The new Tesla Model Y is here and it costs £61,000

Five years on from its debut, the Tesla Model Y has received a major facelift, including a new-look design, a revamped interior and extra performance.

Tesla initially launched the new car in a rather unusual way, starting first in China and Australia, before revealing the new Model Y in UK and US specifications a week later, on 24 January.

And even now, only one version of the new Model Y is available. It's called the Launch Series and Tesla describes it as a "limited release" that is sold "complete with premium options and customisable upgrades". The UK website is taking deposits now and says deliveries will begin in May.

This car is sold alongside the previous-generation Model Y, which is still available to order new and is priced from £46,990 to £59,990 before options.

The new Model Y has an updated design with slim, Cybertruck-style headlights joined by a full-width front light bar. There’s also a wide light bar at the rear, sat between a pair of redesigned light clusters.

Priced from £60,990, the new Tesla Model Y has a WLTP range of 353 miles, a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph. It is available in two no-cost colour options, called Solid Black and Quicksilver, but with just one set of wheels, called 20" Helix 2.0, and one all-black interior configuration.

New colour options seen on Tesla's Australia website – called Glacier Blue, Stealth Grey and Ultra Red – are missing from the UK site.

Autopilot driver-assistance packages for UK customers are priced at £3,400 for Enhanced Autopilot, and £6,800 for the Full Self-Driving Capability package, which Tesla says is reliant on "future updates" to let the car drive itself.

Inside, the new Tesla Model Y has a cabin similar to that of the Model 3, which was updated in 2024. Tesla’s trademark minimalism remains, and has even been turned up a notch over the old Model Y, as the gear shifter has been removed.

Mercifully, Tesla has seen the good sense to reinstate the indicator stalk. This also appeared on the previous-generation Model Y, but was removed for the new Model 3 when it landed in 2024. The stalk on that car was replaced by a pair of buttons on the left-hand spoke of the steering wheel, prompting criticism.

The new Model Y gains a second touchscreen, an 8-inch display mounted between the front seats, which gives rear passengers access to the car’s infotainment system. They can also use this screen to adjust airflow to the rear of the cabin, play games, and control their seat heating.

Another interior change is the addition of an LED light strip that runs across the tops of the doors and around the back of the dashboard.