Mostly darker
The Tesla Model Y Standard has only just arrived, but there’s already a small change for the model. It gets a larger touchscreen, while more expensive Premium versions also receive some cosmetic alterations.
Whoever buys a Tesla never knows how long that car will remain completely current, because changes follow each other rapidly with this brand. In recent months, for example, the regular RWD version of the Model Y was scrapped, making way for the new and simpler Standard trim. Then came the Long Range version of that Standard, and now it’s time for some smaller changes for all model variants. Yes, even those brand new Standard versions! Following the Chinese-built Model Y, European examples – which roll off the production line in Germany – now also get a larger touchscreen. It now measures 16 inches instead of 15.4 inches, a size that is still current in the Model 3, by the way. This change applies to all Model Y variants, from Standard to Performance.
The 16-inch screen first appeared in 2025 in the longer Tesla Model YL for the Chinese market, but is now also making its way to other variants. Incidentally, nothing of the six-seater Model YL has yet been seen in Europe.
The ‘old’ situation above, the new below.
For Premium versions, there are more changes, though very subtle. Model Ys with a continuous taillight bar, for example, now get black headlining, instead of the light gray that used to be the norm for all models and is still present in Standard variants. Anyone ordering the optional 20-inch Helix wheels on such a Premium model will now get them in a dark gray instead of silver-grey hue. These wheels do cost a bit, though: a hefty €2,200.
Silver (above) is out, dark gray is in.
Autopilot Removed
Meanwhile, there’s also a lot of buzz around the Model Y in America. The subscription model for ‘Full Self Driving’, previously announced by Elon Musk, has now been introduced there. After a free one-month trial, customers pay $99 per month for the ‘self-driving’ features and can still choose a one-time purchase of the product for $8,000 until February 14. It is particularly unexpected that the standard Autopilot function, the active lane keeping assist that was previously delivered on all Teslas, has also been removed in North America. Teslas now only have adaptive cruise control as standard; for all other advanced driving systems, the FSD subscription is therefore indispensable.