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Used Model Y: Juniper vs earlier Model Y
Last checked: 19 October 2026 against Tesla Australia, Tesla’s New Model Y notes, Drive and CarExpert. Equipment varies by build, so confirm the exact car with the seller and Tesla. This is a general guide, not financial or legal advice.
Short answer: The 2025 Model Y refresh, reportedly codenamed Juniper, is a facelift on the same underlying car, not an all-new model. It brings new front and rear lighting, a quieter and more supple ride, ventilated front seats, power rear seats and an 8-inch rear touchscreen. Earlier Model Y cars are still good family EVs, but they ride firmer and miss some of that kit. In a listing, the fastest tells are the light bars, where the number plate sits, and whether there is a screen behind the centre console.
Earlier Model Y in Australia: what that means
The Model Y went on sale overseas in 2020, but Australian orders opened on 10 June 2022 and local deliveries started that August. So a locally delivered pre-refresh Model Y is a 2022 to early-2025 car, not a 2020 one.
Pre-refresh cars were sold here as Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range (dual-motor AWD, added in 2023) and Performance. Drive notes the suspension tune was softened during 2023, so a mid-2024 build rides better than a 2022 build, though both are firm next to the refresh.
The refreshed car was revealed in January 2025. Australia got limited Launch Series Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range All-Wheel Drive cars first, then the regular versions, with deliveries from around mid-2025. The refreshed Performance opened for orders on 5 September 2025 and, unlike the rest of the range, comes from Tesla’s Berlin factory rather than Shanghai. In February 2026 Tesla Australia added “Premium” to the names (Premium Rear-Wheel Drive, Premium Long Range All-Wheel Drive) and said it was a naming change only. The longer, six-seat Model Y L is a separate model and still rare used.
What changed with the refresh
Outside. A full-width light bar crosses the nose, with the headlights moved lower into the bumper. The fog lights and the bonnet “T” badge are gone. A front camera now sits low in the bumper. At the back, an indirect, reflected light bar runs across the rear, and the number plate moves from the tailgate down into a deeper lower bumper. The old one-piece tailgate is now split into three pieces, which Drive says makes low-speed repairs less complex. New wheels (19-inch Crossflow, 20-inch Helix 2.0) and a Glacier Blue paint arrived too.
Inside. Drive says nearly everything you touch changed: steering wheel, seats, console, dash trim and door panels. Front seats gain ventilation. Rear outboard seats recline electrically and the second row can be raised as well as lowered from the boot or the touchscreen. There is an 8-inch rear touchscreen for climate and media, ambient lighting, and a roof glass coating Tesla says reflects seven times more solar energy. The Long Range moves from 13 to 15 speakers, while the Rear-Wheel Drive drops from 13 to nine.
Controls. The refresh keeps an indicator stalk but moves gear selection to a slider on the touchscreen, backed by Tesla’s Auto Shift software. Lights and wipers move to the steering wheel.
Ride and noise. Tesla claims 22% less road noise and 20% less impact and wind noise, plus a stiffer body and redesigned suspension. Drive found the new car “much more supple” and quieter than a 2024 Long Range, helped by frequency-selective dampers. The refreshed Performance adds adaptive suspension and 21-inch wheels.
Juniper vs earlier Model Y at a glance
| Earlier Model Y (AU 2022 to early 2025) | Refreshed Model Y (AU from 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Front lights | Separate headlights, front fog lights | Full-width light bar, lower headlights, no fog lights |
| Rear | One-piece tailgate, plate on tailgate | Indirect light bar, three-piece tailgate, plate in lower bumper |
| Bonnet badge | Tesla “T” badge | No badge |
| Front camera | No | Yes, low in the bumper |
| Rear screen | No | 8-inch rear touchscreen |
| Front seats | Heated | Heated and ventilated |
| Rear seats | Manual recline; boot switches lower but cannot raise | Power recline, power fold and raise |
| Gear selection | Stalk | Touchscreen slider with Auto Shift |
| Ride | Firm (softened during 2023) | More supple, quieter |
| Length (Long Range, per Drive) | 4,751 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Boot, seats up (Long Range, per Drive) | 854 L | 822 L |
| Braked towing (Long Range, per Drive) | 1,600 kg | 1,588 kg |
| Names you will see | RWD, Long Range, Performance | RWD, Long Range AWD, Launch Series, Performance; “Premium” from Feb 2026 |
Range is the one figure to treat carefully. At launch, Drive reported WLTP claims of 466 km for the Rear-Wheel Drive (up from 455 km) and 551 km for the Long Range (up from 533 km). Tesla’s Australian site now lists different figures for current builds, so confirm the build and read our battery health guide before trusting any number in an ad.
