Tesla’s Model Y Refresh - The Little Things

January 15, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

It's only been a few days since Tesla officially announced the Model Y refresh, but we’re already finding out more. While deliveries won’t begin for at least another three months, there are plenty of things to get excited about.

We covered the Model Y Refresh in detail, but it is always worth it to take a moment and appreciate all the little things Tesla has included in this version of the Model Y.

Turn Signal Stalk & Steering Wheel

Not a Tesla App

First up is the return of the signal stalk. The Cybertruck and Model 3 Refresh both shipped without a signal stalk. Instead, the signals, as well as the wiper control, were located on the steering wheel.

For the Model 3, this was met with considerable pushback, given that it was a vehicle intended for the mass market rather than enthusiasts. While it's possible to get 3rd-party stalks for the Model 3 now, Tesla has clearly taken consumer sentiment to mind when refreshing the world’s best-selling vehicle.

With the Model Y Refresh, there’s a single turn signal stalk on the left side. Based on the photos, it appears that this may be a simpler stalk than we’ve seen in the past, as it doesn’t appear to have a button at the end. Given the headlights button on the steering wheel, it’s unlikely to move forward/back for high beams as well.

The steering wheel itself is very similar to the new Model 3 but with reduced buttons, thanks to the stalk. On the left side of the steering wheel you have buttons for the Wipers and High Beams. While on the right, it looks like there will be a button for Voice Commands (soon to be the smart assistant) and the rear/front camera.

There is no right stalk, so Autopilot and shift functionality is the same as the new Model 3, which means that you’ll be using the right scroll wheel and the screen for that functionality instead.

Rear Power Reclining Seats

The new Model Y is definitely aimed at families and those with lots of stuff to move. Tesla has put some good thought into this - and has added power reclining seating, which folds flat.

At the press of a button from the trunk or with a tap on either the front screen, the rear seats can be folded flat or raised up to their normal position. That’s definitely a helpful feature, especially if you’re trying to get something big into the trunk of your vehicle - and you need to drop the seats.

Now, a single-button press does the trick, which is super convenient. The ability to fold the seats flat is also new. In the previous Model Y, the seats folded mostly flat - and they’d squish down further if you put something heavy on them, but that could potentially damage the seats.

The rear seat cushions are also a 1/2” longer than before, making them more comfortable for adults to sit in.

Rear Trunk / Lift Gate

@niccruzpatane

The vehicle’s lift gate has also received some upgrades. Instead of being a “single” piece, there’s now a seam between the sides and the tail of the trunk piece. This will likely make repairs much cheaper for light rear-end accidents or other light damage. Owners can opt to replace just the trim part of the trunk instead of having to replace the entire life gate.

The rear glass has also been updated. Instead of featuring a curved edge at the bottom, it’s now much more rectangular. This appears to be a cosmetic change or tied to the new seam location.

To go along with the changes to the trunk, the new Model Y will also support the new hands-free trunk opening. Users with a supported phone will be able to automatically open the trunk simply by standing near it. This is something all new models have had since last year, but it will come to the Model Y for the first time.

Frunk

One change that didn’t make the cut is a powered frunk. While we’re disappointed that the new Model Y won’t include a powered frunk like the Cybertruck, Tesla did add a drain plug to the bottom of the frunk.

A drain plug allows the frunk to easily be used for cooling drinks during tailgating. Simply add ice and drinks.

New Speaker Placement and Double Stitching

Not a Tesla App

The new Model Y includes new speaker placements on the doors. The speakers on the door have been moved up next to the door handle. Their integration feels a lot smoother, and they’re fitted with a metal grill instead of a plastic one.

The interior also features a lot more double stitching when compared to the new Model 3. You can see this on the dash, where this is a single piece on the Model 3. While it likely adds a little bit to the cost, it makes the vehicle look a lot more premium.

The ambient lighting is also slightly different, now only reaching half the length of the door — on the front and rear doors. However, the design is sleek and fits in nicely.

Not a Tesla App

To Tow, or Not to Tow

We initially reported that the Model Y Refresh doesn’t have a tow hitch. We still stand by this point, but others have pointed out that the openable slot for the tow hitch still seems to be present.

Tesla doesn’t show the tow hitch as an option on any of the Asia Pacific sites right now - so it seems that, at the very least, the Launch Edition will not include a tow hitch. It also doesn’t show up as a feature, and the maximum tow weight is not listed as a vehicle specification.

We’re hoping that this is either an oversight or that Tesla intends to bring the tow hitch to the market as a Tesla Store retrofit and then offer it for new vehicles sometime in the future. Towing is very popular on the Model Y, but many people also use the hitch for bike racks and luggage carriers - owing to the versatility of the Y as a do-everything vehicle.

New Wheels

Alongside all the fun new features - the Model Y also comes with a new set of 20” Helix 2.0 wheels. One interesting item of note is that there is no aero cover included with these wheels, at least for now. They’re probably already quite efficient and likely wouldn’t benefit too much from aero covers like the current generation Model Y’s wheels.

