I’m ordering Tesla’s refreshed Model Y now that it’s launched
The long-rumoured Tesla Model Y refresh has landed, here's why I'm ordering one straight away
In 2023, I reviewed the refreshed Tesla Model 3 and called it the new standard for electric cars. The following year, Tesla’s long-rumoured Model Y refresh finally arrived – and it somehow looked even better. I had the chance to check out a pre-production model, and now that pre-orders are open globally, I’m ordering one.
While early production models always carry the caveat of last-minute tweaks, Tesla had been clear about what the refreshed Model Y brought to the table. The updated electric crossover arrived with a long list of changes designed to keep the world’s best-selling EV ahead of increasingly strong competition.
Visually, the 2025 Model Y introduced a cleaner, more modern look. New front and rear light bars gave it a subtle Cybertruck-inspired edge, with the rear light bar even casting a glow onto the ground – something I hadn’t seen on a production car before. Reshaped bumpers and a drag coefficient of just 0.22 helped improve efficiency, while a 47mm increase in length didn’t detract from its compact, aerodynamic feel.
Inside, Tesla refined rather than reinvented. Ventilated front seats were added, along with an upgraded 15.4-inch central touchscreen and a new 8-inch rear display for passengers. The rear seats became power-folding, dropping at the touch of a button, with the car automatically adjusting the front seats if needed. Even the frunk gained a drain hole, making it far more practical for wet or messy loads.
Efficiency remained the headline feature. Tesla claimed up to 447 miles of range for the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model under China’s CLTC cycle – a notable increase over the outgoing version. While those figures didn’t translate directly to Europe’s stricter WLTP testing, the gains were still meaningful. The Rear-Wheel Drive version also saw an improvement, with a quoted range of up to 368 miles.
Performance was subtly reworked. The Long Range All-Wheel Drive model cut its 0–60 mph time to 4.3 seconds, while the Rear-Wheel Drive version managed 5.8 seconds. Suspension changes focused on comfort and refinement, delivering a noticeably smoother and quieter ride – even quieter than the Model 3. Tesla had clearly paid attention to the details, right down to doors that closed with less of a thud.
On Tesla’s home soil, the range starts with the rear-wheel drive model at $39,990. The latest addition, All-wheel Drive, climbs to $41,990 – undercutting the Premium Rear-Wheel drive at $44,990. Premium All-Wheel Drive will set you back $48,990 and the top-spec Performance All-Wheel Drive commands $57,490.
In the UK, pricing started at £44,990 for the Rear-Wheel Drive model, rising to £48,990 for the longer-range RWD version and £51,990 for the Long Range All-Wheel Drive. A limited Launch Edition pushed past £60,000, bundling higher trim and peak performance. Prices broadly matched the outgoing Model Y, which is nice to see. Buyers could choose from Ultra Red, Stealth Grey, Quicksilver and Solid Black, paired with either a black or white interior.
- Related: Tesla ends production of the Model S and Model X, here are three EVs you should buy instead
Connor Jewiss
