2025 Tesla Model Y Juniper arrives in March for $61,630 with Cybercab vibe

This marks the first major update of the Model Y since it debuted in 2019, prior to a market arrival just a year later. It’s noticeable thanks to exterior styling changes that seem to have been inspired by the Tesla Cybercab, including a chiseled front end, small, angular headlights, and a thin light bar running across the leading edge of the hood. At the back, a continuous light strip unites the third brake light with the taillights.

2025 Tesla Model Y (China spec)

Inside, Tesla is claiming similar changes to the recent Model 3 update, codenamed Highland, introduced in 2023. These include a quieter cabin, ambient lighting, and upgraded materials and new seat design. Unlike the updated Highland Model 3 that purged control stalks the Chinese-market revised Model Y seems to retain stalks on the steering column while U.S.-spec cars seemingly have no stalks according to photos and video. Heated and cooled seats are now available as well, along with an 8.0-inch touchscreen for rear-seat passengers. The split-folding rear seat is now power operated and the tailgate opening has been widened to make loading items easier. Tesla said there’s over 30 cubic feet of cargo space plus the hidden storage compartment beneath the cargo floor. The front trunk was redesigned, now features a drain plug, and Tesla said new accessories for the front trunk are in the works.

While not detailed here, the updated Model Y is expected to benefit from suspension changes similar to the refreshed Tesla Model 3, which we found produced a more refined ride. We also saw better fit and finish in the refreshed sedan, something that will hopefully apply to the Model Y update as well. Tesla said the updated Model Y is at least 20% quieter thanks to updated seals for better closures, acoustic glass, and new tire compounds along with the ability for the climate control system to run the blower at lower speeds.

2025 Tesla Model Y (China spec)

Tesla also increased range and made the Model Y quicker. Launch Series models, the only version initially sold in the U.S., will have an estimated 320 miles of range and go 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Tesla said the refreshed Model Y’s efficiency has improved by almost 10% thanks to a comprehensive update across the vehicle’s component set, though those updates haven’t been detailed. Today’s Long Range All-Wheel-Drive Model Y has 311 miles of range and does 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Top speed has been lowered 10 mph down to 125 mph with the Juniper update for the Launch Series model.

Tesla hasn’t detailed the U.S.-spec battery pack, but in China the updated Model Y Juniper uses a 62.5-kwh battery in base single-motor rear-wheel-drive form and a 78.4-kwh pack in dual-motor all-wheel-drive form. The Chinese-market car offers a base single-motor rear-wheel-drive version that now delivers 295 hp and gets from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds, compared to 5.9 seconds before. Today’s U.S.-spec version of this model has 337 miles of range and does 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds.

Tesla sales fell in 2024, and it likely continued to lose market share as more EV competitors arrived. The Model Y has been the automaker’s bestseller, and in 2023 it was the top-selling vehicle in the world, electric or not—so this update will be an important factor in arresting that decline.

This story has been updated with pricing and U.S.-spec information along with vehicle update specifics