Tesla Model Y

Build Quality and Materials Revolution

Entering the 2025 Model Y, one gets to see the biggest change in the interior of a Tesla. The build quality is instantly noticeable too, with panel gaps and uneven fit and finish no longer being an issue on the newer Tesla models. All the surfaces are deliberate and well-done, whether it is the soft-touch dashboard materials or the trim pieces that are perfectly aligned. The door cards are now made of high-quality vegan leather with a slight Alcantara-like texture that offers a visual appeal and a better touch and feel.

The ambient lighting system can be controlled by 64 different colors, making a truly high-end environment. During my night driving in the UAE, the lighting was practical and mood-setting but not distracting. The panoramic glass roof, which has been upgraded with improved UV and infrared filtering, copes with the intense UAE sun very well while maintaining the airy cabin atmosphere that makes the Model Y feel bigger than the exterior dimensions would suggest.

Front Seat Comfort and Technology

The front seats are a masterpiece of modern car design. The driver and passenger seats have 8-way power adjustment (6-way on the driver seat and 4-way lumbar on the driver seat, 4-way on the passenger seat), and heating and ventilation are standard across all trims. The ventilation system is also commendable- unlike in most cars, where the seat ventilation is just a slight breeze, the Model Y has a ventilation system that actually cools you down on hot summer days in the UAE. The perforated vegan leather ensures good airflow, and the seat structure is comfortable enough to support the occupant during short trips in the city and long trips on the highway.

The steering wheel is more premium than before and has a smaller diameter, which makes the sporty driving experience even better. The reintroduction of a physical indicator stalk is a positive change that solves one of the most frequent criticisms of the latest Tesla models.

The wireless charging pad is compatible with all major smartphone models, and the USB-C ports are numerous to allow passengers to charge their devices. The huge center console storage bin, which is lined with premium felt material, is able to hold daily carry items without having a cluttered look.

Rear Seat Experience

The rear seat experience is now significantly better in 2025. The seats themselves feature comfort with deeper cushions and better support at the thighs. The seatback angle has been adjusted to be more comfortable during longer journeys. The legroom is actually quite spacious in the case of passengers who are not more than 5 feet 8 inches tall, while the taller passengers will find the room comfortable enough to travel most of the time. The 60:40 split-folding, which is now electrically operated (buttons placed in the boot), changes the versatility of cargo with a touch of a button.

The most notable new feature is the 8-inch rear touchscreen, which is placed in the center console. This screen offers personal climate control to rear occupants. The screen also has all the entertainment features, such as Netflix, YouTube, and even games. 

The electronically controlled seat recline feature enables the rear passengers to get into their preferred position, the USB-C charging ports and cup holders keep everyone connected and comfortable. The seats are heated but unfortunately not ventilated. The headliner cutout on taller passengers is a considerate feature that does not sacrifice the panoramic roof opening.

Storage and Practicality

The cabin has storage solutions that show that Tesla is concerned with real-world usability. The door pockets will fit 1-liter bottles with ease, and smaller objects have their place in a variety of well-placed compartments. The map pockets for the rear passengers is way more premium than the previous version. There’s also a massive storage space in the centre console to keep your things handy. 

The privacy cover at the back is a brilliant piece of engineering- the lightweight magnetic system is securely fixed in place when in use, but can be folded entirely out of the way when not in use. Besides this, there is also a lot of storage space to keep handy the first-aid kit or stuff like that. 

The Model Y is offered with the whopping massive boot space of up to 2,130 litres when the seats are down and up to 854 litres with seats up. The boot can easily accommodate 4 big suitcases with 4-5 handbags. The front trunk (frunk) can also hold your essentials efficiently and has a capacity of up to 117 litres. 

The Model Y 2025 is equipped with the latest suite of Autopilot features offered by Tesla. Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking came in handy in a number of near misses in the UAE traffic, where emergency braking is all too familiar. 

Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist are two systems that complement each other. Blind Spot Detection system, which is now complemented with visual signals in the side mirrors, gives clear warnings when switching lanes on congested highways. 

The 360-degree camera system offers an outstanding view of the surroundings around the car, and the imaging is of high quality, which makes parking in tight spaces much easier. There are eight airbags that cover all the seating positions and ISOFIX anchors that are used to fit child safety seats.

Every Model Y model has Basic Autopilot, which has adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and collision avoidance. Enhanced Autopilot includes lane changes, highway on-ramp/off-ramp navigation, auto-park, and smart summon. These features were actually helpful in highway driving and parking conditions during testing.

Front-End Transformation

The most noticeable modification of the 2025 Model Y is immediately apparent from the front. Gone is the somewhat polarizing “blank” nose of the previous generation, replaced by a more sophisticated design language that is both futuristic and accessible. The new split headlight design makes the Model Y look more aggressive, with an LED DRL strip stretching across the front, which also enhances aerodynamics. The redesigned camera integration is especially ingenious. The front camera integration also allows the car to have a better Autopilot functionality and a forward visibility that the driver has never had before, which I found especially helpful when driving through the construction zones in the UAE.

