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After a year of searching for a replacement for my Tesla Model 3, I tried the Smart #5, the Xpeng G6, and a Porsche Taycan… Each time, there was something off.
However, with the new 2025 Tesla Model Y Performance, I think I’ve finally found the perfect successor. Here’s why this 500-horsepower vehicle could well be the best electric car currently on sale in Europe.
The Tesla Model Y Performance is loaded with innovations that are not yet available across the SUV’s entire range. This could make it one of the best Teslas at the moment. However, not everything is perfect, as we will discuss further.
We drove this Tesla for an entire day around Paris: on the ring road, the highway, and country roads. We thoroughly evaluated the vehicle to provide you our detailed opinion.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Technical Specifications
| Model | Tesla Model Y Performance (2025) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.80 m x 2.13 m x 1.61 m |
| Horsepower | 460 horsepower |
| 0 to 100km/h | 3.5 s |
| Autonomy Level | Semi-autonomous driving (level 2) |
| Max Speed | 249 km/h |
| Embedded OS | Tesla OS |
| Main Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Car-side Plug | Type 2 Combo (CCS) |
| Entry-level Price | 61,990 euros |
|
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Product sheet |
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Design: Understated Sportiness
The front end doesn’t revolutionize the Model Y, but Tesla has refined the details. Glossy black side inserts add a more assertive touch, while the redesigned bumper and the lower diffuser blade enhance its road presence without being over the top.
The 21-inch wheels are the most striking visual signature to me. Their unique design incorporates removable plastic covers that optimize aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, especially on highways. These can be manually removed to reveal Tesla’s red brake calipers—an appealing detail for enthusiasts of sportiness.
The chassis is lowered by about 1.5 cm compared to the standard Model Y, improving road holding, although this change slightly affects comfort as the shocks have less travel.
At the rear, the carbon fiber spoiler visually extends the silhouette, while the characteristic elegance of the LED bar remains. The massive diffuser clearly indicates the performance intentions of this version, reinforced by a subtle side badge.
In red, as with our test model, the sporty aspect is immediately apparent. In black, the car remains more understated—the wheels being the only giveaway of its 500-horsepower capabilities. Personally, that’s what I appreciate about this type of vehicle: it’s not “too much.” It can easily pass as an everyday car, without standing out too much from other automotive creations on the streets.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Cabin: A Balance of Sport and Practicality
The semi-bucket seats mark the first visual break from the civilian versions. More enveloping and rigid on the sides, they hold the body perfectly in turns without sacrificing long-distance comfort. I had feared seats as hard as bricks, designed solely for the track.
The reality is quite different: after several hours behind the wheel, the balance between sporty support and daily comfort is excellent. Heated and ventilated (though not massaging), these seats feature the Performance logo and a specific headrest design.
The dashboard and door panels replace the usual fabric with carbon fiber, adding a premium, sporty touch without ostentation. The sportiness is expressed in understatement, just like the exterior.
Inherited from the Model Y Juniper sold in China, the adjustable thigh support, controlled by a new electric button, is another major innovation. For my height (1.84 m), the impact is limited. However, shorter individuals will appreciate this additional support on long journeys.
The central screen has grown from 15.4 to 16 inches with improved resolution. Honestly, the difference is not immediately noticeable while driving—the previous panel was already excellent. This increase is somewhat trivial. And as with every Tesla test, I wish for a screen behind the steering wheel, like on the Model S and Model X, which is sorely lacking.
Storage spaces remain unchanged: they are still massive. The central console can swallow my arm up to the elbow, the central armrest offers a generous volume with an integrated USB port. This Performance model isn’t just a track machine; it’s a real everyday vehicle.
Spaciousness: The Room of a Family SUV
The rear seats of the Model Y continue to impress me. With the driver’s seat adjusted for my height, I have 10 to 15 centimeters of knee room and exceptional headroom thanks to the panoramic roof.
The adjustable backrest allows for a slight recline for napping, the central screen controls the air conditioning and music, or even some video game sessions with a controller—ideal for kids. USB-C ports and a massive central armrest complete the setup.
The downside of this generosity? The very rigid central backrest due to the armrest. Over 1000 kilometers with five adults, the middle seat becomes uncomfortable. The limited width doesn’t help. But this is still the second most spacious Tesla on the market after the Model X (or the Cybertruck, which is not available in Europe).
How many cars can hit 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds while offering an 800-liter trunk? This space allows for carrying complete equipment for vacations, with a considerable under-trunk. The frunk (front trunk) surpasses that of the Model 3 at 116 liters, complete with a practical drainage plug for creating an improvised cooler or storing fishing gear. Once again, the keyword here is versatility, not just sportiness.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Infotainment: Efficient but Not Revolutionary
The interface remains the one known from recent Teslas: smooth, responsive, with a mature software ecosystem.