This likely won’t be the only wheel option - but it is the standard for the Launch Series. We’ll likely see a 21” performance wheel option once the Performance variant arrives, as well as a cheaper 19” wheel variant with aero covers.

However, the new Helix 2.0’s are some of Tesla’s best-looking wheels, in our opinion, so there is that too. 20” wheels are a good balance in terms of looking good and providing enough rubber to dampen sounds, vibrations, and bumps. Tesla also claims to have improved handling performance and comfort, so these new wheels likely contribute to the overall experience.

If you’ve managed to pick up on something we’ve overlooked for all the small stuff, let us know on social media or here on the forums.

Tesla Teases New 7-Seat Model Y

June 12, 2025

By Karan Singh

The third row in the first-generation Model Y

Not a Tesla App

In a move that’s sure to excite those with larger families, Tesla has started teasing the return of the seven-seat configuration for the Model Y. In a new marketing email sent out to customers recently, Tesla explicitly highlights the vehicle’s spaciousness.

“Ready for anything with long range, seating for up to seven, and enough room for everyone’s gear.”

The seven-seat Model Y was initially offered in late 2021, but it hasn’t been available since Spring 2023. The return of the new variant will be an addition that many have been waiting for, as the next vehicle with that much passenger space in the line-up is the Model X, starting at almost double the price.

First-Gen Model Y Third Row

The original seven-seat Model Y was extremely popular in the Asia-Pacific and European markets, and it still sold fairly well in North America despite differences in preferred vehicle sizing and spaciousness. It offers additional seats for larger families with young children, but space in the third row is minimal.

The seven-seat variant makes the Model Y more competitive against other three-row SUVs on the market. The video below features the seven-seater, first-generation Model Y.

Power Reclining Third Row?

The refreshed Model Y was launched with power-reclining second-row seats, a huge plus for practicality and ease of use. The power-reclining second-row seats are extremely popular with families and are very helpful, as you can control them from the front screen rather than needing to open the rear doors.

Tesla is likely to integrate power-reclining seats into the third row and potentially keep them for the second row as well. With the second row sliding forward and backward for easy entry, as well as allowing the second and third rows to fold flat for additional cargo room when needed.

Launch Date and Price

Tesla’s tease of the seven-seat variant is likely just the start. With recent sightings of the Model Y Performance variant hitting the Nürburgring, it seems Tesla has a lot in store for this summer. If you’ve been waiting for the seven-seat variant, it seems like it’ll be just a few short months away at this rate.

While we haven’t seen any production samples or other details regarding dates yet, Tesla previously priced the seven-seat option at an additional $2,000 USD ($3,000 CAD). The seven-seat option will likely only be available on the Long Range AWD and Long Range RWD variants, not the Performance model, similar to the first-generation Model Y.

Tesla’s First Autonomous Vehicle Delivery to Happen on June 28th

June 12, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

In Elon’s flurry of posts on X about FSD yesterday, he also revealed the date that another moment of peak science fiction would be occurring — June 28th. Tesla expects to conduct the first-ever self-delivery, where a brand-new Model Y will depart from the production line and arrive directly at its new owner’s home without any human intervention.

Imagine ordering a vehicle, and a few days later, rather than needing to pick it up, it simply arrives in your driveway and notifies you via an app that it has arrived. That’s no longer the talk of science fiction; it is quite literally something that is likely to happen this month.

Expect a Model Y Delivery in Austin

Considering everything Tesla has done so far, we’re fairly certain that the first self-delivered vehicle will be a Model Y in Austin, in the same geo-fenced area where Tesla’s Robotaxi will operate. FSD is highly optimized for the Model Y, and it’ll take some time for those optimizations to trickle down to the rest of the fleet. It’s not clear if FSD performs better on the Model Y because it’s the most popular vehicle and, therefore, Tesla has the most data for it or if Tesla explicitly chose to focus more on their most popular vehicle.

Tentatively, June 22.

We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.

First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025

Why Self-Delivery?

While a car driving itself is something truly different from what other manufacturers offer, there are also numerous strategic advantages for Tesla to do so. This includes drastically reducing last-mile delivery costs by minimizing the need for car carriers, delivery drivers, and even delivery personnel at your local Tesla center. For customers, it could mean a faster, more flexible delivery method - and one absolutely unforgettable welcome to Tesla ownership.

We recently took a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of vehicles delivering themselves to customers. While it’s all positive for Tesla, there are some potentially negative sides to it as well.

A Futuristic Glimpse

When you step back and look at it, Self-Delivery is a logical extension of Unsupervised FSD and the Robotaxi network in general. Self-deliveries are expected to run on the same software stack that powers the Model Ys currently roaming Austin’s streets autonomously, which means there is little for Tesla to do other than enable specific instructions for self-delivery during the final vehicle configuration steps.

Robotaxis currently run a newer version of FSD than what’s available to the public, but these self-delivered vehicles will likely be on the same version when they’re delivered.

Given Elon’s note that the dates could shift, this could easily be moved to early July; however, either way, it seems like we’re just weeks away from this monumental event, which will further reduce the cost of Tesla vehicles.