New Model Y Openly Invites Comparisons: Who's the Best Contender?

The sudden release of the refreshed Model Y has sparked a frenzy, especially since its winter testing spy shots were only just leaked yesterday (January 10th). Even before the MIIT's official certification photos surfaced, the new vehicle has already landed in front of consumers.

To briefly summarize:

• The pre-sale includes two launch editions:Rear-Wheel Drive Launch Edition: ¥263,500Long Range All-Wheel Drive Launch Edition: ¥303,500

• The pre-sale period runs through February 28th, with deliveries scheduled to commence in March.

The "Launch Edition" differs from the regular versions that will follow primarily through exclusive identifiers like rear hatch emblems, illuminated door sills, and engraved text on wireless charging pads – features emphasizing emotional appeal over functional upgrades.

Tesla demonstrates strong confidence in the refreshed Model Y's capabilities, even titling its official announcement "Go Ahead, Compare." Chinese automakers responded in kind:

• Xiaomi's Lei Jun replied with a succinct "Challenge accepted"

• HUAEWI HIMA (Richard Yu), Zeekr, and ONVO countered with "Bring it on!"

The Battle Lines Are Drawn: Can Any Challenger – Responding or Silent – Truly Rival the Upgraded Model Y?

To answer this, we must first benchmark the new Model Y's true competitive edge.

Same Old Story

With the outgoing Model Y currently available at an effective starting price of ¥239,900, the refreshed Model Y's ¥23,600 price premium brings bold design transformations that redefine the vehicle inside and out.

Let's break down the key upgrades:

more future - oriented

It's hard to link the refreshed Model Y to the old one based solely on appearance, as their design styles are vastly different.

The old Model Y was nicknamed "Big Mouse" for its smooth, flowing lines and large curves. In contrast, the new Model Y draws inspiration from Cybertruck and Cybercab, featuring more straight lines and a "sci - fi future" visual style.

Some design details, like the front and rear light clusters, have been updated to a consistent -style in the new Model Y—frankly, giving a strong Cybertruck vibe. The front bumper is also redesigned to be simpler and sharper.

The taillights feature diffused lighting, creating a sense of "borderlessness" and "floating", which might become a visual symbol of the new Model Y.

Notably, though the new Model Y's body lines look more rugged, its Cd drops to 0.22 from the old Model Y's 0.23. This reduction means lower energy consumption and less wind noise for the new Model Y.

Inside, the new Model Y aligns with the new Model 3 in interior style. It uses lots of "technical textiles" instead of the old model's wood panels and leather, creating a more understated and elegant cabin atmosphere.

Also, the addition of ambient lighting enhances the interior atmosphere of the new Model Y.

The new 8 - inch rear - seat screen offers multimedia entertainment, like gaming as shown in official demos.

Interestingly, the new Model Y retains the turn - signal stalk, but the gear - shift stalk is gone. Drivers now shift gears via the center screen.

Some details are easy to overlook. For instance, the rear seat cushion of the new Model Y is lengthened by 15mm, the headrest widened by 17mm, and the glass roof is upgraded with a silver coating, which reportedly improves heat insulation by seven times.

In addition, the new Model Y introduces electric folding for the second - row seats, enhancing space - use convenience. The rear - wheel - drive version's speakers are cut to 9 (originally 14), while the long - range version increases to 16 (originally 14), making configuration differences more pronounced.

Regarding comfort features, none of the seats have massage functions. Front seats come standard with heating and ventilation, while the second - row seats only have heating.

Familiar Flavor

While the refreshed Model Y shows significant design, interior, and configuration upgrades, its core specifications remain fundamentally unchanged – retaining the "familiar DNA".

Dimensional comparisons reveal minimal evolution:

• New Model Y: 4,797×1,920×1,624mm (L×W×H)

• Changes vs outgoing model:

  • +47mm length (equivalent to 1.8 inches)

  • -1mm width (0.04 inches narrower)

• Wheelbase: Unaltered at 2,890mm

The new Model Y still uses a 400V architecture with a maximum charging power of 250kW. The powertrain remains the same: 220kW and 440N·m for the rear - wheel - drive version, and 331kW and 559N·m for the long - range version.

Due to the optimized drag coefficient, the new Model Y consumes less energy and accelerates better.

The rear - wheel - drive version has a minimum energy consumption of 11.9kWh/100km (with 19 - inch wheels), unchanged acceleration, and a 5.9 - second 0 - 100km/h time. With a 62.5kWh battery, it offers a 593km CLTC range (with 19 - inch wheels).

The long - range version has a minimum energy consumption of 12.4kWh/100km (with 19 - inch wheels). With a 78.4kWh battery, it accelerates from 0 - 100km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a 719km CLTC range (with 19 - inch wheels).

Compared to the old model, the new Model Y also has:

• Increased cameras from 7 to 8, with the new one on the front bumper.

• Upgraded hardware to AI4 and a slightly larger 15.4 - inch center screen.

Overall, the new Model Y differs from the old one mainly in visual impact and comfort features, with no radical change in basic performance.

The new Model 3 can serve as a good reference. However, referring to the new Model 3 implies unsatisfactory performance, as it failed to boost the Model 3 series' sales.

In the latest December sales data released by the Passenger Vehicle Association, the Xiaomi SU7 sold 25,000 units, surpassing the Model 3's 21,000 units.

