Why You Should Probably Wait To Buy The New Tesla Model Y

After debuting in China just a few weeks ago, Tesla has confirmed that the facelifted Model Y is coming to America in March. However, if you liked the packaging of the pre-facelift Model Y but wanted to wait for updates, you might want to hold your horses. The first updated Tesla Model Y coming to America is a Long Range AWD Launch Series model priced at $61,380 including freight.

Here’s the problem: A pre-facelift Model Y Long Range AWD stickers for $12,000 less than this facelifted Launch Series, and even a pre-facelift Model Y Performance carries a price tag some $8,500 less than the incoming Launch Series. That’s an enormous premium, which really makes you wonder what you’re actually getting for your money.

Well, improved acceleration is one of the highlights. With a quoted zero-to-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds, this Launch Series model is two-tenths quicker than a pre-facelift Model Y Long Range AWD with the $2,000 acceleration boost option. However, the big add-on pre-loaded on the Model Y Launch Series is Tesla’s controversial Full Self Driving, a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System that definitely does not allow the car to legally drive itself without full-time supervision. While some people love FSD, considering a 2024 AAA study states that only 42 percent of respondents were in favor of active driving assistance, there’s a solid chance the majority of the car-buying public might not be interested in FSD. That’s it as far as launch edition perks go, aside from a few tacked-on trim pieces highlighting it as a Launch Series. There just isn’t much substance to back up the substantial increase in price.

Alright, so what about the car itself, stripping away the Launch Edition stuff? Well, range isn’t improved enough to make a meaningful difference in the real world, as Tesla claims the updated Model Y will only go nine miles farther on a charge than the equivalent outgoing model. Charging isn’t appreciably faster either, and the big touted benefit that drivers are actually likely to notice is supposedly improved ride quality. If it’s anything like the transformation on the facelifted Model 3, expect far more comfort than the pre-facelift model, but not necessarily better comfort than competitors offer.

See, it’s 2025, and Tesla has opened up its Supercharger network to a litany of other automakers. Combine this with the industry’s investments in electric vehicles, and the Model Y is no longer an obvious no-brainer in the EV crossover space, especially with the high price of this new model.

Again, the current Model Y is probably the new Y’s biggest competitor, but let’s take a brief look at what you can get from other automakers right now for less than what this Model Y Launch Series costs. Suppose you want an electric crossover with all-wheel-drive, 300-plus miles of range, ventilated front seats, a large sunroof, and another level of advanced driver assistance beyond your typical adaptive cruise control.

How about a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV RS AWD? Loaded up with the Convenience Package II and III, along with the dual-pane moonroof, it stickers for $56,045 including freight, or $5,335 cheaper than this Launch Series Model Y. As a bonus, it can charge on Tesla’s V3 and V4 Superchargers using a NACS adapter, leveling the road trip charging reliability field with the Model Y.

If you love EVs for the speed, you can buy a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT with the $995 Performance Upgrade and the $1,600 panoramic moonroof, still save $1,795, and get an electric vehicle that can trounce the new Model Y Launch Series in acceleration, charge on Tesla’s Supercharger network, and let you go hands-free on mapped highways thanks to BlueCruise, if that’s your thing. Compared to the Model Y, range takes a hit at 280 miles, but if acceleration’s more important to you than total range, a claimed zero-to-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds ought to make up for that.

Want something made in America that offers a wide variety of toys and plenty of comfort? The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD comes standard with a NACS charging port, gives you a wild-looking driver’s seat with a footrest for kicking back while charging, lets you parallel park it from outside the car using the key fob, and lets you power other things using the vehicle while still costing $1,805 less than the Launch Series Model Y. It also gives you just about everything the Model Y has, from ventilated front seats to a panoramic glass roof to 64-color ambient lighting. Now, this particular Ioniq 5 has its downsides and upsides. Adding all-wheel-drive decreases range from 318 miles to 269 miles, but an 800-volt architecture means you’ll be able to take full advantage of 350 kW DC fast chargers, something the Model Y’s 400-volt can’t do.

At $61,380, not only is this Launch Series edition of the updated Tesla Model Y less competitive on price than the outgoing model, first editions like this often feel like attempts to milk more money out of people who just have to be first. When you consider that the refreshed Model 3 launched in normal trims without any sort of special edition, it really makes you wonder if the Model Y needed to go down this route. Given how Tesla has lost some goodwill with consumers for antics like huge dynamic price cuts in 2023, while other automakers have seriously caught up in terms of product, one can’t help but wonder how many people will actually line up for the updated Model Y Launch Series. My advice? If you really like the product and upgrades, just wait. Cheaper variants will come along soon enough and they should offer stronger value for money.

(Photo credits: Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai)

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