The redesign of the hood is both aesthetic and practical. The smoother lines help to achieve a better 0.23 drag coefficient, and the new front bumper design helps to manage the airflow better, which is important in managing the battery thermal management in the extreme heat of the UAE.

Profile and Side Design

On the side, the changes are less dramatic but no less significant. Tesla has also optimized the design of the mirrors to include new aerodynamic features that not only minimize the wind noise but also enhance efficiency. The side camera housings are also entirely redesigned with the clever water-shedding vortex system, a minor detail that shows the focus on practicality that Tesla has. This design feature was tested during a couple of car washes and rainy drives, and it performed admirably with clear camera feeds every time.

The door handles still have the flush design that is characteristic of Tesla, but the action is smoother and more responsive. The side panels have new crease lines that add interest without being flashy, and the optional 21-inch Cyclone wheels. This gave the car a premium look that was just right with the Stealth Gray paint that I drove. The 255/40 R20 tire setup offers a sportier position, but it has its drawbacks in terms of comfort and efficiency that should be taken into account. 

Rear Design Excellence

The back of the 2025 Model Y is the most successful design transition. The wrap-around LED tail light is full-width and gives the new generation a very modern look that is instantly recognizable. In addition to the aesthetics, Tesla says that this segmented design will make repairs in case of accidents much cheaper, since only specific parts can be replaced without having to touch the main rear glass (the boot is split into multiple sections).

The new bumper has been redesigned and is longer than the old one, which offers more protection to the rear cargo area. The improved camera positioning also helps to increase the rear visibility, which was very useful in tight parking scenarios in the busy malls and business areas. That said, you can open the tailgate hands-free, too. 

The 2025 Tesla Model Y performance remains the standard-bearer of electric SUVs, with a spectacular variety of powertrain options to suit the demands of various buyers. The base Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive has 201 horsepower and around 455 km of WLTP range with a comfortable and efficient driving experience, and the Long Range All-Wheel Drive is a step up with 351 horsepower, a mighty 533 km WLTP range, and a blistering 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 5.0 seconds.

At the top of the range is the Performance variant, which has 530 horsepower and can sprint to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, although it has a slightly lower 514 km of range because of its sporty tuning and bigger brakes. The Long Range model proved flexible in real-world testing in the UAE: instant, smooth torque in the city, confidence-inspiring overtaking on the highway, and outstanding grip due to the dual-motor all-wheel drive, even in slippery conditions. 

One-pedal regenerative braking is advanced in Tesla and reduces driver fatigue by a drastic margin, and enhances efficiency in stop-and-go traffic. The highway is a whisper-quiet, luxurious ride with better aerodynamics and cabin insulation, and the wind and road noise are reduced to a minimum. But real-world efficiency and range are influenced by other factors such as climate control use and driving speed, with conservative urban driving in moderate weather able to achieve or surpass WLTP values, but hot weather in the UAE and high-speed cruising potentially reducing real-world range to 400-450 km in the Long Range model. 

The Model Y experience is still centered around the 15.4-inch central touchscreen, but the 2025 refresh introduces significant gains in responsiveness and functionality. The Snapdragon 8155 processor makes the phone work without lagging even when using several applications at the same time. 

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are integrated and connected through a cable, and the native Tesla interface offers full vehicle control and information. There are 2 wireless charging pads in the centre console, dual-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof 

The premium sound system has 14 speakers that provide high-quality audio that can compete with the luxury cars that are much more expensive. Whether you are streaming high-resolution music via Spotify or listening to the built-in AM/FM radio, the acoustic experience makes every trip better. The digital signal processing in the system is adaptive to the cabin occupancy and window locations and ensures the best sound quality in any configuration.

The voice control using the command ‘Hey Tesla’ was quite impressive in the test. Basic commands such as opening the sunroof or setting the temperature to 22 degrees are perfect, and more complicated navigation requests are processed with remarkable precision. The natural language processing of the system is able to comprehend context and pursue questions.

The UAE market receives three Model Y variants, each addressing different buyer priorities and budgets:

Standard Range RWD (AED 189,990):

• 50 kWh battery, 204 horsepower, 350 torque
  
  
• Approximately 455 km WLTP range
  
  
• 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds
  
  
• Single motor, rear-wheel drive
  
  

Long Range AWD (AED 209,990):

• 75 kWh battery, 351 horsepower, 527 torque
  
  
• Approximately 533 km WLTP range
  
  
• 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds
  
  
• Dual motor, all-wheel drive
  
  

Performance AWD (AED 235,990):

• 80.5 kWh battery, 534 horsepower
  
  
• Approximately 514 km WLTP range
  
  
• 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds
  
  
• Dual motor, all-wheel drive with performance tuning

The Tesla Model Y 2025 is a major step up from its predecessor, with a more solid build, more comfort, and a more refined, quieter ride that is genuinely premium. The car is modern and functional over time due to its class-leading technology, which is updated through over-the-air software, and the Supercharger network and impressive efficiency make daily use both convenient and pleasant. 

Long-term reliability is assured by full warranties and ongoing improvements. Finally, Model Y is not just an electric car, but a mobility platform of the future that is reliable in terms of performance, value, and satisfaction, and it is difficult to imagine that any traditional vehicle can match it.

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