Tesla’s long-awaited 2025 Model Y Juniper was shown off today on its Chinese website for customers. The facelifted SUV has been the subject of rumors for quite some time, with camouflaged prototypes seen undergoing testing in real-world conditions. The styling updates are akin to those introduced on the updated Model 3 sedan last year, though there are some notable differences. The Model Y SUV, which is Tesla’s best-selling model, has finally come out after getting new features and a new look to stay competitive with other electric cars on the market. The sister model, the Model 3 car, got a makeover for the 2024 model year, so we’ve been excited about this one, which has been code-named Juniper. It was quietly and unobtrusively shown off on Tesla’s China customer website. The updated Model Y has a much more appealing look than its predecessor. The SUV’s front bumper has been smoothed out, and the new headlights are squintier. There is also a new light bar that goes across the whole front trunk lid. A full-width red taillight lights up the back of the Model Y’s hatchback in the same way. The Model Y still has an odd height and swoopy proportions, with only minor design changes. Also, improvements had to be made inside, and the pictures show that the Model Y has many of the same changes as the Model 3. These improvements include a display for people in the back seats, a new steering wheel with turn signals that you can press, and the choice of ventilated front seats. The screen on the back can be used for both entertainment (games and movies) and climate control. Even though Tesla’s Chinese website doesn’t say it directly, the new Model Y has the same extra sound-deadening features and better materials as the Model 3. These changes make the inside experience a lot better because we drove the upgraded Model 3. The Model 3 impressed us so much that we put it on our list of the Ten Best Cars for 2025. The company may sell a different model in the U.S. than the one it sells in China because the U.S. details have not been announced yet. The Performance trim isn’t available in China, but that model is popular in North America, so we think Tesla will want to keep it available. Although the exact price hasn’t been released yet, we don’t think it will increase much from the current model’s MSRP of $44,630. However, we expect to learn more about the updated SUV when the 2025 Model Y comes out in North America in a few months.
