Our First Look At The Refreshed Tesla Model Y Without Camouflage

The Tesla Model Y has been on sale since 2020, which means it is high time for a replacement. With the refreshed Model 3 showing up in 2024, we knew a facelifted Model Y wouldn’t be too far down the pipeline. Now, we’re finally getting a look at what the updated Model Y will look like, thanks to some uncamouflaged spy shots posted to Instagram. You can be the judge as to whether these design cues work or not.

Instagram user cochespias1 posted a couple of pictures of the new Model Y, code named “Juniper,” doing some cold weather testing. Because of the environment, there’s a good amount of snow covering the front and back of the car, but you can still make out most of the finer details of what’s going on here. That’s especially true for the two biggest changes: the front and rear lightbars. Adding those two elements brings it more in line with what Tesla has done with the front and rear facias of the Cybertruck and the definitely-real Cybercap concept. However, it does beg the question as to why Tesla decided to forgo these design cues on the refreshed Model 3.

Still, there is some Model 3-ness to be found in the shape of the rear lights. They’re now more boomerang-like to match the compact sedan’s. Front and rear bumpers are also slightly tweaked for the new car. While we don’t get any direct side view shots, we can sort of see that the side profile of the refreshed Model Y looks largely like the outgoing car’s. We also don’t get a very clear picture of what the interior of the new Model Y will look like, but if I had to hazard a guess, it would be very similar to what is found in the new 3. There’s no word if Tesla engineers have fixed its spine-shaking ride for rear passengers, either.

The Model Y is a hugely important – if not the most important – vehicle for Tesla. In 2024, it was the automaker’s best-selling vehicle. It also just happened to be the fourth-best-selling vehicle in the U.S. with an estimated 405,900 units sold, according to Car And Driver. That number also represents the top EV-selling EV in the country, with no other vehicle entering the top 25.