Tesla Model Y price shock! Regular 2025 models $4500 cheaper, making life tougher for Kia, BYD, XPeng, Deepal, Leapmotor

March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 Toby Hagon 1106 Views 0 Comments model y, Tesla

Tesla Model Y now $4500 cheaper than Launch Series models
Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive priced from $58,900, Long Range from $68,900, each before on-road costs
Adjustable regenerative braking returns to Model Y
Better performance for Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range
2025 Model Y RWD $3000 more expensive than 2024 model
2025 Model Y Long Range $1000 cheaper than 2024 model

The Tesla Model Y just got cheaper – a full $4500 cheaper.

Now that the limited run Model Y Launch Series has all but sold out, Tesla has trimmed some of the standard equipment and sharpened the pencil on its top selling car – and the car that still leads the EV sales race.

Now priced from $58,900 plus on-road costs for the regular version of the Rear-Wheel Drive, the Model Y is $4500 cheaper than the Launch Series version of the heavily updated electric SUV, codenamed Juniper.

The Model Y Long Range – with two electric motors, a bigger battery pack and more equipment – sells from $68,900 plus on-road costs.

First deliveries of each – which have styling cues inspired by the radical Cybertruck ute – are scheduled for late May or early June 2025.

Equipment that’s missing from the regular models compared with the Launch Series includes puddle lights under the side mirrors as well as Launch Series badging, scuff plates and the bezel surrounding the wireless phone chargers.

The regular models also revert to 19-inch wheels as standard with 20s as an option. And the cabin trim is now a more basic flecked grey pattern rather than vegan suede of the Launch models.

While the Launch Series was the same price in any colour, buyers of the regular Model Y will also have to pay between $2300 and $2600 if they want any colour other than white. The available colours are Pearl White Multi-Coat, Stealth Grey, Quicksilver, Ultra Red and the new Glacier Blue.

And the Acceleration Boost offered for the Long Range – it was standard on the Launch Series LR version – is now optional.

Compared with the 2024 model it replaces, though the updated 2025 Model Y gets plenty of additional gear.

That includes electrically folding rear seats, an 8-inch rear infotainment screen, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and more upmarket trim throughout.

Tesla has also added detail to the driving improvements of the 2025 Model Y, with ride quality high on the list. New frequency selective dampers – similar to those used on the updated Tesla Model 3 are claimed to “smoother handling, added comfort, more responsive steering and a quieter ride”.

Acoustic glass all around (with double glazing on the doors) is said to reduce wind noise by 20 percent. There’s also a claimed 22 percent reduction in road noise and 20 percent reduction in impact (suspension) noise.

There’s also more performance.

The Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive accelerates to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds, a full second quicker than before. Efficiency improvements also mean its range has increased from a WLTP claim of 455km to 466km.

The Model Y Long Range reaches 100km/h from rest in 4.8 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the old model. The Acceleration Boost option – a software update – lowers the 0-100km/h time by 0.1 seconds to 4.3 seconds.

Those into their audio systems will be disappointed to hear the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive no longer gets the premium audio system.

That means only nine speakers and no subwoofer.

The Premium system reserved for the Long Range now gets two additional speakers, for 15 in total plus a subwoofer.

Compared with the regular Model Y it replaces, the updated Model Y RWD $3000 more expensive.

However, the Model Y Long Range is $1000 cheaper, suggesting Tesla is keen to boost sales of the mid-level variant; in 2024 17 percent of the Model Ys sold in Australia were the Long Range (79 percent were Rear-Wheel Drives).

And there are now heated seats in only the outer seat positions, with the centre rear seat missing out.

Those prices also put the Model Y in the mix with mid-sized electric rivals, including the Kia EV5 ($56,770), BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990), XPeng G6 ($54,800), Deepal S07 ($53,900) and Leapmotor C10 ($45,888) (the EV5 is drive-away, all other prices exclusive of on-road costs).

As for the 2025 Tesla Model Y Performance, nothing has been announced yet.

Assuming it follows a similar path to the Model 3 – the sister car to the Model Y – we’d expect details in the next few months.

2025 Tesla Model Y regular series specifications and pricing

Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive
Price: $58,900 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, mid-sized SUV, rear-wheel drive
Range: 466km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 60kWh (lithium iron phosphate)
Battery warranty: 8 years, 160,000km (guarantee of 70% of original capacity)
Motor: 1 rear
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 175kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 5.9 seconds

Tesla Model Y Long Range
Price: $68,900 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, mid-sized SUV, rear-wheel drive
Range: 551km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 80kWh (nickel manganese cobalt)
Battery warranty: 8 years, 192,000km (guarantee of 70% of original capacity)
Motor: 1 front, 1 rear
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 250kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds (4.3 seconds with optional acceleration boost)