New 2025 Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ breaks cover and breaks the internet – excitement at fever pitch

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025 Stephen Corby 2797 Views 0 Comments

If you’re feeling a powerful and positive disturbance in The Force – similar to that encountered when a new Apple product launches – and the desire to kneel down and bow in the direction of Elon Musk (try the sun, it’s usually shining out of his behind) – that’s because there’s a NEW TESLA to get very excited about.

No, it’s not the entirely new, smaller and more affordable Tesla the world has been holding its breath for, but it is a NEW TESLA MODEL Y, and our sources tell us that it features extensive re-engineering, improvements in refinement, efficiency, and safety.

This is the so-called Juniper update to the Tesla Model Y that went on sale here in 2022.

Most exciting of all, the New Model Y actually looks different, and undeniably better, with a slicker front end and huge new light bars on nose and tail. Apparently it takes styling cues from the Cybertruck, but fortunately I can’t see them.

2025 Tesla Model Y 'Juniper' update — 2025 Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ update with vast new rear light bar shining

As someone very close to the Tesla company but not officially from there told us, on background: “New Model Y introduces an updated exterior and interior, better handling, improved aerodynamics, superior ride comfort and daily functionalities. Every detail of the New Model Y has been designed with efficiency in mind, ensuring that each aspect of the vehicle is optimised for a seamless and enjoyable driving experience.”

Get. Very. Excited.

The New Y builds on the improvements recently seen on the upgraded Model 3 (codenamed Highland) and Tesla promises not just that new and improved look but “better handling, improved aerodynamics, superior ride comfort and daily functionalities”, whatever they are.

Exciting updates include a refined interior with customisable wrap-around interior lighting, soft-touch finishes, a 15.4-inch touchscreen and ventilated front seats.

In the rear you’ll find power-reclining second-row seats that fold flat, plus an 8-inch Bluetooth-enabled rear touchscreen, which will thrill children everywhere.

The New Model Y also scores improved Acoustic Glass, which “keeps road noise out and your music in”.

New Tesla Model Y gets rear screen for the kids

And in terms of driving pleasure, the New Model Y features updated suspension that offers smoother handling, improved comfort, more responsive steering, and a quieter ride. Compared to the 2024 Model Y, the new car’s ability to absorb bumps has improved by 51 per cent “making every drive a comfortable experience for both driver and passengers”.

Futhermore: “The overhaul of ride and handling hardware results in a 22% reduction in road noise, a 20% reduction in impact noise and a 20% reduction in wind noise, making new Model Y a class leader.”

And there’s even a new colour option, which will make a pleasant change from the Teslas we’re used to. It’s called Glacier Blue and it’s “a cool shade of blue that mimics the hues of ice and snow found in glaciers”.

Tech nerds should note that the New Model Y sets a record for the lowest level of brake drag achieved on any Tesla vehicle, “helping to unlock more regenerative capability and resulting in an estimated 5 per cent range increase with the same battery energy”.

And Tesla Spotters will be chuffed to hear that thew car gets a precision-engineered indicator stalk, “thoughtfully refined based on valuable customer feedback”. Which is another way of saying that people really hated it when they took the stalk away from the Model 3 and put the indicator buttons on the steering wheel. Baseball caps off to them for listening to their customers.

One important feature Australians who don’t love burning themselves on the glass roofs of their Teslas will appreciate is that the Model Y’s new glass roof and windshield coatings “now reflect 7 times more solar energy, resulting in quieter fan operation, faster cooling times and improved occupant comfort”.

And finally, one more for the nerds, the New Model Y also scores a new front camera under the front bumper, allowing drivers a better view of the front of the vehicle when parking.

“Additionally, the camera includes a self-cleaning function, which uses a water jet to keep the lens clean.” Just wow.

In Australia, first deliveries of the new 2025 Model Y arrives in May in a new Launch Series limited release spec, that includes all paint options and 20-inch Helix 2.0 wheels as standard, as well as exclusive Launch Series badging on the rear liftgate, puddle lamps, doorsill plates and more.

And the cost is $63,400 for the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, which continues with a single electric motor claimed to take it to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Range from the circa-60kWh LFP battery has been extended to 466km (up from 455km).

The 2025 Model Y Long Range Launch Series is $73,400 also includes Acceleration Boost as standard, lowering the 0-100km/h claim to 4.3 seconds.

The Model Y LR also gets a front electric motor and larger NMC battery that extends the claimed range to 551km (up from 514km).

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Stephen Corby

Stephen is a former editor of both Wheels and Top Gear Australia magazines and has been writing about cars since Henry Ford was a boy. Initially an EV sceptic, he has performed a 180-degree handbrake turn and is now a keen advocate for electrification and may even buy a Porsche Taycan one day, if he wins the lottery. Twice.