TESLA MODEL Y

Fresh look, new features for world’s best-selling car

- ILIYA VERPRAET

Shall we talk about you-know-who? Actually, let’s not. Whatever you think of the company’s figurehead, the Tesla Model Y is an influential car that has topped a number of best-seller lists over the past few years. When such a significant car gets a major update, we're curious what it’s like, and we assume you are too.

The Model Y has been around since 2020 (or 2021 in Europe). It getting facelifted after five years could almost make you believe that Tesla is a normal car company. The car has had various updates to its battery and specification in smaller model-year updates, but this is one that you can actually see.

The headline news of the Model Y ‘Juniper’ is the styling changes and some comfort upgrades.

At the front, there’s a Cybertruck-esque light bar, with the headlights moving to separate units beneath, while at the rear the quite rounded tailgate has become more angular. There’s a new light bar (unusually using indirect light) and a slightly more pronounced lip spoiler, which apparently produces some more downforce to keep the car planted despite the softer suspension.

That’s the other headline change: in response to criticism from anyone who has ever driven a Model Y, the suspension has been made more compliant, the steering has been made less hyperactive and there’s now better noise insulation with acoustic glass.