Tesla Model Y review

The next-generation of the world’s best-selling car of 2024, if you translate the stats in a fairly specific way. And that’s best-selling car overall, not just electric.

But even if there’s a tiny bit of sleight-of-hand in the reporting structure to get the headline, the Tesla Model Y is still an absolute powerhouse when it comes to global sales. And it’s been heavily refreshed to keep it looking and feeling competitive with the avalanche of shiny new stuff from a growing army of competitors – especially China.

With the Y now being Tesla’s staple and best-selling model, it needed a shot in the metaphorical arm to keep up with, if not ahead of, the game.

Stats. We need some actual stats. 

Well, the Model Y sold 1.2 million units globally in 2023, was the best-selling car in Europe, sold 480k more units than in 2021 and 64 per cent more than in 2022, as well as being the best-seller in 160 other countries. That’s big numbers, and testament to Tesla knowing what people actually want. But to stay on that kind of sales wave needed a product that keeps improving – staying still is death – and the Y has been around since 2020.

That’s impressive, but what has actually changed?

Well, think of this as halfway between a heavy refresh and an all-new car. So you’ve got exterior changes like new treatments for front and rear bumpers, new wheels and lights (including a cute rear lightbar that’s actually viewed indirectly; it’s tucked up and reflects off a surface on the back of the car) as well as interior tweaks and several engineering changes related to suspension and efficiency, plus aerodynamics.

The motors, batteries and basic bits are pretty much the same as the outgoing ‘legacy’ Model Y though, with a gamut of efficiency and aero improvements accruing into solid gains for the car as a whole. But that isn’t much of a problem anyway, as Tesla has always been at the better end of that side of things, and as a company it quietly improves bits ’n’ bobs via over-the-air updates. A Tesla bought two years ago is usually not the same Tesla today.

The big news is really the slick new exterior look and the fact that the Model Y has addressed the criticisms of the old one, in that it was quite noisy and stiff-kneed. Part of that is a new die-cast rear floor, that culls the component count from 70 to… one. That’s a good thing when it comes to strength and complexity, and bodes well for structure.

What about the details?

Well, the car we get first off will be the Long Range All-Wheel drive car with a 75kWh (usable) battery and Launch Edition badges. All the rage with new car releases. But the things you notice after a few minutes probably mean more. There’s no badge on the nose – which makes it look clean, but also might fox those who aren’t car-obsessive.

There’s a new front bumper. The camera on the front has migrated into the centre (there are the usual pair at the top of the windscreen) to help with forward autonomy sensing functions and things like remote-control Summon features. And that gets a washer jet for obvious reasons.

But there’s a rear bumper that sticks out more, likely so that it can act more like a bumper. The previous Y had a flat-faced bottom that sacrificed more than it should in even relatively light rear impacts. And the new tailgate has squarer glass and a couple more shutlines – again probably so that it doesn’t all have to be replaced if knocked.

That’s important stuff to repairers and insurers and parts suppliers. It could bring down the cost-to-repair and therefore leasing costs. Then there are various interior changes and spec tweaks. Head over to the Interior tab for more on that. 

But does it feel much different to drive?

Bluntly, yes. The new Model Y is night and day better than the old one, and genuinely feels like a different car. More attention’s been lavished on general rigidity, damping and springs, better isolation and noise reduction. So the Model Y is quieter and more forgiving – exactly what you need from a family car. It’s not the most precise of things to drive, but it feels more luxurious and expensive; all because it rides with greater sophistication and clonks through potholes less, if at all. 

The steering is also better: not because it’s laser-precise, but because it’s progressive and calm, and the whole car brings no surprises. Again, reliable reactions and consistent grip is what owners will look for, rather than lairy oversteer or aggressive turn-in that makes a car feel ‘sporty’ but also puts your pets/children/jowls into compromising positions. But more of that in the Driving section.

Want to know what the best electric cars are? Click here for the top 20

A massive improvement to the Model Y from Tesla. It may have taken the company a while to react to the feedback, but they’ve got there in the end. The new Model Y is quieter, more efficient, calmer to drive and nicer to be in. The only issue is that where it was a good distance from the competition, it’s now just about keeping ahead of the curve, and the initial surprise and delight is gone.

It might look better, but there’s an element of placid androgeny to it now; it looks like a lot of other electric SUVs – and there’s no badge on the front to tell you what it is.

But there’s still Tesla’s Supercharger network to back up the ownership prospect, and buyers won’t be disappointed with the hardware, or the experience. A decent evolution rather than the revolution that might be needed next time.