How to Draw a Tesla Model Y

In this lesson, the DrawCars illustrators will show you how to draw the Tesla Model Y, a compact electric crossover SUV.

Like all Tesla vehicles, the Model Y has a recognizable design language. It’s defined by smooth, minimalist lines and flowing transitions between surfaces.

As a larger version of the Tesla Model 3, the Model Y follows the same overall design principles as the sedan, with the main differences being its increased height and slightly more substantial proportions.

How to draw a Tesla Model Y: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the overall side silhouette

Place a single, clean outline for the Tesla Model Y’s side profile. Keep the roof arc smooth and continuous, then let it fall into the short rear overhang. On a compact electric crossover like this, the key is keeping the body “one piece,” without sharp breaks between the hood, cabin, and rear. Make the lower edge fairly straight. Avoid adding details yet – this shape is only for proportions.

Step 2 – Draw the wheel arches of the Tesla Model Y

Add the baseline and draw two simple wheel arches of the Tesla Model Y. Keep the front opening slightly more forward than you might on a traditional SUV, since the EV layout pushes the cabin forward visually. Don’t over-round the arches. Check spacing: the gap between the arches should match the long wheelbase look typical for an EV.

Step 3 – Indicate the front and rear sections

Sketch in the main bumper cuts and light placement with minimal lines. For the front, indicate the lower intake area and the headlight shape without adding internal details. For the rear, place the taillight corner mark and the rear bumper break so the back reads as a hatch-style electric vehicle. Keep everything subtle – Tesla styling relies on thin transitions rather than busy trim. Make sure the front is lower and more pointed than the rear.

Step 4 – Draw the roofline and windows of the Model Y

Lay in the greenhouse: the upper window line and the main roof contour. The Tesla Model Y has a smooth, stretched canopy, so keep the top arc long and even, then let it taper gently into the rear. The lower edge of the windows should rise slightly toward the back, but not too aggressively. Watch the A-pillar angle: it should lean back enough to feel aerodynamic, while still leaving room for a compact crossover’s tall cabin.

Step 5 – Add the pillars, mirror, and handles

Introduce the main vertical breaks: the B-pillar and the rear pillar area, then place the side mirror and simple door-handle marks. Keep the pillars slim so the cabin still looks light. The mirror should sit near the front of the window band and angle slightly backward. Door handles on the Model Y are understated, so use small, clean marks.

Step 6 – Draw the doors of the Tesla Model Y

Draw the door seams and add the lower rocker line that ties the body together. Then, add the hood and trunk lines, and mark the decorative elements. Keep the seams curved and smooth. Add On a modern EV, the lower body often looks clean, so avoid extra trim lines.

Step 7 – Construct the wheel shapes

Place two wheel circles inside the arches, then add the tire thickness with a second ring. Keep both wheels aligned on the same baseline so the electric crossover doesn’t look tilted. Make sure the wheels don’t touch the arch lines; leave a consistent gap.

Step 8 – Draw the Tesla wheels

Build the rims with simple spokes radiating from a small center cap. Tesla-style wheels often look graphic and clean. Keep the spoke pattern symmetrical and not overly thin. Use confident, even spacing. Add a subtle inner rim ring. Check that both rims match in design and proportion.

Step 9 – Finalize the EV body contours

Go back through the body and clean the contours: tighten the hood edge, the front bumper shape, and the rear hatch area. Darken only the lines you want as final ink lines, and keep secondary seams lighter so the car doesn’t turn into a heavy outline. This is also the stage to correct small proportion issues – roof too tall, rear too short, arches too wide.

Step 10 – Finalize the electric car illustration

Complete the Tesla Model Y drawing by adding shadows or color. Keep it restrained – use gentle tonal blocks to show the cabin glass and a soft shadow on the body. You can use multiple tonal transitions to make your Tesla Model Y drawing appear more three-dimensional. In our article on the role of volume in car drawing, this topic is explained in detail.

Tesla design language

As you probably know, the Model Y is essentially a slightly larger and taller version of the Model 3. The methods used in this lesson follow the same principles outlined in our Tesla Model 3 drawing tutorial.

Be sure to visit it, compare the two, and observe how the same design language carries over from one electric vehicle to another while adapting to different body types.

That same design language is also clearly present in other Tesla models, such as the Model X. In our step-by-step tutorial on how to draw the Tesla Model X, we show how to draw a larger SUV from this well-known electric car brand.

The same core principles and design code are demonstrated in our lesson on how to draw the Tesla Model S, a sedan that introduced many of the visual characteristics later adopted across the industry.

A slightly different, more aggressive, and more performance-oriented interpretation of this design language can be seen in our Tesla Roadster drawing lesson.

By comparing all these electric vehicle models, you can clearly see how the same design solutions are repeated across different variations—how body elements become longer, taller, wider, or more compact, while remaining instantly recognizable.