New Tesla Model Y facelift for 2025: Cybertruck face and more range for electric SUV

If the Tesla Model Y seems a little too new to receive some visual tweaks, having arrived in the UK in 2022, then bear in mind that in its home US market, it’s been on sale since 2020. While still competitive on range and performance, the original styling is starting to look distinctly old-hat next to much sharper rivals, so a refresh is welcome.

The bulbous shape is the same as before, but both front and rear facias are new, and quite different from the recent updates to the smaller Tesla Model 3. The front end now gets a Cybertruck-style full-width daytime running light bar, with the car’s actual headlights positioned slightly below and forming the top of new C-shaped side intakes.

At the rear, there’s – you guessed it – another fashionable full-width light bar, while the numberplate has migrated to the diffuser-style bumper element, leaving a large blank space on the tailgate. There are two alloy wheel designs, ‘Induction’ and ‘Helix’, both 20 inches in diameter, with the latter being similar to those on the Model 3.

If the exterior styling marks a diversion from the updated Model 3, the interior of the updated Y is much closer to its lower sibling, with updated infotainment running inside the familiar 15.4-inch touchscreen display, joined by an 8-inch touchscreen for rear-seat passengers. The dashboard and controls have, like the Model 3 and the Cybertruck, been stripped back to the bare minimum, which means getting used to controlling almost everything via the screen. There are just a couple of touch-sensitive buttons and scroll wheels on the steering wheel plus an indicator stalk.

Equipment updates include power adjustment for the rear seats, cooling for the front ones, and in Launch Series models – unconfirmed for the UK, as yet – a choice of black, or black and white colour schemes, a bespoke rear badge and puddle lights.

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Mechanically the updated Model Y range comprises Rear-Wheel Drive and Long-Range All-Wheel Drive models, with WLTP ratings of 289 miles and 342 miles respectively. Tesla hasn’t confirmed that the former will hit UK soil (its predecessor didn’t), while there’s also a Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive on the way in some markets. Charging speeds are up to 250kW, and of course, all cars will benefit from Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network.

Performance has improved, the All-Wheel Drive sprinting from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, half a second quicker than before – and there’s sure to be a Performance version to follow, if supercar-baiting performance is a priority for your next family car. Thankfully, Tesla has improved the chassis tuning too; the outgoing car could be somewhat firm but the brand promises “added comfort… and a quieter ride” among the facelift’s benefits.

Tesla hasn’t yet revealed pricing, but if they follow the Model 3’s lead by dropping slightly, you can expect prices to start from around £42,000 when UK sales begin imminently.