The new Tesla Model Y is on sale in Britain NOW: Here’s our video tour of the best-selling EV

Britain’s best-selling electric car has been given a full makeover for 2025.

It’s been five years since Tesla’s Model Y electric SUV – which is both Tesla’s best-selling model and the world’s best-selling car of 2023 – first took the world by storm. 

But it hasn’t been refreshed since – until now.

The updated Model Y has adopted styling features from the marmite Cybertruck, as well as improved aerodynamics and more range than ever before. 

But what exactly will the British ‘Teslarati’ get when the new Model Y ‘Juniper’ arrives around May time?

Here we take you on a first-look tour of the Model Y so you can decide whether it’s an improvement on the old model and whether you’ll be putting your name down on the order list.

 Recent industry figures confirmed the Model Y was yet again the UK’s favourite EV in 2024 and was the only battery-powered car to make it into the top 10 best-selling new models of last year.

Initially, the new Model Y will be delivered in a Launch Series specification, which is based on the Long-Range All Wheel Drive variant, but Tesla has revealed the full list of variants and pricing that are all available to buy now.

And the main thing is that the fully-redesigned exterior does indeed draw inspiration from the Cybertruck and Cybercab.

Tesla says the exterior has been beautified for ‘exceptional aerodynamic efficiency’ with less drag and low-resistance tyres to enhance range.

To the naked eye though it gives the Model Y much-needed modernisation and bring’s Tesla’s self-driving future into the aesthetic.

Visually it clearly takes after the Cybercab.

The front and rear lightbars that support the adaptive headlights are the most obvious styling cues lifted from the Cybertruck and Cybercab.

Tesla says the rear light bar is one of the largest in the industry and a world first – typical of Tesla to need a headline boast in there.

The application of an indirect, externally reflecting lighting system projects the rear lamp function rather than illuminating the light bar, which subtly reflects down to where the ‘TESLA’ lettering is set into the panel.

It might not sound like a huge difference, but in the world of Tesla it’s a big change: the lightbars and shaping refresh give a sharper look to the previously bulbous Model Y. 

Some people even said the old Model Y looks like a rhino. 

The back of the car has a noticeably updated, as the new C-shaped LED taillights and lightbar blend together in a tasteful way that’s uses reflective light to great effect.

Proportions have shifted slightly, with the Y now 4,790mm in length against the old’s 4,751mm measurement. 

Height and width remain the same but the updated Y’s nose is a little closer to the ground due to the extra length on the front of the car. Ground clearance remains the same though.

The Launch Series will come with 22 extra miles of range over what customers have seen up until now – with a total of 353 miles of zero emissions driving at your disposal. – due to the increased efficiency.

The Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive improves on that with 387 miles of range, as does the Long Range All-Wheel Drive which has a WLTP of 364 miles – and both are cheaper than the Launch version.

Tesla cameras are a cut above the rest and driving assists we can fully get behind , and the new Y comes with an improved front camera that offers drivers an expanded view of the surroundings on the centre screen. 

And smartly, especially in UK weather, the camera has fluid washer and integrated heating to prevent fogging and so it can defrost in cold weather.

What about the new Model Y interior?

The cabin has more minor tweaks than the exterior.

Although the Model 3 caused a big stir by going stalkless last year the Model Y has only followed suit by halves, ditching just one stalk. 

Will this go down well or will it be even more confusing? We don’t know but Tesla says it’s listened to customers who’ve found it difficult to use indicator buttons instead of an indicator stalk, and have compromised by keeping the indicator in the new Y.

Just the gear selector stalk is now integrated into the main touchscreen now like it is in the Model 3.

The touchscreen stays at 15.4 inches but is joined by an eight-inch touchscreen for rear passengers so kids (and adults) in the back can make use of Tesla’s famous gaming offerings and Theatre modes.

The back screen also has its own Bluetooth, and the Wifi connection throughout the car has been improved. There are new microphones for voice control and phone calls too.

A pre-Christmas Tesla software update means you can use your Apple Watch and model as car keys if you wish as well.

The very comfortable seats have been redesigned to be even more comfortable and the front seats are now ventilated as well as heated.

The rear seats are heated now too and also fold at the touch of a button located on the side of the seat. Use the extra button in the boot and they fold completely flat.

Interior space has actually shrunk by 20 litres but that’s hard to tell because there’s still 2,130 litres between the frunk and boot, and the boot now opens automatically when you approach which is very handy.

The 20 per cent claimed noise reduction thanks to acoustic glazing and softer fabrics on the dash and doors will make noiseless EV driving even more relaxing, especially on long journeys.

The ambient lighting from the Model 3 has transferred across to the new Y for a bit of extra glitz too.

When’s it arriving and what’s the pricing for the new Model Y? 

The Launch Series is on sale now in the UK, and these deliveries are expected to arrive around May.

European deliveries are confirmed for March.

The Model Y Launch Series will only be available Black or Quicksilver, both coming with an all-black interior but you’ll be able to get white and black interiors later on. 

The claimed range on the Launch Series Long Range All-Wheel Drive Model Y is 353 miles and it has a top speed of 125mph and can do 0-to-60mph in 4.1 seconds – shaving 0.7 seconds off the previous car’s time.

Charging speeds are just as lightning fast as Tesla owners are accustomed to with the new Model Y Launch Series able to charge up to 250kW, which will give you 172 miles in 15 minutes on a Supercharger.

The rest of the line-up includes a Rear-Wheel Drive, a Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive and a Long Range All-Wheel Drive version.

These will cover 0 to 60mph in 5.6s and 311 miles on a single charge, 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds and 387 miles and 0 to 60mph in 4.6 seconds and 364 miles respectively.

The cheapest is the Rear-Wheel Drive Y which starts at £44,990. The Long Range RWD jumps up to £48,990 and the Long Range AWD price bumps up again to £51,990.

The Launch Series costs £60,990 so is the most expensive but this has a premium whacked on for it being the first car to come off the production line.