New Tesla Model Y: UK details confirmed for Cybertruck-inspired electric SUV

• First major update for Tesla Model Y
• New Cybertruck-inspired styling
• Initial Launch Series models start from £60,990

It’s official – the new Tesla Model Y has arrived, with sharp Cybertruck-inspired looks and a refreshed interior. Tesla has now confirmed UK details and pricing for its updated electric SUV and it’s available to order now, albeit with a slight catch. Only Launch Series models are available at the moment, costing from £60,990 – that’s £9,000 more than the outgoing Long Range All-Wheel Drive model.

If any mid-life update is going to catch the interest of car buyers in the UK, it’s this one. The Model Y was our best-selling electric car by a country mile in 2024, with sales bolstered by a new long-range model and, finally, a seven-seater option. But this is the first time that the Model Y has been treated to a visual makeover, so we have no doubt demand will remain high, despite that big increase in price for now.

What’s changed for the new Tesla Model Y?

If you hadn’t spotted it in spy shots of the new Model Y earlier, there have been a host of styling changes for this update. While many of us expected it to follow the theme laid out by the latest Model 3 saloon, Tesla has instead used its polarising Cybertruck as inspiration for the new Model Y.

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Take a look at the new front end and you’ll see what we mean. The old model’s pair of curvaceous headlights have been swapped for a slim, sharp light bar. Everything’s a bit more angular, including the front bumper with its new air intakes either side. The changes have been made to improve the Model Y’s aerodynamic efficiency, helping it to cut through the air more easily and use less energy.

You might also spot the new front camera integrated into the Model Y’s front air intake. Tesla claims that this offers an “expanded view of the surroundings”, presumably to help with parking. It has its own washer and heating to keep it functioning when it's dirty or frozen.

Things are different at the rear, too. Most obvious is that new tail-light arrangement, which has grown a light bar between the two main units. This houses the new ‘Tesla’ script, too, replacing the old ‘T’ logo. Below the lights you’ll find a redesigned faux-diffuser, which appears to be a bit taller than before.

What about the new Model Y’s interior?

The new Model Y’s interior revamp might be a bit less obvious than the exterior at first glance, but there are a few important changes.

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There’s a new centre console with a sliding cover for the cupholders, plus some new trim and ambient lighting for the doors. The central touchscreen has grown from 15 to 15.4 inches and it runs Tesla’s latest infotainment software. Rear seat passengers get an eight-inch screen of their own, too, just like that found in the Model 3. 

The front seats have been redesigned and now feature ventilation as well as heating, while the rear seats have been resculpted, too, with longer cushions and deeper bolsters. They’re heated and also fold electrically when you need to maximise boot space.

Up front, there’s a new steering wheel pinched from the Model 3 but without the controversial new indicator buttons. Instead, Tesla has kept the old indicator stalk for the Model Y, although the gear selector stalk has been ditched in favour of touchscreen buttons. The audio system has been tinkered with, too, now using speakers hidden under “acoustically transparent” textile materials.

Importantly, Tesla claims that it’s introduced new manufacturing processes to “provide an elevated level of craftsmanship”. Combined with new acoustic glass all round, which reduces road and wind noise by around 20% according to Tesla, the cabin should be a more refined place to sit than that of the outgoing Model Y.

Does the new Model Y have a longer range?

There are no battery or motor changes for the new Model Y, but we do know that its range has marginally improved. That’s at least partly down to the new front end design, which Tesla claims is more aerodynamic than before.

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The entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y has seen a 6-mile range improvement – up to 289 miles in total – but this version was discontinued in the UK last year. The Long Range All-Wheel Drive model is sold over here, and this has seen range increase from 331 to 353 miles. We expect there will be improvements for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive and Performance models, too, although Tesla hasn’t confirmed this yet.

The Model Y’s performance should get a bump across the board, too, with the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model now accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds – 0.5 seconds quicker than before. Performance figures for the rest of the lineup will be confirmed in due course.

What else do we know? Well, Tesla claims that changes to the wheels, tyres and suspension have resulted in a “smoother and quieter” ride with "improved grip”, while it’s said to have “more responsive steering”, too. Charging speeds remain the same at an impressive 250kW and owners will still have access to reduced rates across the Supercharger network.

How much will the new Tesla Model Y cost and when can I buy one?

So far, Tesla has only confirmed UK pricing for the limited edition ‘Launch Series’ Model Y, which will be the first variant to go on sale over here. It’s based on the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model and costs £60,990 – that’s £9,000 more than the old Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive.

The Launch Series Model Y is on sale now, and Tesla says that initial UK deliveries will begin in May. Of course, it will be joined by regular Model Y variants later on, which are likely to include a Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive version as well as hotted-up Performance model.

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