We’ve owned nearly a dozen Teslas at this point (yes, really), and when the new Model Y Juniper launched, we knew we had to put it to the test. After 30+ days of driving, wrapping, disassembling, and testing, we’ve got some honest thoughts to share. If you’re wondering whether the Juniper upgrade is worth it—especially if you already own a Model Y—read on.
First Things First: It’s a Fantastic Car
Let’s just get this out of the way. The Model Y Juniper? It’s fantastic. If you’re here for a TL;DR, that’s it. Tesla nailed it. But if you want the why behind that statement (and we think you do), let’s dive in.
We’ve Been Busy With This One
When we got the Juniper, we didn’t just park it and admire it. Nope—we had it completely torn apart in our shop. We were busy scanning panels, designing products, testing PPF fits, and figuring out all the nuances. Now that we’ve had a chance to actually drive it, not just work on it, we can confidently say: it’s a joy.
Exterior Changes That Matter
From the front and rear to a few key tweaks, here’s what we noticed:
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Front Bumper: It’s flatter and more aggressive than the bubbly older gen. Looks sleek and, bonus for us PPF folks, way easier to wrap.
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New Headlight Design: What used to be fog lights on the Legacy Model Y are now a little larger and higher up as daytime running lights on the Juniper. The light bar is similar to the Cybertruck’s style—and it looks sharp.
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Rear Light Bar: This reflective panel on the back gives off serious Cybertruck vibes. It’s distinct, futuristic, and we’re pretty sure it’ll be an iconic design cue.
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Wheels: We went with the 19” darker tone aero wheels. Honestly, love the look. Feels more modern and refined than the older silver finish.
Oh, and we already de-badged it. Because of our product testing, it required us to remove literally all the badging that was once on it.
Interior: The Quiet Game-Changer
There’s a reason people are saying “it’s too quiet.” And yeah, that’s a good problem to have.
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Road Noise: We measured it—there’s about a 20-30% reduction in cabin noise compared to older Model Ys. Doesn’t sound huge? Trust us, it is.
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Matrix Black Wrap: We wrapped the interior with our Matrix Black vinyl, and the vibe is chef’s kiss.
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New Center Console: This resembles the new Model 3 Highland refresh, as does much of the interior like the dash and ambient lighting. Overall, it’s cleaner and more functional.
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Rear Auto-Folding Seats: Game-changer for families. Press a button and watch the seats fold—yes, even with a car seat in the middle.
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Rear Seat Adjustability: Rear passengers get a bit of recline. Small detail, big road trip win.
Thoughtful Upgrades
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One Stalk is Back on the left hand side: We didn’t realize how much we missed it. Way easier than using haptic controls for turn signals. Good call, Tesla.
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Rear Display: Not new for Highland or Cybertruck owners, but still a lifesaver on road trips.
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Bioweapon Defense Mode: Not new for some Teslas, but new for Model Y. It works. And yes, we’ve used it during bad air quality days. This mode alone makes us breathe a little easier—literally.
- Cooling Seats: Not new for the Model 3 Highland, but new for Juniper. And it’s a very convenient feature to have here in the South.
What Could Be Better?
We’re not here to gush without balance. A few things could be improved:
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No Rear Camera Washer: The front has a washer; why not the back? This is a small but meaningful miss.
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License Plate Bracket: Drilling into the diffuser with double-sided tape feels like a DIY hack from the factory. A proper bracket would go a long way.
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Seat Profile Syncing: Coming from a 2021 Model Y, our saved profile didn’t transfer well. Let’s just say there was some seat-squishing. A small bug that was fixed later.
Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Here’s the deal:
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If you own a 2020–2023 Model Y: Yes, there’s enough here to justify the jump.
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If you own a 2024 or early 2025 Model Y: Maybe wait it out a bit longer. Those are still excellent vehicles.
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If this is your first Tesla or coming from older models: Absolutely. This is the Model Y, leveled up.
Final Thoughts
From the delivery experience (shoutout to the Chattanooga center!) to the long list of subtle-yet-impactful improvements, the Model Y Juniper delivers. It feels like Tesla took everything they learned from previous iterations, actually listened to customer feedback, and rolled out a refined, smarter, and more enjoyable ride.
If you’re thinking about making the switch—or just curious what makes the Juniper special—this is one Tesla we think a lot of people are going to love.