- The Tesla Model Y gets first refresh since original reveal six years ago
- The updated Model Y arrives in March in the U.S. for $61,630
- Tesla sales were down in 2024
Following its refresh of the Model 3, Tesla has released an updated version of the Model Y crossover, codenamed Juniper, though the debut took place in the Chinese market.
Deliveries in China and other Southeast Asian countries begin in March. When the updated Model Y Juniper arrives in the U.S. in March it will initially only be sold in Long Range All-Wheel-Drive Launch Series form and cost $61,630, including the $1,390 destination fee and nonrefundable $250 order fee. It will be sold alongside the current 2025 Model Y lineup, which will have Tesla selling both the current and new Model Y simultaneously in the U.S.
This marks the first major update of the Model Y since it debuted in 2019, prior to a market arrival just a year later. It’s noticeable thanks to exterior styling changes that seem to have been inspired by the Tesla Cybercab, including a chiseled front end, small, angular headlights, and a thin light bar running across the leading edge of the hood. At the back, a continuous light strip unites the third brake light with the taillights.
2025 Tesla Model Y (China spec)
Inside, Tesla is claiming similar changes to the recent Model 3 update, codenamed Highland, introduced in 2023. These include a quieter cabin, ambient lighting, and upgraded materials. Unlike the updated Highland Model 3 that purged control stalks the Chinese-market revised Model Y seems to retain stalks on the steering column while U.S.-spec cars seemingly have no stalks according to photos and video. Heated and cooled seats are now available as well, along with an 8.0-inch touchscreen for rear-seat passengers. The split-folding rear seat is now power operated.
While not detailed here, the updated Model Y is expected to benefit from suspension changes similar to the refreshed Tesla Model 3, which we found produced a more refined ride. We also saw better fit and finish in the refreshed sedan, something that will hopefully apply to the Model Y update as well.
2025 Tesla Model Y (China spec)
Tesla also increased range and made the Model Y quicker. Launch Series models, the only version initially sold in the U.S., will have an estimated 320 miles of range and go 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Today’s Long Range All-Wheel-Drive Model Y has 311 miles of range and does 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Top speed has been lowered 10 mph down to 125 mph with the Juniper update for the Launch Series model.
Tesla hasn’t detailed the U.S.-spec battery pack, but in China the updated Model Y Juniper uses a 62.5-kwh battery in base single-motor rear-wheel-drive form and a 78.4-kwh pack in dual-motor all-wheel-drive form. The Chinese-market car offers a base single-motor rear-wheel-drive version that now delivers 295 hp and gets from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds, compared to 5.9 seconds before. Today’s U.S.-spec version of this model has 337 miles of range and does 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Tesla sales fell in 2024, and it likely continued to lose market share as more EV competitors arrived. The Model Y has been the automaker’s bestseller, and in 2023 it was the top-selling vehicle in the world, electric or not—so this update will be an important factor in arresting that decline.
This story has been updated with pricing and U.S.-spec information.
