Man Claims There’s A Tesla Feature That Even Model Y Owners Don’t Know About. Here It Is
"I've owned mine for six weeks and I had no idea."
If you own a Tesla Model Y and haven’t fully inspected its rear cargo area, you may have missed out on this “hidden” feature.
EV enthusiast Nate Nieri (@nate.nieri) recently posted a viral TikTok that’s accrued more than 23,000 views where he shows off this tucked-away functionality. While some folks who replied to his video were surprised by the find, others thought his post was old news.
Nieri’s clip begins with him recording the back of a parked, dark grey Tesla Model Y. “Here’s a Tesla Model Y secret that not even Tesla Model Y owners know,” he says. Following this mysterious declaration, the TikToker approaches the hatch of the popular electric crossover SUV and pops it open. “We open the back here,” he remarks as he walks toward the floor of the Model Y’s cargo area. Placing his finger in an indentation, he reveals that there’s additional cubby storage space. This gives drivers a bit of extra room to store various items. But much like a late-night infomercial salesman, Nieri informs viewers to wait, because there is indeed more.
Model Y Storage
“Not only do you have a ton of space under here, [but] if you move this back this way. You have a shallow place here,” he adds.
He demonstrates how to access what appears to be a hidden, extra storage cubby beneath yet another panel. Tesla Model Y owners can access this by pulling back on the larger, rear panel after hitching it upward. Upon doing so, they can lift up this additional panel, which has an extra cubby that can fit even more items. Nieri remarks, “great for shallow items like charging cables and sun shades.” He then lets the panel fall back into position and taps the top of it. “Lots of storage in the Model Y. Love it,” he says as he backs away from the car and the video comes to a close.
Electric Vehicle Storage For Big Hauls
While electric vehicles are functionally very similar to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, they’re engineered quite differently in many respects. Oftentimes, automakers need to account for the greater heft that almost always accompanies EVs. This is largely attributed to the massive lithium-ion battery packs these machines are outfitted with.
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While this has some drawbacks, like premature tire wear (although Hankook may have this problem solved), EVs also enjoy benefits that gas-powered cars don’t. Nieri’s video touches on one such benefit to going electric, and that’s added cargo space.
Due to the fact that all-electric cars aren’t equipped with motors under the hood, many are outfitted with a front trunk (frunk) instead. EV motors are either placed on wheels or axles, giving car brands more freedom to get creative with cargo space and battery placement.
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Moreover, EVs don’t have as many components as ICE cars. Transmissions, fuel pumps/lines, exhaust systems aren’t required on an EV. So that means there’s even more opportunities to create useful space for drivers to store their belongings.
The Tesla Model Y Isn’t the Only EV Cargo King
InsideEVs also covered this Rivian R1S reviewer’s assessment of the SUV’s hauling capabilities. Like the Model Y, the R1S not only has a frunk, but an under-panel storage cubby located in its rear cargo bay. The Y’s big brother, the Model X, also sports a respectable amount of cargo space: 91.5 cubic feet compared to the Y’s 76.2.
The Kia Niro EV has 63.7 cubic feet in the rear, but no frunk by default. But there are businesses, like this one, that sell frunk units folks can place inside of their Niro for some additional space. Just know that it takes the place of the Niro’s battery cover located beneath its hood. The Ioniq 5 has just under 60 cubic feet of volume in its rear, and its frunk only offers a paltry 1 cubic foot of frunk space. But it does look like there’s enough room to place the car’s charging cable and some emergency supplies for your vehicle.
By comparison, one of the most popular crossover ICE SUVs in the American market, the Toyota RAV4, sports 69.8 cubic feet with the second row seats folded down. This is less than the Model Y’s area, not including the extra cubbies that Nieri showed off in his video. Keep in mind, the Model Y also packs an additional 4.1 cubic feet of space in its frunk, too, which the RAV4 doesn’t.
Commenters Sound Off
Numerous folks who replied to Nieri’s video had differing opinions on the Model Y’s “hidden” compartment. This user didn’t seem to think it was all that big of a secret. “I mean you’ve got to be real dumb not to know that,” they wrote.
It seems that they were calling out this other user, who had their car for a while and was unaware of the additional cubby. “I've owned mine for 6 weeks and I had no idea,” they said.
Someone else mentioned that they were unimpressed, too. “We know my guy,” they said. And another person echoed this sentiment, quipping, “His next secret is going to be that this car can drive.”
But there was at least one other person in the comments section who was grateful for Nieri’s clip. “Bro, thanks…I didn't even know. You the man.”
Another commenter was more interested in what folks were using this secondary rear cubby for. For their purposes, this additional space wasn’t really all that much of a benefit: “Rather than saying you knew about it, let me know what you use it for because mine is empty.”
And then there was this user who wondered why the Model Y didn’t come with an additional wheel in case of a flat. “Do these cars not come with spare tires?” they asked.
While some folks may feel some trepidation in changing a tire on a Tesla, swapping wheels is more or less the same as doing so on an ICE vehicle.
InsideEVs has reached out to Nieri via TikTok comment for further information.
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