Tesla Removes Yoke Option From Almost All Its Vehicles

The yoke, once a staple of modern-day Tesla, is now all but extinct. Along with the most mild of refreshes to the Model S and Model X EVs, Tesla has also removed what might have been the brand’s most controversial feature ever.

Tesla’s cut-off steering wheel is gone from nearly every trim in the latest versions of these models. What used to be standard across the line is now an optional extra, and only if you have the Plaid trim. So yes, you can still get the strangest steering wheel since KITT if you really want it. But you’ll need to pay the Plaid premium and then add an extra thousand bucks on top for the option. That’s a hefty price for what amounts to half a steering wheel.

Tesla’s Oldest Models Finally Get A Small Update

A long-overdue overhaul for the Model S and X included what Tesla described as a quieter cabin due to active noise cancellation changes. The automaker has also updated the suspension bushings and retuned the settings to try and fix the ride. There are new wheels and a new camera, too.

Unfortunately, the upgrades aren’t free. Far from it, actually – the sedan and SUV got price hikes to the tune of $5,000 across the board. Plus, there’s a new blue paint option that’s an extra $2,500 on top of that. So yeah, you can technically get a yoke on a new Tesla if you really want it. But the overall cost is way higher than last year.

The Runny History Of Tesla’s Yoke

Tesla launched the yoke in 2021 to the adoration of Elon’s fans and the confusion of everyone else. Tests at the time called it hard to hold onto, difficult to use when making sharp turns, and as a bonus, it blocked you from the center console’s vehicle controls. There was also a problem with the trim peeling off within 4,000 miles. And oh yeah, there were questions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on whether it was even legal to use.

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The more affordable version of Tesla’s best-seller can now be ordered.

The yoke was so popular that when Tesla offered a real steering wheel to replace it, for $700 no less, it sold out in a week. Tesla tried to revamp the yoke in 2022 with one it said had better quality and usability, but clearly it didn’t catch on, either. While the yoke was initially standard on the Plaid high-performance versions, it was always an option on Long Range versions. Early on, it was $250, and then the price rose to $1,000.

Enough Plaid buyers evidently took the option that Tesla is keeping it on the menu there. Other Model S and Model X buyers evidently didn’t see the benefit of a feature that was more expensive and made the driving experience worse.

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Tesla Bringing Back A Confusing Option For The Model Y

We’re not sure who was asking for this.

The steering wheel yoke may have been Elon’s vision for the cars, but it was not what customers wanted. And yet, it hasn’t stopped other automakers from trying. Lexus is trying to go yoke and has debuted it in other parts of the world in the RZ. Of course, it has the advantage of a variable ratio, meaning you won’t be grabbing for air when you try to parallel park your yoked RZ EV. But still, will the madness ever end?

Source: Teslarati