Tesla Model Y Juniper: Everything We Know About The 2025 Facelift

Tesla’s Model Y isn’t just a hit, it’s a phenomenon. Consider that in 2023, it didn’t just dominate the EV segment, it topped global car sales outright, shifting a staggering 1.23 million units, according to JD Power. To put that into perspective, it outsold long-standing juggernauts like Toyota’s RAV4 (1.03 million) and the Corolla (1.01 million), relegating them to second and third place respectively.

Not bad for a five-year-old design that, let’s be honest, is starting to look a bit tired. Enter the Model Y codenamed project “Juniper,” a long-awaited refresh aimed at keeping Tesla’s golden child ahead of the pack.

Fresh Face, Familiar Silhouette

Launched in 2019 as a slightly taller, longer and more family-friendly sibling to the equally popular Model 3, the Model Y has enjoyed plenty of incremental improvements over the years, but its exterior hasn’t seen any changes. The Juniper update aims to freshen up its looks, bringing sharper styling inspired by last year’s updated Model 3 Highland. Tesla isn’t rocking the boat too much as the familiar egg-like silhouette remains, but spy shots and leaks suggest notable updates to both the front and rear.

Illustrations: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops

Camouflaged prototypes and leaked images have offered clues about Tesla’s design direction. Early test cars teased some daring ideas, including split headlights and a Cybertruck-inspired full-width LED light bar. However, more recent leaks suggest Tesla is gravitating toward a cleaner, more understated aesthetic.

In particular, our exclusive rendering draws on a leaked infotainment display image from a prototype spotted in China. It showcases a redesigned front end with slimmer headlights, a cleaner—albeit more generic—nose, and a sculpted bumper devoid of side intakes, all borrowing heavily from the updated Model 3. If this is indeed the final design (and we strongly suspect it is), it’s a sharper, more refined evolution. That said, it still sticks to the same old “Model 3 after a helium party” aesthetic, complete with its puffer-fish-style greenhouse. Some things, it seems, are just part of the Tesla DNA.

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Moving to the rear, more changes are expected. A full-width LED taillight bar with a frosted finish will replace the existing design, while Tesla’s badge will give way to “TESLA” lettering, a trend we’ve seen across other models. The panoramic roof, a signature feature of the Model Y, will be maintained enhancing its light-filled cabin. Spy shots also suggest the rear license plate holder may move to the bumper, streamlining the tailgate for a cleaner overall appearance.

Practical Efficiency Gains

Besides its cleaner and sharper styling, the updated design is expected to deliver aerodynamic improvements, boosting efficiency, much like the related Model 3, which saw its drag coefficient drop from 0.225 to 0.219.

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There’s also speculation about a larger 95 kWh battery pack, which could extend the Model Y’s range beyond the current 81 kWh version. However, even if this rumor proves true—and that’s a big if—it may be limited to certain markets, such as China, while other regions could retain the existing options.

Similarly, the electric motors are expected to carry over from the current model, with outputs believed to be around 295 hp (220 kW / 299PS) for the Standard RWD variant and 384 hp (286 kW / 389 hp) for the dual-motor Long Range AWD, though no one really knows for sure as Tesla doesn’t communicate trivial things like specifications. The Long Range variant is also anticipated to offer a paid Acceleration Boost option, a feature Tesla has already begun rolling out for the updated Model 3 in select markets. Again, no official figures but this upgrade usually brings the LR very close to the Performance variant.

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Performance And Rumors Of Plaid

The Standard and Long Range versions of the Model Y will be joined by a Performance trim, mirroring the lineup of the Model 3. In its current configuration, the Model Y Performance is estimated to deliver 456 hp, but it may adopt the newer dual motors from the Model 3 Performance, which would raise output to 510 hp.

With the current Model Y Performance already clocking a 0–60 mph (96 km/h) time of 3.5 seconds, the potential upgrade could shave off a few tenths, nudging it closer to the 3.0-second mark. However, as with many Tesla stats, these figures come with an asterisk—namely, the inclusion of a rollout.

