Tesla Model Y Surges to Global Sales Champion: Phoenix Xfinity Drama, 21st‑Century Sales Kings, and a Tough-to-Watch Policing Clip

Three stories over one strong coffee: the Tesla Model Y quietly becomes the world’s best‑selling car, a NASCAR Xfinity title is decided under the heaviest lights Phoenix can throw, and a policing video reminds us that what happens around cars isn’t just about lap times or lease deals.

NASCAR Xfinity: Jesse Love conquers Phoenix—format breaks Connor Zilisch’s heart

On Phoenix Raceway’s mile-long dogleg—hot, slick, and perpetually daring you to brake a beat late—Jesse Love did the cleanest thing in a messy sport: he won the race and the championship in one go. I’ve spent more Novembers than I can count jammed into that desert grandstand, watching late cautions turn strategy boards into confetti. Phoenix is a trap for the overeager and a gift for the precise. On the day it mattered, Love was clinical.

• Championship 4 reality: It’s not about nine months of math; it’s about one afternoon of execution. Love delivered when the money stopped talking.
• Zilisch’s sting: As Road & Track noted, the speed was there all season. The format just doesn’t pay out for “pretty fast for pretty long.” It pays for “fastest today.”
• Phoenix variables: Track temp swings, tire life roulette, and pit road elbows-out chaos. Miss your mark by an inch and you’re sweeping fenders.

What the format rewards—and why it splits the room

The Xfinity playoff is built for spectacle. It rewards maximum glare performance over marathon consistency. Traditionalists argue a title should be the sum of a season; modern NASCAR prefers a final‑exam crescendo. I get both sides. On Saturday, Love aced the test. Zilisch learned how cruel the curve can be.

Tesla Model Y takes the global crown—and changes the conversation

Autocar’s roundup of the 21st century’s sales champs reads like a tour of every airport car park I’ve ever sprinted through: Toyota Corolla, Ford F‑Series, Honda CR‑V, Toyota RAV4. Dependable, approachable, everywhere. Then came the inflection point we’ve all felt coming: in 2023, the Tesla Model Y climbed to the top of the global charts. Not just best‑selling EV. Best‑selling car. Full stop.

When I borrowed a Model Y for a week—school runs, a late‑night airport dash, and a detour down a rutted access road—it struck me how ordinary it made “new” feel. Range anxiety took a seat after day two, the quiet made traffic weirdly tolerable, and the cargo well swallowed an absurd grocery run with room left for the family dog. It’s not flawless (more on that), but I get why it sells.

• Everyday appeal: It’s a family‑size crossover with over 300 miles of range in certain trims, access to a vast fast‑charging network, and the punch to dust a hot hatch at a stoplight. Performance trims dip into the mid‑3‑second 0–60s; Long Range models sit under five.
• Cost curve: Electricity is cheap in many regions, over‑the‑air updates keep it feeling newer longer, and maintenance is mostly tires and washer fluid. Mostly.
• Packaging: Flat floor, huge under‑boot space, and a low load lip. The optional third row? It exists, but it’s a “kids or very patient adults” situation.

Why the Tesla Model Y resonated with buyers

Talk to recent owners—and a few have pulled me aside at chargers—the pitch isn’t the tech demo anymore. It’s the routine. Commuting without engine idle. Ski weekends without gas stops. A cabin quiet enough to hear your kids arguing about who stole whose fries. Familiar crossover shape, unfamiliar ease.

• Strengths:
  • Effortless acceleration; one‑pedal driving that becomes second nature in a day.
  • Supercharger network takes the guesswork out of road‑tripping.
  • Big cargo bay and clever underfloor storage; easy to load bulky stuff.
• Quirks:
  • Touchscreen‑heavy controls can make simple tasks a tap too far while driving.
  • Ride quality on 20‑ or 21‑inch wheels gets chattery on broken city streets.
  • The seven‑seat option is tight; treat it as occasional‑use seating.

Tesla Model Y in the context of 21st‑century sales kings

For two decades, sedans and hatches ruled on price and simplicity. Then crossovers matured, hybrids normalized, and buyers voted with their knees and cargo needs. The Tesla Model Y simply arrived at the perfect intersection: familiar crossover shape, EV benefits without the EV hassle.

One personal note: modern crossovers—RAV4, CR‑V, Model Y—have gotten very good at the dull stuff. Over pockmarked city streets, they ride with a calm older sedans couldn’t muster. I still miss the feel of a well‑sorted hatch on a wet B‑road, but the school run, the ski trip, the flat‑pack furniture dash? Crossovers win on points.

A hard‑to‑watch policing video—and a reminder about responsibility

Carscoops flagged a disturbing clip of a police officer apparently attempting to run down a man with a patrol vehicle. It’s grim. And it’s a jolt for those of us who live and breathe this stuff: cars are power, both figurative and literal. How that power is used matters.

I’m not playing armchair investigator. The practical takeaway for everyday motorists? Keep interactions visible and calm, consider a dash cam, and remember that how we behave around cars—on duty or off—sets the tone of our streets.

Quick hits

• Jesse Love did exactly what Phoenix demands: win the day, win the title. Connor Zilisch is the format’s latest cautionary tale.
• The Tesla Model Y topping global sales proves EVs are no longer the outliers—they’re the mainstream in a familiar shape.
• Road culture isn’t just dyno charts. Accountability and judgment matter, in traffic and in uniform.

Conclusion: What the Tesla Model Y milestone really means

The Tesla Model Y becoming the world’s best‑selling car isn’t just a headline; it’s the market telling us the EV pitch has crossed from “maybe” to “obvious,” at least for a huge swath of buyers. Phoenix reminded us that endings can be ruthless yet definitive; the sales charts reminded us buyers prefer what makes life easier, right now. Somewhere between a quiet Monday commute and a loud Saturday dogleg is the full story of why we drive what we drive.

FAQ

Is the Tesla Model Y really the world’s best‑selling car?

Yes. Industry data for 2023 shows the Tesla Model Y leading global sales—an EV first. It signals mainstream adoption beyond early adopters.

What stands out about the Tesla Model Y for everyday use?

Strong range (over 300 miles in certain trims), a robust fast‑charging network, huge cargo flexibility, and acceleration that makes short work of merges. Downsides include touchscreen‑centric controls and firmer ride on big wheels.

How does the Tesla Model Y compare with RAV4 and CR‑V for families?

Model Y is quicker and quieter with lower routine maintenance, while RAV4/CR‑V hybrids offer vast dealer networks and simple familiarity. All three have family‑friendly space; the Tesla’s third row is occasional‑use at best.

Who won the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship?

Jesse Love won the Phoenix finale and clinched the title, in classic Championship 4 fashion.

What’s known about the policing video mentioned?

Carscoops reported footage showing an officer attempting to strike a man with a patrol vehicle. Details remain limited; it’s a serious, concerning incident and underlines the need for accountability.