Welcome to our hands‑on Tesla Model Y Juniper launch drive – the definitive Tesla Model Y 2025 review and the perfect starting point if you’re eyeing a Tesla Model Y lease. When the keys to the refreshed crossover were handed to me at Bicester Motion’s slick spring event, I expected incremental polish rather than wholesale change. After all, the outgoing Model Y had already become Britain’s best‑selling EV. Yet just a few yards into my first loop around Bicester’s perimeter roads it was obvious that Tesla’s "Juniper" refresh goes far deeper than fresh LED strips and software tweaks. The new car is quieter, smoother and markedly more upmarket than the version many of us have been recommending for years. Later, pushing a Long‑Range AWD example hard through the Craner Curves at Donington Park, the upgrades proved more than skin‑deep – this family crossover now flows in a way its predecessor never quite managed.
What’s changed? A quick recap
Tesla calls the 2025 update a "redesign from end to end", and for once that isn’t marketing hyperbole. Up front, a Cybertruck‑inspired full‑width light bar now sits above slimmer main headlamp modules. Subtle reshaping of the bumpers, wheel‑arch lips and rear spoiler lowers drag and adds a useful smidge of downforce, helping eke out a WLTP range of up to 387 miles in the Long‑Range RWD despite carrying the same 83 kWh battery as before.
Underneath, revised springs, dampers and bushings are paired with slower‑ratio steering (now 2.4 turns lock‑to‑lock rather than a hyperactive 2.0), addressing long‑standing complaints about fidgety ride quality and nervous turn‑in.
Inside, a raft of detail tweaks lift perceived quality several notches. There’s thicker acoustic glass all round, richer ambient lighting, plus a welcome splash of soft‑touch materials on door cards and the redesigned centre console. Rear passengers finally gain their own 8‑inch touchscreen for climate and media – a small feature that makes a big difference on family trips.
Design & efficiency: slippery is the new bold
Photos barely do justice to the new Model Y’s tidier proportions. Narrower headlights, crisper creases and that uninterrupted rear light strip give the car a purposeful, almost Sportback stance. The drag coefficient drops to a claimed 0.23, marginally beating the already‑svelte outgoing model. On our mixed 45‑mile launch route, the Long‑Range AWD returned 4.0 miles/kWh displayed efficiency – bang on the figures achieved by the smaller Model 3 and comfortably ahead of rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Those aero gains matter on the motorway, too. At an indicated 70 mph the cabin is now conversation‑quiet; only a distant rustle from the frameless mirrors intrudes. Credit goes to the aforementioned glazing, but also to new under‑floor acoustic panels that block tyre roar far more effectively than before.
Cabin & tech: minimalism matured
If you’ve sat in any recent Tesla the basic layout will feel familiar: a 15.4‑inch landscape touchscreen does almost everything, from mirror adjustment to engaging drive. But the facelift layers in tactile niceties that make daily life sweeter. Seat bases are longer and now offer ventilation as well as heating, while the vegan upholstery carries an attractive cross‑hatch embossing. Even mundane touches – the return of a physical indicator stalk and a proper glove‑box release button – show Tesla is listening to owner feedback.
Software remains a highlight. The navigation’s live Supercharger availability overlay still beats anything in the aftermarket, and you can now pair two phones simultaneously over Bluetooth – handy when swapping drivers on a road‑trip. Yes, there’s still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but with native apps for Spotify, Apple Music and even Zoom most people won’t notice the absence.
On the road: from good to genuinely enjoyable
The headline suspension revisions pay dividends the moment you leave the car park. Where the pre‑facelift car clattered over expansion joints, the 2025 Y breathes with the road, rounding off sharper hits without sacrificing body control. Steering weight is lighter at parking speeds, and the cameras remain industry‑leading.
Set the adaptive cruise to an indicated 70 mph and the Model Y settles into a relaxed lope. Tesla’s basic Autopilot suite now relays speed‑limit data more accurately, and lane‑keeping interventions feel less grabby than before. The Long‑Range RWD’s official 353‑mile WLTP figure feels plausible; after 150 miles of mixed A‑roads and M1 cruising our test car still showed 52 % remaining.
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Practicality & running costs: the numbers still stack up
One area Tesla wisely left alone is packaging. The boot swallows a gigantic 854 litres under the parcel shelf and a scarcely believable 2,138 litres seats‑flat, plus a sizeable “frunk” that easily accommodates charging cables and a weekend rucksack. Rear leg‑room remains generous, and because the bench sits high passengers enjoy a knees‑down seating position that rivals can’t match.
Efficiency improvements mean lower running costs, but Tesla has also trimmed list prices: the Standard Range RWD now starts at £44,990, under‑cutting premium rivals with similar real‑world range. Better still, DC charging peaks at 250 kW, adding roughly 165 miles in 15 minutes on a V4 Supercharger. Factor in Tesla’s ever‑expanding charging network – over 60,000 stalls worldwide, many in the UK – and the case for long‑distance ownership is stronger than ever.
Living with it: small flaws, huge appeal
Are there downsides? Only a few. The ride is still firmer than a Skoda Enyaq on 19‑inch wheels, and some may bemoan the continued absence of an instrument binnacle. Tesla’s short options list also means paying £2,600 if you want Ultra Red paint, and “Full Self‑Driving” remains an expensive tease until UK legislation catches up.
Yet viewed as a holistic package – space, speed, tech, efficiency and now polish – the 2025 Tesla Model Y Juniper sets a new benchmark for affordable premium EVs.
A great experience for rear seat passengers
Passengers in row two are now treated to power‑reclining rear seats and a dedicated 8‑inch entertainment touchscreen for movies, games and climate control – Netflix, Disney+ and Tesla Arcade are all just a tap away. Together these upgrades turn the back of the 2025 Model Y Juniper into a genuine lounge on wheels.
Verdict: the sweet spot of the Tesla range
I’ve spent the last four years recommending the Model Y with a small asterisk for ride quality and cabin ambiance. After back‑to‑back drives of the refreshed car, that asterisk has vanished. Whether shuttling colleagues between Bicester meetings or clipping apexes at Donington, the 2025 Y mixed grown‑up comfort with genuine driver enjoyment. Add in unbeatable charging convenience and competitive leasing rates and you have a family EV that’s hard to fault.
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