How to tell them apart in a listing
Do not rely on the year in the headline. Tesla was still clearing pre-refresh stock in early 2025, so a 2025-registered car can be either version. Use the photos.
- Front photo. A thin light strip across the full width of the nose, no fog lights and no bonnet badge means refresh.
- Rear photo. A plate on the tailgate means earlier car. A plate low in the bumper with a full-width light bar above means refresh.
- Rear seat photo. A screen at the back of the centre console means refresh.
- Cockpit photo. Earlier cars have a second stalk on the column for selecting drive. The refresh keeps only the indicator stalk and selects drive on the touchscreen.
- Badges and trim. A Launch Series has extras such as a boot badge, puddle lights, doorsill plate and suede trim. “Premium” is a name, not extra equipment.
Then ask for the VIN, the papers and a Tesla app screenshot showing the exact variant, and match the VIN against your own PPSR search.
What to check when buying either
Both versions. Work through our inspection guide and run a PPSR search yourself. Ask for the Warranty tab in the Tesla app. Drive notes neither comes with a spare or a standard puncture kit, and neither has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Earlier Model Y.
- Test drive over speed humps and expansion joints. A 2022 build is likely to feel firmer than a mid-2024 build.
- Listen for squeaks and creaks. Drive’s low-kilometre 2024 test car had plenty.
- Look closely at the tailgate. On the one-piece design, a low-speed rear hit can mean replacing the whole panel, so check panel gaps and ask about rear repairs.
- Warranty: the basic vehicle warranty for these cars was four years or 80,000 km, so 2022 cars are now past four years and high-kilometre cars may be past 80,000 km. The battery and drive unit cover runs eight years with a distance cap: 160,000 km for Rear-Wheel Drive, 192,000 km for Long Range.
Refreshed Model Y.
- Check that the rear screen, front camera, ventilated seats and power rear seats all work.
- Try Auto Shift and the touchscreen gear selector in a three-point turn before you commit.
- Confirm which variant it is. Launch Series cars add cosmetic extras, and “Premium” is a rename. The Performance has 21-inch wheels and adaptive suspension, so budget for tyres.
- Warranty: Tesla says new Model 3 and Model Y cars delivered from 1 January 2026 get a five-year, unlimited-kilometre basic warranty. Earlier refreshed cars had the older four-year/80,000 km cover. Ask for the delivery date.
Which one should you buy?
If ride comfort, cabin noise and rear passengers matter most, the refresh is the clear upgrade; Drive rated it ahead of the 2024 car on ride, comfort and energy use. If the price is right, a well-kept earlier Long Range or Rear-Wheel Drive still does the family job. Prefer a later build and price in any expired warranty.
Still choosing between body styles? Read Model 3 vs Model Y. Buying across a border? Check stamp duty and transfer with your state first.
FAQ
Is “Juniper” an official Tesla name? No. Tesla calls it the new Model Y. Juniper is the widely reported codename, and sellers use it as shorthand.
Is a 2025 Model Y always the refreshed version? No. Pre-refresh stock was still being sold in early 2025. Check the light bars, plate position and rear screen in the photos.
Does “Premium” on a 2026 car mean extra equipment? No. Tesla Australia said the February 2026 rename was a naming change only.
Sources: Tesla Australia Model Y, Tesla: New Model Y, Drive’s old vs new comparison, Premium naming and Performance reports, and the CarExpert buyer’s guide.
See used Model Y listings
Browse Model Y listings or all used Teslas for sale, and compare asking prices on the price guide. Common questions sit on the FAQ. Selling an earlier Model Y to move up? Read the selling guide and list your Tesla.