To clarify, the Tesla Model Y in 2024 outsold everything else. Petrol, diesel, plug-in, hybrid, you name it. 1.2 million units found homes across 160 countries.

But with great success comes great scrutiny. And while the original Model Y may have conquered spreadsheets, it wasn’t exactly winning beauty pageants or refinement contests. Noisy, a bit stiff-legged, and minimalism that bordered on monastic; it wasn’t everyone’s cup of soy milk latte.

So, is the 2025 Model Y just another facelift for Tesla to keep the sales chart happy, or has it truly evolved into something more polished?

Sharper outside

The Model Y has now been treated to what we’d call a “heavy refresh”. Gone are the koi fish looks of the old model, replaced with styling cues adapted from the new Model 3 and Cybertruck.

Improved suspension, slicker aero, softer ride, better sound insulation and (finally) a rear floor cast as a single piece. Fewer parts, more strength. Good stuff.

Kinder and gentler on the inside

If Apple ever made a living room, it would look like the inside of the new Model Y. Sparse, sleek, and determined to remove any evidence of human touch. There’s still a single screen that does everything, which may annoy traditionalists who just want a knob or button for the air-conditioning.

New materials and textures try to inject warmth, but it’s still very much an acquired taste. You don’t sit in a Model Y and fall in love. You sit in it and go, “Oh. That’s efficient.”

That said, front seats are now heated, cooled, and electric as standard. Rear passengers get longer seat cushions and their own heaters.

The glass roof has a new coating and is better at shielding from the sun, and there are now lightning-fast wireless chargers and enough centre console storage to lose your gym membership card forever.

Still the king of practicality

Tesla didn’t mess with what works. The Model Y’s calling card has always been its usability, and that continues in 2025. You’ve got room for five adults, and kids in the back can now be entertained by an 8-inch touchscreen mounted between the front seats, ideal for air-con control or an impromptu gaming session.

The rear seats recline (a bit) and fold flat at the touch of a button from the boot. Speaking of which, boot space is immense: 854 litres under the parcel shelf, expanding to 2,138 litres with the seats down. That’s enough for IKEA flat-packs, groceries, and your in-laws’ luggage all at once.

Don’t forget the extra “frunk” too, the front boot that adds another 117 litres of usable space, now with a drain plug. Handy if you’ve got muddy boots… or a very messy picnic.

She ain’t quick, but she’s smooth

The biggest update to the Model Y is the overall driving experience. Gone is the stiff-legged awkwardness of the earlier car, replaced by a ride that is actually comfortable. Tesla’s gone to town reworking the suspension geometry, dialling back the twitchiness, and smoothing out the bumps with the grace of a seasoned butler carrying tea on cobbled streets.

It’s still no featherweight, tipping the scales at around two tonnes, but the mass is managed well. Steering has been slowed down a touch to keep things calm, tyres are now bespoke for the car, and there’s proper sound deadening all over. Even the wheel arches have been told to keep it down.

You glide instead of crash over potholes now. You cruise instead of clatter. It finally feels like the premium family SUV it always wanted to be.

Yes, you can spring for the AWD Launch Edition and disappear over the horizon, but the Singapore-specific RWD 110 variant is just nice for our roads. 62.5 kWh gives you easily over 400km of useable range, and 350Nm of torque is plenty for getting off the line quickly.

It’s fast, but responsible. A family SUV that behaves like one, unless provoked.

It has grown up

The new Model Y is quieter, more efficient, calmer to drive and nicer to be in. And that about sums it up.

What we have here is a thoughtful evolution of a car that already did the basics well. It’s not showy. It’s not trying to be a sports car in SUV clothing. It’s just better. Sure, it’s lost a bit of its “wow” factor; the shock and awe of early Teslas has given way to a quiet maturity.

But it’s still backed by that unmatched Supercharger network, and it still delivers the kind of all-round excellence that explains those eye-watering sales numbers.

In the end, the new Model Y reminds you why Tesla is still very much in charge.

Technical Specifications

Tesla Model Y

Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 110 kW (148 bhp)
Torque: 350 Nm
Gearbox: Single Speed (A)
Acceleration: 9.6 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Top Speed: 201 km/h
Battery Capacity: 62.5 kWh
Drive Range: 466 km
Energy Consumption: 6.5 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$202,976 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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For the first time in Asia-Pacific, the New Model Y is being showcased at ION Orchard, giving Singaporeans an exclusive first look at Tesla’s latest iteration of its game-changing electric SUV. 

Borrowing styling cues from the futuristic Cybertruck and Cybercab, the refreshed Model Y now sports a bold new cross-car lightbar up front, a redesigned tailgate, and an all-new rear light bar.

And if you manage to get your hands on the Launch Series edition, you’ll be treated to exclusive design elements, including:  

• A custom Launch Series badge on the rear  
• Puddle light projection and unique doorsill plates
• A redesigned charging console with silver accents
• All-black vegan suede interior trim    

Engineers say the cabin is noticeably quieter, thanks to double-layer glass on all windows, which helps keep road and wind noise to a minimum.

The panoramic glass roof now features silver-coated glass, designed to reduce UV rays and heat, ensuring the cabin stays cool and comfortable even under Singapore’s tropical sun.

For aerodynamics and efficiency, Tesla has also introduced newly designed wheels that reduce rolling resistance, a rear diffuser that optimises airflow, and improved rear-wheel downforce.

Tesla’s minimalist cabin design is complemented by some high-tech refinements, borrowed from the best-selling Model 3. Ventilated front seats are also fitted here, to keep things cool in Singapore’s heat.

A second-row display for passengers, offering climate and entertainment controls, plus the car features one-touch rear seat controls, allowing passengers to adjust or fold the seats at the push of a button.

As always, the Tesla software ecosystem remains best-in-class, with over-the-air (OTA) updates ensuring that the Model Y continues to evolve and improve even after you drive it home.

The New Model Y retains its signature blend of practicality and performance, with two variants available:

Model Y (Rear-Wheel Drive)

• 466 km range (WLTP)  
• 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds  
• Top speed: 201 km/h  
• Starting price: SGD$106,502 (without COE)  

Model Y Long Range (All-Wheel Drive)  

• 551 km range (WLTP)
• 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds (Launch Series exclusive)
• Top speed: 201 km/h
• Starting price: SGD$130,626 (without COE) 

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