New Tesla Model Y: full lineup finally on sale from £44,990

• First major update for Tesla Model Y
• New Cybertruck-inspired styling
• Prices start from £44,990

Having been initially revealed in ‘Launch Series’ guise only, the new Tesla Model Y has finally gone on sale in a full range of trim levels starting from £44,990.

That’s not a penny more than the old Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y, despite the sharp new Cybertruck-inspired looks, interior updates and range improvements. Move further up the lineup and prices have swelled somewhat –  the range-topping Launch Series Model Y costs £60,990, while the popular Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model has seen a £2,000 price hike.

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Still, that pricing stands the Model Y in good stead against its European competition. The Audi Q4 e-tron starts at nearly £47,000, while you’re looking at £60,000 for a Polestar 4. It’s the Model Y’s new Chinese rivals that pose the biggest threat, however – the XPeng G6 is £5,000 cheaper, while the Leapmotor C10 comes in at around £8,500 less.

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 in 2025.

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.

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.

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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.

You have a palette of five paint colours to pick from this time around, including Pearl White, Solid Black, Quicksilver, Ultra Red, and the new no-cost option, Stealth Grey. This replaces white as the ‘free’ colour, reflecting the fact grey is easily Britain’s most popular car colour, with almost a third of buyers picking it.

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 28-mile range improvement, bringing the total up to 311 miles. This version was discontinued in the UK last year, but Tesla has brought it back as the entry-point to the new Model Y lineup.

For most people, the Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive is the sweet spot in the Model Y lineup, and it’s seen a range boost, too. It will now travel up to 387 miles on a charge – more than many of its rivals. There’s a Long-Range All-Wheel Drive model as well, and this has seen range increase from 331 to 353 miles.

The Model Y’s performance has received a minor bump across the board, too, with the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model now accelerating from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds – a fraction of a second quicker than before. This drops to 4.1 seconds for the Launch Series Model Y, which gets a unique ‘Acceleration Boost’ mode. Rear-Wheel Drive models take 5.6 seconds to hit 60mph, or 5.4 seconds with All-Wheel Drive.

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?

The new Tesla Model Y is on sale now in the UK in all four guises, with deliveries scheduled to begin in June.

The lineup starts with the £44,990 Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y, rising to £48,990 for the Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive model – the latter is £2,000 more expensive than the outgoing car. Long-Range All-Wheel Drive Model Y’s cost £51,900, which is the same as before.

The Launch Series Model Y sits at the top of the range and commands an extra £9,000 over the Long-Range All-Wheel Drive car. It uses the same battery and motor configuration as that car, but gets a handful of extra features including an Acceleration Boost mode, unique badging, puddle lights and doorsills, and vegan suede trim for the interior.

We expect a new Model Y Performance to be revealed soon, with more powerful motors and a blistering 0-60mph time.

Find new and used deals for the Tesla Model Y on our sister site Auto Express