- First review of the new Tesla Model Y
- Our writer Steve Fowler enjoys UK first drive
- Much-improved ride quality
- Puts the Model Y back on top
Tesla learns fast, it seems.
If you think the new Model 3 looks too much like the old Model 3, you’ll have no such doubts over the new Tesla Model Y.
Okay, from the side there’s a great deal of familiarity – you might just about notice the longer nose and ducktail spoiler at the back. But with full-length light bars at the front and the back, it’s clearly a Tesla, but one with a difference and one with a bit more flair.
At the front, the look has been inspired by Tesla’s Cybertruck and Robotaxi. The new nose also hides an additional camera as well as being far more aerodynamic, helping towards the new Model Y’s efficiency improvements.
At the back the light bar is less in your face, using reflected light cleverly to highlight the Tesla badge across the boot, plus slim C-shaped rear LED lights. When the boot swings open the lights go with it, so there are small LED lights at the bottom of the loading bay to keep the car visible and legal.
Inside, it’s all very familiar. That big, 15.4-inch floating touchscreen still takes centre stage – but the finer details tell a different story.
The seats are completely new and more comfortable now, especially with added cooling up front. You also get some swish new material along the dash that makes the cabin feel warmer and a bit more premium, while the obligatory ambient lighting strip runs all the way around the car and can be colour adjusted.
The rear passengers now have their own 8-inch display to control their own temperature zone, play games or watch Netflix or YouTube, while their seats are new, too. They’re not only heated, but powered for a little bit of recline, or they can now fold flat at the touch of a button in the boot. Luggage space is very slightly down on before, but it’s still cavernous, while there’s lots of storage inside the car between the seats – now with fancy aluminium, gliding lids – and space under the bonnet in the frunk. Surely in the UK that should be a froot, though?
The tech side of things has had a few upgrades as well, but don’t expect a total overhaul. Tesla’s always been good at keeping older models current thanks to over-the-air updates, so if you’ve driven a recent Model Y before, this won’t feel alien.
What’s new is the fact that gear selection is now done via the touchscreen. Sounds weird, but the car’s clever enough to figure out what gear you need in most situations – reverse if you’re facing a wall, for example. Still, we wouldn’t blame old Model Y owners for flapping their hand about on the right of the steering wheel looking for a gear stalk that’s no longer there.
Another example of Tesla listening is the indicator stalk on the left. In the new Model 3, indication is done via buttons on the steering wheel. That’s not a great solution in a Ferrari so it’s no surprise Tesla owners haven’t taken to it either. For the Model Y, it’s out with the buttons and back in with a stalk.
The steering wheel is new and feels great, which with changes to the steering itself makes the steering feel far meatier than before and more responsive. You can customise buttons on the right, while they also control the continually excellent Autopilot features (such a shame we don’t get full self-driving in the UK), while there’s a scroll wheel for audio control and buttons to flash the lights or wipe the front screen. Sadly, there’s still no wiper for the rear screen.
As soon as you get in and shut the door you’ll notice that the new Model Y is quieter than before. Double-glazed glass and more sound deadening make a real difference, as does the stiffer overall structure.
It’s that stiffer bodyshell, combined with suspension changes in keeping with those made to the Model 3 that result in the biggest improvement amongst loads of little ones.
The old car’s biggest downfall was how it dealt with lumps and bumps – it could be downright painful, especially for rear passengers sitting over the rear wheels. This new version, though, is miles better. It’s still not what you’d call soft, but the days of wincing over potholes are thankfully behind us. It feels more grown-up now, almost verging on luxurious and is probably the biggest and best reason previous Model Y owners will consider a switch.
On the road, it’s a proper EV in the best possible way – smooth, swift and intuitive. Acceleration is instant, and the engineering feels tightly integrated in a way some rivals still haven’t quite nailed. It’s still not a sports car, in spite of the Launch Series car’s 4.1 second 0-60mph time, but it feels very secure, and the tech on offer – Autopilot, self-parking, Smart Summon – works so seamlessly that it actually feels useful, rather than just a gimmick.
Our early Launch Series model came in a lovely Quicksilver paint – the only other colour option for this edition is black – and it’s based on the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version, but the bigger 20-inch wheels mean the range drops to a still reasonable 353 miles.
When the regular Long Range All-Wheel Drive cars start arriving, you’ll get a smidge more distance – 364 miles – but slightly less poke, with 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. The real hero of the range is likely to be the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version, which gives you a claimed 387 miles. That’s impressive in this class and especially given the 75kWh battery – Tesla doesn’t officially quote that figure, but it’s what we understand all variants are using.
Charging is where Tesla still wipes the floor with everyone else. Not only do you get up to 250kW speeds – adding 150 miles in about 15 minutes – but the Supercharger network is a dream. Your car plans your route, figures out where to stop, preconditions the battery en route, and even tells you how long to plug in for. There’s no faffing with cards or apps, either – you get charged (financially!) to your Tesla account. It’s this sort of polish that makes the Model Y feel a cut above.
As for cost, well, it’s not cheap, especially with the likes of the Xpeng G6 and upcoming Changan Deepal S07 coming in under the £40,000 mark that means anything over gets stung with the new expensive car surcharge on EVs.
The standard range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y starts at just under £45k – although Tesla is known for dropping its prices at less than a moment’s notice. The Model Y will take you further on a charge than its rivals and, thanks to the Supercharger network and Tesla’s efficiency edge, it’ll likely be easier to live with long term.
Go for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive at £48,990 and you’re still getting more car for less money than the equivalent BYD Sealion 7. Top of the tree is the Launch Series at just shy of £61k, which you’ll need to be quick to get, but it does feel like the complete package. Expect a Performance version later this year if you fancy something even faster, plus, we should see a seven-seater come back into the line-up too.
In short, Tesla’s done what it needed to with this update. The ride’s been sorted, the quality feels a touch better, and it’s still class-leading in terms of range and charging. But it’s not a giant leap – more a smart, calculated step forward. It’s enough to put the Model Y back at the top for now, but you can’t help but wonder how long it’ll stay there before someone else catches up.
Tesla Model Y – At a Glance
- Model tested: Launch Series (based on Long Range AWD)
- Price to buy outright/rough cost to lease: £44,990–£60,990 / TBC
- Powertrain/battery size: Single or dual motor electric for rear or all-wheel drive / 75kWh battery
- Power output/torque/top speed: na / na / 135mph
- Range/charging speed: 353–387 miles / up to 250kW (150 miles in 15 minutes)
- Fuel economy/CO₂ emissions: 4.4 miles per kWh / Zero
- Boot space in litres: Up to 2,138 litres including frunk
- BIK/road tax: 2% BIK (2024–25), £10 VED (first year) £620 (Years two to six)
- Standard-issue kit: 15.4” touchscreen, Autopilot, heated front/rear seats, 8” rear screen, panoramic roof, wireless charging, Autopilot
- Main rivals: BYD Sealion 7, Xpeng G6, Hyundai Ioniq 5
** Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automotive journalists and currently EV Editor of The Independent and a regular contributor to The Guardian. He’s the only person to have edited three of the UK’s biggest car titles – Auto Express, Autocar and What Car? – and has interviewed the biggest names in the car world from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley. Steve has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four and is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on TV and Radio. He’s a World Car of the Year juror and a judge on both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards. Read more of Steve's work at stevefowler.co.uk.
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