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However, Tesla is falling behind Chinese and European competitors in some areas. The lack of a true 360° view, despite Elon Musk’s years-long promises, is becoming a problem. The front camera, new on this model, allows viewing the car’s nose during maneuvers. But the sides remain blind: the rear wheels are visible, not the front ones.
It’s impossible to detect a low curb before parking, which almost guarantees scratches on the 21-inch wheels (and their low-profile sport tires).
Smart #5 and Xpeng G6, in this price range or even cheaper, offer this feature. It would only take a couple of extra cameras. This oversight becomes unforgivable after so many years and directly impacts the wallet: repairing wheels is expensive.
The customizable ambient LEDs (here in red, the color of the car) add a cozy touch, although they remain more of a nice extra than a necessity.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Route Planner
The built-in integration of the Supercharger network into the navigation, with automatic battery preheating in cold weather, remains a major asset.
The reliability of the Tesla network and preferential rates for owners (or via subscription for other brands) are one of the main reasons to buy a Tesla.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Driving Aids: Tesla’s Strength
On the ring road, I tested the semi-autonomous driving (note, not 100% autonomous). I must continue to monitor the road and take over the steering wheel when the system requests. But having used this technology for years, I can confirm: you arrive at your destination much less tired, with a more rested mind.
Tesla’s autonomous driving, especially the Full Self-Driving in the US and China, represents a significant advance over the competition. In Europe, the features are more limited compared to these markets, but the lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control, and automatic lane changes operate reassuringly.
The absence of physical controls for drive, neutral, and park (now on the screen) continues to annoy me. Why does Tesla insist on removing these controls during maneuvers? Fortunately, the car automatically detects the intent and engages the correct direction: driving forward when there’s a wall behind, for example. One less gesture, sure, but the system can be wrong in certain situations.
Good news: the turn signal stalks are present. After the absurdity of buttons on the steering wheel in older Model 3s, Tesla has corrected this in the new Model Y and Model 3. A relief.
Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)Driving: Surprising Versatility
First turn of the wheel in the city. This 500-horsepower car behaves like a tame compact. The steering in comfort mode offers surprising softness, without betraying the power under the hood. You don’t feel like you’re driving one of the most muscular production cars on the market. The comfort mode smooths everything out: no need for abrupt accelerations, everything is done smoothly.
The revolution in this Performance model lies in its completely revamped chassis, the first Tesla (along with the Model 3 Performance) to receive adaptive suspensions. No air suspensions here—just classic springs with electronically controlled dampers.
This technology allows adjusting the firmness according to the driving mode. In sport, the chassis tightens dramatically. In comfort, the car regains acceptable daily flexibility, where the previous Model Y Performance (like the previous Model 3 Performance) was constantly stiff.
It doesn’t reach the plushness of the air suspensions in the Model S, Model X, or some competitors, but in this price range, few cars come equipped with this technology, except for some Chinese models.
The controlled dampers do their job well, but on speed bumps and deep potholes, it still hits hard, especially at the back. If comfort is a priority over sportiness, it’s better to opt for the non-Performance versions, ideally with the smallest possible wheels (more rubber = more air = more comfort).
The soundproofing is another major improvement over the previous generation. Tesla has doubled all the windows: panoramic roof, rear window, side windows, windshield. At 50 km/h on the ring road, rolling noises are well filtered, and air noises are almost non-existent.
My 2020 Model 3, made in the USA (one of the worst in sound insulation), is nothing like this new Model Y. Conversations with passengers become enjoyable, even on fast roads.
At 110 km/h, silence still prevails. Some air noises start to be heard, but rolling noises remain muted. The change is impressive compared to the older generation.
Accelerations and Performance
Let’s get serious: a sharp acceleration on a stretch limited to 110 km/h. The neck instantly presses against the headrest. This pickup at this speed demonstrates the contribution of the new high-capacity 84 kWh battery (up from 79 kWh previously). This upgrade affects not only autonomy but also releases more power.
Previously, the old battery limited the motors to 460 horsepower. With this new generation, the same electric motors deliver 500 horsepower. This power was already available in the US on the Model 3 Performance (batteries differ by markets). Europe and China are finally catching up. The impact is not so much on the 0 to 100 km/h (already blistering) as on the pickups: from 80 to 110 km/h on a national road to overtake, the acceleration becomes even sharper.
What amazes me about Tesla, and what I’ve rarely found elsewhere (except in Porsche), is the responsiveness of the accelerator. There’s no latency, unlike many Chinese electric cars. You press the pedal, the power comes instantly. In Ludicrous mode (the most radical), it’s pure on/off. A video game. This responsiveness is adjustable: in comfort mode, torque and power are drastically reduced for smoother driving.
Some might find this behavior uncomfortable in the city or traffic jams, causing jerks. A period of adaptation allows mastering the pedal. If it
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.