climbed into the third row and asked, “Can I ride in the back forever?” She’s hooked.

Other things we noticed:

• Vents everywhere. There are side air vents for the second row and more for the third row.
• Cup holders and buttons in reach. Our daughter can reach her own cup holder and her own controls from her seat.
• Our little one (16 months old) had opinions too, mostly that it was too hot outside and that he’d rather climb than sit.

The stroller test

We have to know if our stroller fits. It’s a Joovy Caboose, a big sit-and-stand model: the baby rides up front, and our big girl sits or stands in the back.

With the third row up, you do give up some trunk space. We expected more room back there, but we don’t haul a lot of big stuff, so it’s not a dealbreaker.

Folding the seats is where the Y L shines. You can fold the middle row from the trunk, and everything goes down smoothly. Because there’s a third row, the load floor lies flatter than in our Juniper.

We slid a second-row seat forward a bit, and the stroller fit flat. In our regular Model Y it doesn’t fit flat. We have to angle it so it pokes up over the back seat. In the Y L, it leaves room for both the stroller and our luggage.

What we’re protecting first

Yes, I geek out about the wrap side of things. Watching the kids climb in and out, I already know what’s going on first:

• Door sill protection. Kids climbing in all day will scuff the sills fast.
• Door kick guards. Little feet and doors don’t mix.
• The back of the second-row seats. When the seats are folded, that plastic becomes part of the cargo floor, so it needs protection.

The Y L has a longer wheelbase, so our Model Y designs won’t fit as-is. We’re scanning the car and redesigning our DIY PPF kits first. Check them out at DIY Wrap Club.

Our verdict so far

We’re optimistic. We haven’t had a three-row Tesla since our Model X, so we want to see how the Y L handles everyday family life.

The captain’s chairs are the big win for us. The kids love each other, but every sibling needs a little distance. For our Disney World road trip in a few weeks, we’re trying a new setup: one of us rides in the second row with the baby, and our daughter gets the third row. That way we can hand out snacks and feed the kids without stopping as often.

We still have open questions, and we won’t pretend otherwise. We’ll share an honest update once we’ve lived with it.

Big thanks to the team at Tesla Chattanooga. They’ve always been amazing, and they nailed it again.

Picking up your Model Y L soon? Grab our checklist

We put together a free Model Y L Delivery Day Checklist for our own pickup, and now it’s yours. It covers the paperwork, paint and panels, all 6 seats (heated and ventilated), the rear screen, cargo, and every Launch Series perk you should see on day one: badging, sill plates, puddle lights and more.

Download the Model Y L Delivery Day Checklist and bring it with you on delivery day.