First look: the new Tesla Model Y gets sleek new styling and a much-improved interior
January 24, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
We’ve been poking around the new Tesla Model Y to see what’s changed. There are many improvements, however one major part remains the same…
- New Tesla Model Y on sale now
- Best-selling electric car gets a total overhaul
- Cybertruck-inspired styling
- Improved interior materials
- Aerodynamic tweaks give it 22 miles of extra range
- Prices start from £60,990
This is the new Tesla model Y, and the UK’s best-selling electric car has been given a major overhaul with new styling, an upgraded interior and improved refinement to make it more comfortable on the road. All these improvements come at a price though, because this car costs £9,000 more than before.
We were given the chance to have a look around the car and experience most of the changes first-hand, although we’ll have to wait until March to get behind the wheel of this car.
New Tesla Model Y design
A lot has changed about the new Model Y’s design compared to the old one. It looks more sleek and less bulbous than before, and this has benefits beyond style which we’ll get onto later.
The bonnet is now much lower, and it has a more angular front end as well. The new light bar is very similar to the one you’ll find on the bonkers Cybertruck and the new self-driving Cybercab, and the main headlight units are hidden further down.
Not much has changed down the side, although you may notice a slightly revised spoiler at the rear. You have a couple of new wheel options, starting with 19-inch rims with plastic aero covers. You can also have 20-inch alloys if you like.
Moving to the rear you have an all-new light bar which works in a unique way. It actually projects red light onto a black panel in the tailgate, a bit like the underglow you get in a trendy nightclub bar. It looks pretty cool in a studio, but we’re not sure how well it’ll work when it’s covered in road grime.
New Tesla Model Y interior and practicality
At first glance the interior of the new Model Y looks virtually identical to the old one, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find some key changes which make it feel more upmarket.
The materials on the door cards are more plush-feeling, and the design has also been tweaked slightly. The dashboard has also been fettled with a new ambient lighting strip running across it, and there is a new cover over the massive centre console storage bins.
Interior storage is excellent in the new Model Y. The central cubbies are cavernous, with almost enough space to fit a small backpack, and you get big door bins as well. The only let-down in the slightly below-average glovebox, and this is made even more annoying by the fact you can only open it through the screen.
The old Model Y, and pretty much every Tesla, all the controls are operated through the massive central touchscreen. It measures the same 15.0-inches as before, only it now has thinner bezels, and it’s really slick and easy to navigate. A handful of physical controls would still be nice, but using this screen isn’t as much of a faff as it is in some alternatives – we’re looking at you, Peugeot 5008.
One physical control which does make a surprise appearance is the indicator stalk. It may seem mad that this is a feature worthy of note, but the Model 3 lost this control in favour of touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel.
Moving to the rear seats you have just as much space as you did in the old one, and that’s to say plenty. One new feature is the ability to electrically recline the rear seats for added relaxation on long trips.
The boot is also just as cavernous as it was before, with 854 litres of space on offer when you include the massive underfloor storage area. That’s 269 litres more than you get in the Skoda Enyaq.
New Tesla Model Y batteries and range
Surprisingly, the new Model Y has exactly the same motors and batteries as the old car. This means you get a 75kWh battery, however Tesla has managed to eke a few more miles of range out of it.
This is where that sleek new styling comes in, because a host of aerodynamic tweaks have made it more efficient. That low bonnet helps it cut through the air more smoothly, and there are some more subtle changes such as some slits in the door mirrors and an updated rear spoiler.
The upshot of this is 353 miles of range, 22 miles more than the outgoing car. The only model available from launch is the dual-motor, which puts out 384hp and will do 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds, down from 4.8 seconds in the old car.
Tesla has said that other variants will be available from a later date, and this is likely to be a cheaper rear-wheel drive model with even more range, and a sporty Performance version is on the cards as well.
New Tesla Model Y price
The New Tesla Model Y is available to order now, with first deliveries starting in March this year. Prices start from £60,990 for the dual-motor car, making it £9,000 more expensive than the outgoing model.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this is the Launch Edition, and cheaper variants will be available at a later date. Expect a future single-motor car to cost closer to £50,000.
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