I’ve written about the ups and downs of Tesla, Elon Musk and the adoption of its EVs in the Middle East for many years, so I felt like I knew the brand already. Yet I’d never driven one. December 2025 – I finally took a Tesla for a media test drive. To be honest I was slightly nervous about driving one, worried about all the technology, battery charging and if I’d enjoy it.
The handover
When I arrived at the Tesla Centre, I spotted a prospective buyer mesmerised by the now-famous light show of his future car in the parking lot. This is peak Tesla theatre – headlights flashing, mirrors folding, music blaring. The light show is essentially a party trick baked into the car’s software, and it perfectly sums up Tesla’s philosophy – cars should be functional, yes, but also fun. The standard had been set high.
The Cybertruck would have been a step too far for a non-Tesla driver so I opted for the Model Y, Tesla’s mid-sized SUV and global bestseller. When I pick up most cars for media reviews, it’s a very quick handover and I’m off. With the Tesla it’s a very comprehensive deep-dive into the car, learning about all the tech, the key cards, using Autopilot and discovering all the hidden features. Jad, the regional comms person for the Middle East, is very passionate about Tesla and put me at ease with a full rundown. He was super excited to show me the ‘summons’ feature – autonomous driving in all its glory as the unmannned car drives to you from its parking spot. A very handy feature on a hot day. It felt like science fiction, made real.
The app
All roads lead to the Tesla app. This is where Tesla quietly embarrasses most legacy carmakers. From your phone you can unlock the car, start it remotely, pre-cool the cabin (essential in a Dubai summer), locate it in a crowded car park, schedule service visits and monitor charging in real time. The car feels less like a vehicle and more like a device you happen to drive. Compared with the clunky, half-finished apps still offered by some premium brands, Tesla’s software-first mindset feels years ahead.
That digital advantage continues inside. The interior is almost aggressively minimalist – no instrument cluster, no button overload, just a central touchscreen controlling everything from navigation to air vents. Within half an hour, muscle memory takes over and suddenly traditional dashboards feel oddly outdated.
The drive
Driving it around Dubai is where the Model Y really earns its stripes. Instant torque makes joining fast-moving traffic effortless, and the near-silent cabin is a welcome antidote to the city’s usual sensory overload. On Sheikh Zayed Road, Autopilot isn’t a gimmick – it’s a stress reducer. You still need to stay alert, but long stretches of traffic become noticeably less draining. The nerves quickly disappeared and a smile appeared on my face as I morphed into a regular Tesla driver. The drive was proving to be smooth, quiet and effortless.
After an hour or so, it felt like I had been driving a Tesla all my life. Everything became instinctive. I discovered seat cooling, used the voice control and quickly made the Tesla my second home. The driver-assistance technology is impressively capable, and it was a real blessing on a 90-minute road trip to Hatta. Of course, it’s not full self-driving, despite the name, but as autonomous taxis begin to appear on our roads, a driverless future is getting closer than you might think.
The charge
My big worry was charging. Range anxiety is often cited as a barrier for those who want to buy an EV, worried about the battery dying in the middle of nowhere. As I had no Tesla home charger kit, I too was worried about how and where to charge the Model Y.
In the last few years. the UAE has quietly built one of the region’s most comprehensive charging networks. Dubai alone now boasts hundreds of public charging points across malls, hotels, offices and residential communities. Add Tesla’s own Superchargers at strategic locations and range anxiety quickly becomes range indifference.
The smart advice is never to leave home without at least an 80% battery life. I charged the Model Y twice on a slow charge at home with a regular plug socket. It was slow of course, but if I was an actual owner I’d have a proper wall unit installed. I also tried at my local supermarket but I couldn’t work out why it wasn’t charging. I think that has more to do with the charging station than the car.
The overview
Seventeen years late, perhaps. But better late than never. By the end of my 48-hour test drive, I found myself doing something unexpected – rationalising ownership. As an everyday car in a city like Dubai, it makes an enormous amount of sense. And I would be in good company. The Tesla Model Y has become one of the most significant success stories in the global automotive industry. Since its first deliveries nearly five years ago, more than 3.5 million units have been produced across Tesla’s Gigafactories. Could one of them be parked on my driveway soon? Watch this space.