2025 Tesla Model Y: Everything we know so far about the upgraded rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV5 and Toyota bZ4X

The Tesla Model Y electric SUV has been a roaring success. It’s the world’s and Australia’s best selling battery-powered car by a wide margin.

In 2023, Australians bought more than 28,000 of the electric mid-size SUV and this year it is on track to beat that number with more than 8000 finding a new home through the first four months this year.

Its stablemate Model 3 sedan received some pretty significant updates late last year before going on sale at the start of this year and it's likely the Model Y is due for a major facelift too.

This is what we know so far about the updated Tesla Model Y.

What will power the 2025 Tesla Model Y

It’s likely the Model Y will use the same batteries and electric motors as the current version.

Tesla is notoriously mysterious with the mechanical details of its vehicles so we never know exactly what’s underneath, but we know the rough numbers.

The Standard Range will use a circa-60kWh battery while Long Range and Performance variants will be fitted with a roughly 80kWh pack.

The Model 3 – which shares many components with the Model Y – had its aerodynamics finessed to make it as slippery as possible. 

The Model Y would be inline for similar tweaks that will help extend its range.

Expect improvements in driving range of the Model Y Standard from 455km to 470km and the Long range from 533km to about 550km.

Tesla doesn’t quote power outputs either but our understanding is the current Standard Range uses a single rear mounted motor making about 220kW and 420Nm sent to the rear wheels.

Long Range variants add another motor on the front for all-wheel drive, which lifts outputs to about 286kW and 510Nm reportedly.

These figures are unlikely to change.

Improved suspension is on the cards, too. The Model 3 scored revised bushings, new front knuckles, frequency-selective dampers and better body baffling to improve the ride quality and reduce noise.

Tesla will change the steering ratio to help improve how the car drives, too.

Expect the Performance variant (imaged here) to follow the lead of the model 3, with a more significant overhaul to its driving dynamics with adaptive dampers and aero changes likely.

What will the 2025 Tesla Model Y look like?

Expect similar styling tweaks to the upgraded Model 3 due to the pair’s similarities.

This means new slick, thinner headlights and a sharper looking front bumper with added aerodynamic features as seen in the render at the top of the story.

There should be T-E-S-L-A lettering on the tailgate and revised rear bumpers and tail lights. 

The overall silhouette will remain the same as that egg-shape is what gives the car an aerodynamic advantage.

It’ll likely have a new rear diffuser and lower rolling resistance tyres to again improve driving range.

Inside there might be a few changes, too.

Tesla deleted the indicator and gear selector stalk from the steering wheel in the updated Model 3 so those changes will probably make it to the Model Y.

Expect indicators to be operated via a button on the steering wheel and the gear selector moved to the central multimedia screen.

An eight-inch touchscreen is likely to be added to the second row at the back of the centre console to access rear seat climate controls and entertainment functions.

Interior ambient lighting with up to 200 colours is on the cards, too.

How much will the 2025 Tesla Model Y cost?

This seems to change month by month. Tesla has dropped the price of the current Model Y three times since the start of April and it's anyone’s guess if the company will up it or drop it again in the short, medium or long term

Currently the Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant is priced at $55,900 (before on-road costs) and the Long Range AWD and Performance AWD start at $69,900 and $82,990.

Expect a price rise of a few thousand across the range initially at least.

When will the 2026 Tesla Model Y go on sale?

It is likely the Model Y will follow the same path as the Model 3 with a reveal later this year. Expect the new version to go on sale at the start of 2025 for the Standard and Long Range variants.

The Model Y Performance should arrive by the middle of 2025.