Tesla Model Y 2025: Prices, specs and release date

• New Tesla Model Y updates the firm’s best-selling model
• Ride quality and comfort significantly improved
• On sale in February 2025 with Launch Series prices from £60,990

The Tesla Model Y is the US firm’s best-selling model and, in 2023, the world’s best-selling car overall. However, strong competition has left it lagging in several key areas.

The new Tesla Model Y aims to rectify all that. Described as an extensively re-engineered vehicle, it is a heavy facelift of the original, with big changes outside and in. The firm is aiming for the same transformation as seen with the latest Tesla Model 3. 

The new Telsa Model Y also builds on the generous EV range of the outgoing model (which remains on sale for a while, priced from £43,374). The launch version has a range of over 350 miles. Subsequent models will go further still between charges.

Updates are much-needed, as rivals to the Tesla Model Y are growing all the time. Well-known alternatives include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Skoda Enyaq and the Polestar 4.

Interesting Chinese rivals to the new Tesla Model Y include the XPeng G6 and upcoming BYD Sealion 7 – both of which have a profile not dissimilar to the well-known Tesla…

2025 Tesla Model Y prices and release date

The new Tesla Model Y will go on sale first in special Launch Series guise. This will have the Long Range battery and offer all-wheel drive. It will cost from £60,990 and deliveries will begin in March 2025.

More affordable versions of the new Tesla Model Y will follow soon after. Prices aren’t expected to increase significantly over today’s car, meaning the range is likely to start from around £45,000.

2025 Tesla Model Y styling, interior and technology

The new Tesla Model Y has a decidedly more modern appearance. It is the first model to be inspired by the controversial Tesla Cybertruck, with a full-width front light bar. The crisp white lighting will help the new Tesla Model Y stand apart from the outgoing car.

The new Tesla Model Y also has adaptive headlights for the first time. They are mounted lower down in the front bumper, which should hopefully help lessen the risk of the LED units dazzling drivers.

At the rear, the new Tesla Model Y has another full-width light bar. This is one of the largest in the industry, says Tesla. It’s also the first in the world to use indirect lighting, with the rear lamp projected onto a panel to give a cool ‘floating’ look.

Engineers say the new Tesla Model Y’s exterior redesign has further reduced the overall drag. This, combined with new wheels and low-resistance tyres, delivers “real-world gains” without additional costs.

The new Tesla Model Y has an updated front camera, hidden in the front air intake. It has an expanded view – and has both a fluid washer and integrated heating to keep it clear.

Inside, the new Tesla Model Y has much-improved fixtures and fittings. As with the updated Tesla Model 3, there’s greater use of more premium materials, now including aluminium and textile. Tesla’s also fitted customisable ambient lighting.

The new Tesla Model Y has a better centre console with sliding doors that reveal a cupholder and extra stowage. It’s covered in real aluminium, which also features om the steering wheel, door trim and instrument panel.

The Tesla Model Y’s steering wheel has customisable buttons – but unlike the latest Tesla Model 3, it retains an indicator stalk. This is apparently “precision-engineered”.

It’s a lot quieter inside the new Tesla Model Y. There’s all-round acoustic glass and new sound-dampening materials. These reduce road noise by 22%, plus impact and wind noise by 20%.

The new Tesla Model Y has improved front seats, which are more supportive. They’re also heated as well as ventilated. The rear seats have been improved as well, with longer cushions and deeper bolsters.

Rear seat passengers in the new Tesla Model Y now get their own 8.0-inch touchscreen. This includes climate and infotainment functions, plus gaming, audio and video streaming. The front and rear USB-C charging ports have been boosted to deliver up to 65W of power, to fast-charge laptops and other devices.

Onboard connectivity is better. The new Tesla Model Y has improved hardware that gives 50% faster mobile download speeds and a 30% greater range. Wi-Fi connectivity is up to 300% faster for smoother video streaming.

The new Tesla Model Y has an improved audio system too. Some speakers are now invisible, thanks to an in-house “acoustically transparent textile material”. Other speakers have premium-looking casings. The hands-free microphones have been improved, for better call quality.

2025 Tesla Model Y battery, performance and range

The new Tesla Model Y launches in Launch Series Long Range All-Wheel Drive guise. This promises 0-62mph acceleration in 4.1 seconds, a 125mph top speed and a 353-mile range.

Tesla famously doesn’t quote the capacity of its batteries. Two battery sizes will be available, mirroring the line-up of the outgoing Model Y.

The new Tesla Model Y will drive a lot more smoothly than today’s car. There’s a newfound focus on ride comfort which, if the upgraded Model 3 is anything to go by, will finally fix the stiff, jumpy ride quality of the Model Y.

The revised chassis settings in the new Tesla Model Y will still deliver agile handling, insists the firm – both in All-Wheel Drive guise and later Rear-Wheel Drive form.

More details about the mechanical setup of the new Tesla Model Y will follow nearer to its UK release.