The Model Y now comes in two clearly different generations, and both are on the used market. So the question we get most often is no longer "is the Juniper any good?", but: is the difference worth the extra money?
We've driven both generations extensively and we sell both. Here's what really changed, what didn't, and which version is right for whom.
What the Juniper does differently
The way it drives is the biggest gain. The revised suspension makes the Model Y noticeably more supple. The previous generation was known for a dry, sometimes harsh set-up; the Juniper has shed that. Drive the two back to back and you feel it within the first kilometre.
It's quieter. Tesla put extra work into sound insulation and into the aerodynamics, including a more streamlined nose. On the motorway that's the difference between a car in which you turn the radio up and a car in which you don't have to.
The indicator stalk is back. On the updated Model 3 the indicators moved to the steering wheel, which many drivers never liked. The Model Y Juniper simply keeps a stalk. Small detail, one daily annoyance less.
The interior is a class more refined. Softer materials, a new steering wheel design, ambient lighting all round and, depending on the version, ventilated seats. There's an extra screen in the back as well.
On the outside, the full-width LED light bars front and rear stand out, along with the new wheels. You recognise a Juniper straight away, even at night.
What didn't change, and why that's not a downside
At launch you heard the same criticism everywhere: Tesla didn't make the battery bigger, so what do you gain? That's only half true, and it's worth setting straight.
The battery did indeed stay roughly the same. Range, though, went up considerably, not by hauling around more kilowatt-hours, but by using them more sparingly. Compare the same version across the two generations: the Performance went from 514 km to 580 km WLTP. That's more than 12% more range out of roughly the same battery.
For you as a driver, that's the better outcome. A bigger battery means more weight, a higher price and longer charging times. More range from the same battery means lower consumption, and therefore lower charging costs per kilometre. The "missed opportunity" was in fact the more interesting piece of engineering.
The numbers side by side
Version | Previous generation (2021 – early 2025) | Juniper (2025) |
|---|---|---|
Rear-wheel drive | 57 kWh · 455 km WLTP | see below |
Long Range rear-wheel drive | n/a | 75 kWh · 622 km WLTP |
Long Range All-Wheel Drive | 75 kWh · 533 km WLTP | 75 kWh · 586 km WLTP |
Performance | 75 kWh · 514 km WLTP | 580 km WLTP |
Maximum towing weight | 1 600 kg | 1 600 kg |
Battery warranty | 8 years or 192 000 km | 8 years or 192 000 km |
On the previous generation, the entry version without Long Range has an LFP battery of roughly 57 kWh, good for 455 km on 19" wheels. Tesla itself never published a capacity for that car; 57 kWh is an estimate from the databases.
Sources: tesla.com/nl_be and the archived Belgian configuration screen (towing weight, warranty, 455 km), EV Database and elektrischeauto.be (capacities and WLTP per version).
Note: the quoted range depends on wheel size and version. An example on 20" or 21" wheels manages noticeably less than the same example on 19" wheels. So always look at the figures for the specific car, not at the model average. That's why every Model Y in our stock also comes with our own Real Range estimate: what you actually get out of it in practice, not what the lab test says.
Watch out for the names since 2026
This causes confusion in adverts, so to be explicit:
- What was called Long Range at launch has been sold by Tesla as the Model Y Premium since October 2025.
- Below it came a cheaper version simply called Model Y.
- Performance stayed Performance.
Note: this is not merely a different label. With that switch, the Premium with All-Wheel Drive also received a bigger battery, roughly 79 kWh usable instead of 75, and with it reaches 600 km WLTP against 586 km for the Long Range AWD from February 2025. A Premium is therefore technically a step beyond a Long Range, not the same car under a new name.
If you're working with configurator figures, look carefully at the drivetrain too: the 603 km shown on the Belgian configurator today belongs to the Premium with rear-wheel drive, not to the four-wheel-drive version.
So an advert for a "Model Y Long Range" is about a car from before that change, and a "Model Y" with nothing added can be either the new entry version or an older base version. Look at build year, battery and range instead of at the name.
Which one do you choose?
Choose the previous generation if you mainly want a lot of car for your money. It's the same spacious, practical, fast-charging Model Y with the same charging network behind it. You give up comfort and sound insulation, and that price gap is real. Often enough to pay for a home charging point.
Choose the Juniper if you drive a lot of motorway kilometres or spend long days in the car. That's exactly where the comfort and the quiet pay for themselves, and the higher range saves you a charging stop on longer trips.
Choose the Performance if you're really going to use it. Otherwise the Long Range is the smarter buy: more range, lower consumption, a lower insurance premium.
What to check on a used Model Y
1. The battery: ask for a measured battery health figure, not an estimate. We test every electric car and record the result. Battery health (SOH) can be listed on the Car-Pass, but that field is optional, so it isn't there automatically.
2. The remaining factory warranty: battery and drive unit are covered up to 8 years or 192 000 km. The base vehicle is covered for less. Work out what is concretely left of it.
3. The wheel size: it determines both the range and the ride comfort. Big wheels look good and cost you kilometres.
4. Software options: at Tesla, paid options such as Full Self-Driving are tied to the account, not always to the car. Assume they don't come with it unless that's explicitly confirmed.
5. Tow bar: both generations tow up to 1 600 kg, but not every example has one. What can and can't be fitted afterwards is in our article on a tow bar on your Tesla.
Our video review
We took the Juniper out for a long test drive and filmed what changed: The NEW Tesla Model Y Juniper: review and test drive.
Want to drive one yourself?
Have a look at all the Tesla Model Ys in our stock. If the right combination isn't there, let us know. We buy in continuously and search along with you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Model Y Juniper and an ordinary Model Y?
"Juniper" is the internal code name for the thoroughly revised Model Y that came to market in 2025. The main differences from the previous generation: a more comfortable suspension, better sound insulation, a more refined interior, full-width LED light bars front and rear, and more range thanks to better aerodynamics.
Does the Juniper have a bigger battery?
No, battery capacity stayed roughly the same. The extra range comes from efficiency gains, not from more kilowatt-hours. In the same version, the Performance went from 514 km to 580 km WLTP.
Why is the Long Range now called Model Y Premium?
Tesla renamed the line-up in October 2025. What was called Long Range has been called Premium ever since, and below it came a cheaper version simply called Model Y. It is more than a name, though: the Premium with All-Wheel Drive got a bigger battery at the same time (roughly 79 kWh usable instead of 75) and reaches 600 km WLTP against 586 km for the Long Range AWD from early 2025.
How much can a Model Y tow?
Up to 1 600 kg, in both generations. On condition, of course, that a tow bar is fitted or can be fitted.
How long does Tesla's battery warranty run?
Battery and drive unit are covered for 8 years or 192 000 km, whichever comes first. The base vehicle has shorter cover. On a used car what counts is what's left of it, and we work that out per car.
Is the previous generation Model Y still a good buy?
Yes. It's the same spacious and practical car with the same charging network, at a lower price. What you mainly give up is ride comfort, sound insulation and range. If you drive a lot of motorway kilometres, the Juniper is worth the difference; otherwise the previous generation is often the better deal.