• Out Of Spec pitted the new Tesla Model Y “Juniper” against the outgoing model in a 70-mph highway range test.
• Both vehicles were driven until they died.
• The new Model Y went further, but the old one was slightly more efficient. 

The Tesla Model Y is the most important EV on sale. I’m comfortable saying that not just because it’s the best-selling car in the world—regardless of powertrain type—but it’s also the most efficient mainstream electric crossover, and the most vital product for America’s biggest EV maker. So now that Tesla has finally refreshed it with the “Juniper” update, how much better did it get?

We know the styling is new. We know the interior has been upgraded to have better materials and ambient lighting. Most importantly, we know that Tesla seems to have fixed the Model Y’s God-awful ride quality. But the company also claims the new car is up to 10% more efficient, so Out Of Spec put it head-to-head with the old Model Y to see whether that’s true.

Turns out things aren’t that simple.

The new Model Y gets up to 327 miles of range on the EPA cycle, which is a 55/45 mix of city/highway driving. On Out Of Spec’s 70-mph highway test, the updated Model Y Long Range AWD delivered 298 miles of range in the real world. That’s a great showing given that EVs are far less efficient on the highway, and that Out Of Spec saw 20-30 mph winds during the test. The new Model Y also edged out the 2024 Model Y Long Range AWD, which went 285 miles on a charge. 

Interestingly, however, the old Model Y appeared to be slightly more efficient. Both averaged around 3.7 miles per kWh, but the 2024 Model eked out a narrow win. Out Of Spec notes that given the wind and the general imperfections of real-world testing, this probably falls within the range of normal noise. The new Model Y also went further on a similar pack, as it gave the user more usable capacity before stopping completely. Still, it’s not quite the 10% efficiency improvement we expected to see. A lot of that is aero and tire advantages, Out Of Spec notes, which may have been affected by the heavy crosswinds.

Make no mistake, though, both cars are incredibly efficient. Out Of Spec notes that both are among the most efficient electric crossovers they’ve ever tested. So while Tesla’s sales may be plummeting and its brand value may be tarnished, the cars are as good as ever.

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