Tesla Model Y 2025 pricing: $4500-cheaper core variants confirmed for popular electric car

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Tesla Australia has confirmed pricing for core versions of the much-upgraded 2025 Model Y electric SUV. 

After selling through the full allocation of the Model Y RWD Launch Series – with a few Long Range AWD Launch Series cars still available — before their mid-May release, Tesla has announced permanent Model Y variants that are $4500 cheaper.

The 2025 Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive starts at $58,900 and the Long Range AWD $68,900, both before on-road costs. Customer deliveries will start in June.  

That’s a $3000 increase over the pre-update Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive but a nice $1000 drop compared with the outgoing Long Range AWD. Tesla is yet to detail the flagship Performance. 

The new entry price brings the Model Y into line with fresh rivals, including the XPeng G6 Standard Range ($54,800), Deepal S07 ($53,900) and Kia EV5 Air Standard Range ($56,770, all before on-road costs)

Speaking exclusively to Chasing Cars, a senior Tesla Executive revealed the new Model Y’s pricing will be more consistent as it steps away from bloody price wars. 

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The facelifted Tesla Model Y has landed in Australia! #tesla #modely #juniper #ev

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2025 Tesla Model Y upgrades and features

Compared to the launch series, the standard Model Ys are equipped with inch-smaller, 19-inch Crossflow alloy wheels and do not include premium paint such as Stealth Grey, Quicksilver, Ultra Red and new Glacier Blue, which cost between $2300 and $2600 more.

There’s also a different bezel around the wireless phone charger, different upholstery, and no puddle lights. 

Standard equipment is strong, though, with new heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, hands-free power tailgate, adaptive pixel headlights, improved phone key performance and front bumper camera.

The cabin keeps an indicator stalk on the left, rather than Model 3’s buttons, and the new Model Y has a silver-coated layer on the glass roof to keep the cabin cooler. 

A 15.4-inch multimedia touchscreen with internet connectivity, built-in navigation and downloadable apps, including Spotify and YouTube takes centre stage in the cabin. 

Like the new Model 3, the Y scores an 8.0-inch rear touchscreen that can stream media and control the HVAC. 

The second row should be much improved with a new bench and squab that features heating for outboard positions, power recline function and folds fully flat. 

The only major loss for the base Model Y is the downgrade to a nine-speaker sound system, rather than 13 speakers with subwoofer. The Long Range, however, gets an upgraded 15-speaker system.

A full-width front lightbar houses the indicators and is mirrored at the back with a red glowing strip with integral ‘TESLA’ badging.

Along with acoustic glass that cuts wind noise by 20 percent, according to Tesla, the Model Y’s new Cybertruck-inspired design improves aerodynamics, boosting range by 11km in the RWD (now 466km) and 18km (now 551km) for the Long Range AWD. 

Tesla does not openly share outputs, but industry guides show the RWD’s power has been boosted 5kW and the AWD’s remain unchanged. Weight appears to have increased significantly, though, with the new RWD 148kg heavier. 

More impressive is the 0-100km/h sprint, which is a full second faster at 5.9 seconds for the rear-drive, while the AWD improves by a tenth to 4.3 seconds with Acceleration Boost. Top speed drops from 217km/h to 201km/h in the new Model Y. 

Suspension has been improved and, according to Tesla, the updated Model Y keeps its sharp handling while adding a degree of plushness to the ride. The springs and dampers should be quieter, too. 

All remains to be confirmed with a full road test of the heavily updated Tesla Model Y in the coming weeks. 

2025 Tesla Model Y pricing

Prices listed are before on-road costs

• Model Y RWD — $58,900 (up $3000)
• Model Y RWD Launch Series — $63,400 (sold out)
• Model Y LR AWD — $68,900 (down $1000)
• Model Y LR AWD Launch Series — $73,400