Rear View Visibility

[SageBrush]

My wife and I are very happy owners of a Model 3, and we were certain that when our LEAF reaches EOL or thereabouts, we would replace it with a (then available) 400 mile range Model Y. Well ... until I took a test drive and was disappointed by the view in the rear view mirror. I had a chance a few weeks later to sit in a Model Y in a Tesla Gallery and came away with the same poor impression. I'm still not even sure why the visibility is poor compared to my Model 3. I tried lowering the back seats but that made no difference.

I've looked around the forum for other discussion on this topic and don't find any. Non issue for everybody ? Just something to adapt to ? Easy solution that I am missing ? No difference from the Model 3 and I am delusional ?

Chime in !

 

[iustin]

I don't have a Tesla yet, but this - MY poor rear view visibility - is a known and acknowledged issue. The visibility is poorer than M3 due to the hatch-back design. And it seems that people just get by with it (grudgingly).

For MX, I've also read of people using a digital rear mirror, connected to some kind of (wifi?) camera installed right under the spoiler. Not sure exactly how it's all done, though.

 

[DanDi58]

Yeah, it reminds me of my '73 Ford Maverick, which had a similar large window but it was almost horizontal so you got slit vision. The M3 has a bit of a trunk, so I think the window is a little more vertical than the MY, which is a true fastback. It's not an issue for me. I always look all around before I reverse, then use the (excellent) backup camera. I forgive it because, frankly, I love the styling of the back!

 

[Kenfucius]

As I was told, just use the cameras

 

[NeverGoingBack]

Doesn’t bother me. Noticed it on first couple drives but not any more.

 

[SageBrush]

As I was told, just use the cameras

No problem for reverse -- I love the camera.
My issue is knowing what is behind me before I switch lanes. My subjective worry is having a big blind spot behind me.

 

[Vivelemond]

I think it depends what you’re sensitive to. If it bothers you then it’s an issue, we just drive the car and don’t think about it.

 

[iamnid]

It's a non-issue for me. It's definitely worse than it is in our Model 3 -- that's because of the pillar placement. The Model Y has a horizontal pillar at the top of the rear window that cuts off the view -- the Model 3 doesn't have that pillar. Between the side mirrors, the view out the rear view mirror and the cameras, I've never felt like I couldn't see what was going on behind me.

 

[FlyF4]

As I was told, just use the cameras

yes, and I use it too. Solves my issue with limited visibility.

 

[garrett5688]

the only time it bothers me is at night at a stoplight, it can be hard to tell if someone is behind you because the headlights are lower than the rear view

 

[mark95476]

There's another relevant thread (Did the blind spot monitoring just got worse), but I'll repeat:

You're literally doing it wrong.

My wife and I are very happy owners of a Model 3, and we were certain that when our LEAF reaches EOL or thereabouts, we would replace it with a (then available) 400 mile range Model Y. Well ... until I took a test drive and was disappointed by the view in the rear view mirror. I had a chance a few weeks later to sit in a Model Y in a Tesla Gallery and came away with the same poor impression. I'm still not even sure why the visibility is poor compared to my Model 3. I tried lowering the back seats but that made no difference.

I've looked around the forum for other discussion on this topic and don't find any. Non issue for everybody ? Just something to adapt to ? Easy solution that I am missing ? No difference from the Model 3 and I am delusional ?

Chime in !

No problem for reverse -- I love the camera.
My issue is knowing what is behind me before I switch lanes. My subjective worry is having a big blind spot behind me.

 

[WADan]

No problem for reverse -- I love the camera.
My issue is knowing what is behind me before I switch lanes. My subjective worry is having a big blind spot behind me.

Yes, the rear camera is absolutely very accurate and you can rely on it to back up.
Also, you need to read up on several threads on the blind spot in this forum because it’s a fixable issue.

 

[SageBrush]

You're literally doing it wrong.

Would not surprise me a bit, but I'm not talking about the adjacent lanes, I meant the lane I am in.
Can the driver even see a car behind them in the rear view mirror ?

 

[DanDi58]

Would not surprise me a bit, but I'm not talking about the adjacent lanes, I meant the lane I am in.
Can the driver even see a car behind them in the rear view mirror ?

Absolutely.

 

[whisperingshad]

Its not great, and putting tint on it makes it worse....However who needs it We drive vans with no rearview mirror and just have the side mirrors, Tesla has lots of sensors/cameras

 

[Reborn]

You’ll only notice it during your first few drives. I had the same concern coming from a 3 and totally forgot about it after like 5 drives....till now that I read this post. You'll get used to it and barely use your rear view mirror anyway. Trust me, you’ll love this car if you’re looking for more space and height. It’s a dream. I missed my 3 for a couple of weeks and fell in love.

 

[Hahabye]

Yeah the rear visibility sucks but it's better than my 2015 Z06 lol!