The 2025 Tesla Model Y RWD is the brilliant entry point into Tesla's best-selling electric SUV family. It masterfully blends everyday practicality with a tech-forward experience and sprightly performance, all wrapped in a sleek package. For those seeking access to the Supercharger network and Tesla's minimalist ethos without needing all-wheel drive, this rear-wheel-drive model hits the sweet spot. With a starting price around €44,990 in Europe, it represents a compelling option against a sea of rivals, offering a massive boot and a clean, futuristic cabin that's hard to ignore.
The 2025 model year heralds the highly anticipated "Project Juniper" refresh for the Model Y. While subtle, the changes are significant, bringing the exterior design in line with the updated Model 3. Expect sharper, slimmer headlights and a cleaner front bumper for a more aggressive stance. Inside, the cabin gets a welcome upgrade with new materials, a redesigned dashboard, and the addition of customisable ambient lighting. These tweaks aim to elevate the premium feel, addressing previous criticisms and keeping the Model Y at the top of its game in a competitive market.
The Model Y’s design remains unmistakably Tesla: a smooth, pebble-like shape that prioritises aerodynamic efficiency. For 2025, the look is sharpened with a cleaner, more purposeful front end and sleeker lighting. It’s a crossover that blends SUV practicality with a coupe-like roofline, giving it a sporty profile. Standing at 4790 mm long, 1982 mm wide, and 1624 mm tall, it has a commanding presence without being unwieldy in city streets. The standard RWD trim features clean, aerodynamic wheels that contribute to its impressive efficiency, completing its minimalist and modern aesthetic.
Step inside, and you're greeted by Tesla's signature minimalist cabin, now enhanced with better materials and ambient lighting for 2025. Everything is controlled through the crisp, responsive 15-inch central touchscreen, which handles navigation, media, and all vehicle settings—though still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Passenger space is generous for five, with an airy feel thanks to the expansive glass roof. But the real party trick is the cavernous storage: a massive 854-litre boot expands to 2,138 litres with the seats down, plus a handy 117-litre frunk.
Don’t let the ‘entry-level’ tag fool you; this single-motor, rear-wheel-drive Model Y is seriously nippy. Its 220 kW PMSM motor delivers 420 Nm of instant torque, launching you from 0-100 km/h in a brisk 5.9 seconds. The driving experience is classic Tesla: the steering is go-kart quick and direct, and the chassis feels taut and responsive. While the ride can be on the firm side, it inspires confidence in the corners. One-pedal driving via the strong regenerative braking is intuitive and quickly becomes second nature, making city driving an absolute doddle.
The RWD model is equipped with a 60.5 kWh usable battery pack, delivering a real-world range of approximately 395 km as calculated by Green Cars Compare. It’s impressively efficient, achieving around 6.53 km/kWh. At home on an 11 kW AC wallbox, a full charge takes about 6-7 hours. Out on the road, it connects to the vast Supercharger network via its CCS Type 2 port, hitting a peak DC charging speed of 175 kW. This means you can add a significant chunk of range in around 25-30 minutes, making long-distance travel a breeze.
Safety is a cornerstone for Tesla, and the Model Y boasts a top-tier 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Standard Autopilot provides a robust suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, which make motorway driving far more relaxing. All the essentials are there, like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a host of collision avoidance systems. For those wanting more, the optional Enhanced Autopilot or the yet-to-be-fully-realised Full Self-Driving Capability can be added, promising even more advanced semi-autonomous features via over-the-air updates.
Tesla provides solid peace of mind with its warranty coverage. The Model Y comes with a basic vehicle warranty of 4 years or 80,000 km, whichever comes first. Crucially for an EV, the battery and drive unit are covered for a lengthy 8 years or 160,000 km, with a guarantee of at least 70% battery capacity retention during that period. While Tesla doesn't offer complimentary maintenance schedules like some rivals, the running costs are low, with no oil changes and fewer moving parts to worry about, a key benefit of EV ownership.
Tesla Model Y Standard Range RWD (2021-2025) 