Visually, the Performance variant is likely to distinguish itself with a slightly more aggressive body kit featuring a vented front bumper, rear spoiler, red brake calipers, and unique wheels (hopefully equipped with all-season tires) paired with a lowered stance. An adaptive suspension system and, perhaps, a dedicated track mode could also be part of the package.

As for the rumors of an even more powerful Model Y Plaid, we’re not biting. While Tesla could theoretically produce an absurdly fast version of its family-oriented crossover, such a model feels more suited to the Model 3 than the practical, family-focused Model Y. And let’s be totally honest—a 510-hp Performance variant is already more than enough for most of you out there.

Improved Interior Yet Divisive Changes

The interior of a prototype Model Y Juniper caught in China (Photo Weibo)

Interior updates for the Model Y are set to prioritize better materials and improved build quality, addressing criticisms while aiming to rival the increasingly feature-rich Chinese EV competition. Tesla is also expected to refine ride comfort, handling, and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) with targeted chassis and suspension adjustments. As usual, the recently refreshed Model 3 provides a solid blueprint for what to expect.

Recent spy shots reveal a new design for the steering wheel, an improved infotainment touchscreen display with thinner bezels, and carbon-style trim on the center console – just like on the Model 3 Highland. However, some functional changes will surely prove divisive. Tesla plans to replace the traditional wiper stalk with a fully automatic system, move the turn signal controls to steering wheel buttons, and relocate gear selection to the touchscreen, with additional touch buttons placed behind the rearview mirror on the roof.

Other upgrades include multi-color ambient lighting, dual wireless charging pads, and improved front seats with heating and ventilation sourced from the Model 3. Rear passengers will also benefit from a heated bench and an 8-inch touchscreen for climate and media controls. While these changes aren’t groundbreaking, they bring the Model Y more in line with competitors that are increasingly offering premium cabin features as standard.

China’s Six-Seater Model Y?

A few months ago, reports surfaced that Tesla might be developing a six-seater Model Y specifically for the Chinese market. This version is said to feature a longer wheelbase and a more spacious cabin compared to the three-row U.S.-spec model, catering to the growing demand for roomier family-oriented vehicles in China.

Finally, Tesla may enhance the misleadingly named self-driving capabilities of the Model Y with the Juniper update, potentially incorporating new sensors and more advanced software.

When To Expect It

New sighting of model y juniper !? pic.twitter.com/1EXPdLEKoD

— BensonTYC (@bensontsao0214) November 7, 2024

According to some sources in China, limited production of the Model Y Juniper has quietly begun at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, with full-scale manufacturing expected to ramp up soon. The same sources suggest that Tesla has restricted smartphone use within the facility to minimize the risk of early leaks. However, Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla won’t launch the facelifted Model Y in 2024, hinting at a 2025 debut.

It’s possible that Tesla may prioritize the Chinese market initially, with North America, Europe, and other regions following later. Much of the timeline could also depend on Tesla’s ability to clear out existing inventory of the current Model Y before making room for the updated version. In any case, a global market launch is anticipated sometime in the first half of 2025.

Key rivals of the Tesla Model Y in the US market include the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, VW ID.4, Nissan Ariya, and in the near-future, the Rivian R2.

Should I Buy The Current Model Y Or Wait For Juniper?

That’s the big question popping up every 2.3 minutes on Tesla forums and Reddit threads these days. If you ask us, it really comes down to three key considerations:

A) Are you willing to risk losing the $7,500 federal tax credit, which could disappear when the new administration takes over in January, along with current offers such as 0% APR for 60 months (with 20% down for qualified buyers) and steep discounts on demo cars and existing inventory?

B) Can you hold out for a few months (potentially even more than six) for the Model Y Juniper to arrive in the U.S.?

C) Do the updates—including controversial ones like the turn signal buttons and gear shifter placement—feel significant enough to justify waiting?

If you answered “no” to at least two of those questions, you might be better off buying now. Otherwise, waiting could make more sense as you can compare the two and see which one you like more, possibly scoring an even better discount on leftover pre-facelift models.

Additional reporting by John Halas

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