In October 2025, Tesla launched the Model Y "Most Affordable" version in the United States, with a price tag of $39,990. This makes it $5,000 cheaper than the Premium RWD version, essentially positioning it as a decontented or budget-friendly variant of the Model Y Premium.
Compared to the Premium version, the Standard version has weaker range, 0-60 mph acceleration, and top speed. Pulling together comments from various online forums, I've written this blog post to help fellow car enthusiasts understand the new Tesla Model Y. Here's a detailed comparison:
1. Model Y Standard: Exterior Comparison
The most immediate exterior change is to the headlights. They've been changed from the previous LED headlights to LED lightbars. After browsing many online comments, it seems a lot of users actually prefer the LED lightbars, thinking they look cooler—though, of course, personal taste varies.
The number of paint color options has been reduced. You now only have three classic choices: black, white, and gray. You could call these the safest, most value-retaining colors.
For wheels, it comes standard with 18” Aperture Wheels. You can upgrade to 19" Crossflow Wheels for $1,500. If you're going for pure value, I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the wheel upgrade, but that's a personal decision.
The power-folding side mirrors have been changed to manual folding. This change significantly lowers the perceived quality. At the $39,990 price point, you'd expect power-folding mirrors, as many other vehicles in this price range have them as standard.
2. Model Y Standard: Interior Comparison
Inside, the most noticeable change is the material choice. You only get Textile decor, with no option for Microsuede decor. The Panoramic glass roof has been changed to a Closed glass roof. The inside has a fabric headliner, while the outside still looks like glass. On the plus side, this saves you money on a sunshade! Maybe you could just cut the fabric out yourself to make it a transparent roof?
The customizable ambient lighting has been removed. Some forum users noted that ambient lighting does add a certain mood and value; some even install their own blind-spot lights that provide a clear warning when turning, significantly enhancing the driving experience.
The Center console with extended storage has been replaced with an Open center console. The console is now hollowed out in the middle, which looks a bit strange aesthetically. The Power-adjustable steering wheel is now Manual. These are things you'll notice the moment you get inside.
The only interior color available is all-black. However, if you like the white seats, you can buy aftermarket Model Y white seat covers for a modification that's more affordable than Tesla's $1,000+ factory option.
The front seats have heating but no ventilation. While the rear seats in Premium and Performance trims have heating, the Standard version does not.
The audio system is a big step down, with only 7 speakers. Compared to other versions, this means you lose 8 speakers and 1 subwoofer. For anyone who loves listening to music in the car, this is a real dealbreaker—it cuts the joy of driving in half. The experience of watching movies or playing games in the car is also diminished. FM radio has also been eliminated, though perhaps some people never use it. Every penny saved counts!
For Air Filtration, you only get a Particulate and odor filter. The other trims come with a HEPA filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode. The HEPA filter can be a lifesaver for Tesla owners, potentially allowing them to avoid inhaling toxic smoke when escaping a fire zone by activating this mode.
The Second-row air vents no longer have a screen, and there's no power-adjustable airflow. The cup holders have also been changed.
 Model Y standard
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 Model Y Premium
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Ride Comfort has also been reduced. Premium models use Frequency-dependent shock absorbers, while the Standard model makes do with Passive shock absorbers, the same as the Model 3 Standard. The ride feels less refined, forcing a trade-off between comfort and handling.
Finally, it's worth noting that the new cheap Model Y surprisingly does not come with Autosteer, a feature that is standard on other Premium and Performance models. Has Tesla really cut its celebrated driver-assist feature? Many other economy cars come with basic lane-keeping functionality, so this cut doesn't make much sense, especially since the car's hardware comes equipped with HW4. Without Autosteer, you're stuck with basic cruise control on the highway. You won't be able to activate lane keeping, meaning you have to stay fully focused with both hands firmly on the wheel. For me personally, I use Autopilot most of the time; it saves a lot of mental energy and makes driving four or five hours much easier. However, the Model Y Standard still supports subscribing to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package for $8,000. This suggests the Autosteer function is likely just software-locked, and Tesla is probably using this to drive more FSD sales.
Another thing not explicitly mentioned on the spec sheet is a change to the taillights. It loses the full-width diffused taillight bar. Some users commented that after getting used to the Model Y Juniper's diffused lights, the budget Model Y, with only the two main tail lights illuminating, doesn't look as aesthetically pleasing.
3. Final Summary
Comparing the Model Y Standard and the Premium RWD, the $5,000 price reduction clearly comes at the cost of many features. The prevailing opinion among many netizens is that buying the Model Y Standard isn't worth it. Saving up directly for the Premium RWD is the most cost-effective choice.
