Comparing the two Teslas: What current owners will notice that’s different with the 2025 Tesla Model Y

Thinking of upgrading from the original Tesla Model Y to the new 2025 version?

There have been changes big and small.

Current Tesla Model Y drivers will notice a lot more than the new look with the 2025 update to the Model Y.

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Here’s everything you’ll spot after jumping out of an original Model Y into the new one.

And here’s our first drive review of Juniper for you to consider as well:

2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range Review: Why Elon Musk’s antics shouldn’t distract you from how good the Juniper update is

The seats

There’s not only a new covering on the Model Y’s seats – it’s still fake leather but now has perforations – but the front seats themselves are new.

There’s less plushness to the bolstering with a more structured seat design that provides better support. 

The ride

This is the big one. The way the Model Y deals with bumps is far more forgiving and composed, making things more comfortable, whether you’re on a freeway or battling the suburbs.

It’s also quieter – in part because of the new soft finishes and materials on the doors and dash – making for a nicely hushed cabin.

The indicators

Thankfully the Model Y doesn’t get the steering indicator wheel buttons of the 2024 Model 3 that have been so controversial.

Instead, it sticks with a stalk to the left of the steering wheel to activate the indicators.

But that stalk has been redesigned with a more elegant look and classier metal feel.

Plus the stalk no longer has a two-stage action. Instead of activating it half way for lane changes or all the way for turning at intersections, you now leave part of the decision making to the car.

Activate the indicators and the exterior cameras try to work out when to turn the indicator off, looking at lane markings and steering input.

That functionality has been available in the Model 3 and Model Y since 2024 as part of a software update, but there’s no longer the choice of having that semi-automated system or a more traditional driver-selected on-off. In the new Model Y you can only have that semi-automated system.

It got it right about 90 percent of the time for us, but occasionally we had to self cancel it.

Touchscreen to switch from Drive to Reverse

The right stalk is no longer used to select Drive or Reverse. That’s because there is no right-hand stalk on the steering wheel.

Instead a slider bar appears on the right-hand side of the 15.4-inch touchscreen, allowing you to slide up for Drive or down for Reverse. Push in the middle for Park.

It works fine and you get used to it quickly.

Regenerative braking

The new Model Y sees the reintroduction of driver-adjustable regenerative braking.

In 2020 Tesla defaulted to a more aggressive level of regen. So when you lifted off the throttle it was like pushing on the brake firmly.

There’s still that high level of regen – known as Standard – but drivers can also now choose Reduced. It still decelerates, in turn turning some of that movement energy back into electricity. But it’s a lot more relaxed and easy to live with.

Hopefully that’s a software update that makes its way across the Model 3 and Model Y families.

A new steering wheel

The steering wheel feels the same on the outside as the previous one but looks different on the inside.

There’s no stylised T logo but instead Tesla is spelled out across the wheel.

Some of the buttons are also different; the high beam and windscreen wiper lights are now on the left, for example.

And whereas you previously activated cruise control from the right-hand steering wheel stalk, you now do it by pressing the right-hand thumb wheel on the steering wheel.

The glovebox

You still open the glovebox by pushing a virtual button on the screen, but it has a different latching mechanism that changes how it closes.

Push the glovebox up to shut it and a magnet sucks it up for the last part of the movement.

It means less effort and a more precise action.

The horn

OK, so it arrived a little earlier than this update but it is a notable change for drivers of earlier Model Ys.

Tesla has ditched the horn and now uses a speaker to create a horn-like noise. It’s the same speaker used for the pedestrian warning system and the Boombox feature that allows you to play music or use the car as a megaphone when it’s parked.

There’s perhaps less angriness to the noise of the horn – but it still sounds like a horn.