Looking back, Lei Jun, Richard Yu, Chen Zhuo and others were brave enough to face the new Model Y's "provocation", as excellent products are their greatest source of confidence. The following models could bring "trouble" to the new Model Y.

Who is the rival?

The refreshed Model Y faces competition in two distinct camps:

1. Highly targeted upcoming models like Xiaomi's YU7 and Xpeng's G7 (yet to launch)

2. Self-proclaimed "Model Y Killers" already on the market in 2024 with proven sales momentum

Focusing on the "pure - electric SUV" segment priced "above 200,000 yuan", several models have recorded impressive sales below Model Y.

In December, LUXEED R7 delivered 15,000 units, ONVO L60 10,500 units, Zeekr 7X 9,677 units, and IM Motors LS6 5,628 units. Though these models still have a long way to go to "replace" the Model Y, they are sufficient to "challenge" it.

LUXEED R7

Richard Yu posted on his social media, "Judging from the data, the LUXEED R7 still holds the edge." Let's dive into the specifics of the LUXEED R7's parameter advantages.

On paper, LUXEED R7's most obvious advantage is its "larger size". Its length, width, and height of 4956×1981×1634mm and wheelbase of 2950mm are significantly better than those of the new Model Y.

For the entry - level rear - wheel - drive single - motor version, the LUXEED R7 has a larger battery capacity (82kWh), longer CLTC range (667km), and is built on an 800V platform for theoretically faster charging.

The LUXEED R7 is also better equipped. It has Nappa - patterned vegan leather seats, 15 speakers, standard air suspension, and continuously adjustable damping shock absorbers, which are much more luxurious than the new Model Y's "simple" configuration.

The biggest difference lies in driving assistance. The entry - level LUXEED R7 comes standard with the base version of ADS, enabling navigation - assisted driving on expressways. In contrast, the new Model Y only offers the basic LCC function without purchasing the AP, which is less practical.

ONVO L60

ONVO L60 adopts a different strategy against the new Model Y than the LUXEED R7, focusing on "unique capabilities + tiered competition".

The unique capability is that the ONVO L60 is the only pure - electric SUV in its class to support battery swapping, attracting potential consumers with this differentiated feature.

Battery swapping speeds up energy replenishment, reduces decay anxiety, and offers a clear advantage over the new Model Y's 400V platform. Moreover, based on the separation of vehicle and battery, ONVO L60 can offer a lower starting price (as low as 149,900 yuan with BaaS), which is the core of the " tiered competition" strategy.

In terms of product itself, ONVO L60's size of 4828×1930×1616mm and wheelbase of 2950mm are comparable to those of the new Model Y. Its rear - wheel - drive version can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds, matching that of the rear - wheel - drive Model Y.

With its rich configuration and sufficient range (555km on a 60kWh battery for the rear - wheel - drive version), the ONVO L60's core experience is on par with, or even surpasses, that of the new Model Y, making its price more appealing.

In terms of design, the ONVO L60 aims for a mass - market look, not overly emphasizing individuality. Some might consider its design relatively "plain".

ZEEKR 7X

While the Zeekr 7X shares the value-for-money focus seen in the ONVO L60's competitive strategy, its execution diverges sharply through luxury-oriented positioning that transcends conventional "budget premium" approaches.

Key dimensional comparisons reveal strategic restraint:

Model	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase
Zeekr 7X	4,825mm	1,930mm	1,666mm	2,925mm
Refreshed Model Y	4,797mm	1,920mm	1,624mm	2,890mm
Advantage Gap	+28mm	+10mm	+42mm	+35mm

The 800V architecture is a plus, but the entry - level Zeekr 7X only has a 75kWh battery and a 605km CLTC range. Compared to the new Model Y, it only has the advantage of "fast charging speed", and its range is not a strong point.

The real strengths of the Zeekr 7X are:

1. The "reasonableness" of its configuration. Even the base model has complete driving assistance functions without extra cost.

2. Comfort and tech features like seat ventilation, heating, massage, and electrically adjustable steering wheel are standard across the lineup. This makes the entry - level Zeekr 7X much more appealing.

Another is the interior atmosphere.

For example, seats are made of Nappa full - grain top - layer leather, and the roof is covered with suede. Together with configurations like electric leg rests, independent entertainment screens, and small tables in the rear seats, these give the Zeekr 7X's cabin an edge over same - level models.

IM LS6

The IM LS6 has a lower starting price and larger dimensions than the new Model Y. With a length, width, height of 4910×1988×1669mm and a wheelbase of 2960mm, it has an edge in visual impact and space.

The core competitiveness comes from "high - end configurations", especially in the chassis.

The IM LS6 is one of the few models with "rear - wheel steering" at the 200,000 - yuan price point. Even the base model supports the "IM Crab Mode".

The IM LS6 offers decent basic performance. The 400V version with a 75kWh battery can travel 625km, while the 800V version with an 83kWh battery can reach 701km, accelerating from 0 - 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, with a fast - charging time of 16.8 minutes for 10% - 80%.

Even with these features, the starting price of the LS6 (262,900 yuan) is lower than that of the rear - wheel - drive new Model Y.

This pricing, combined with its performance, ensures the LS6 remains competitive even a year after launch. If it can be updated soon with better configurations and design, it will likely play a significant role in the 2025 "encirclement battle against Model Y".

confidently

Chinese automakers don't shy away from comparing their product strength with the Model Y. Yet, the old Model Y sold 61,881 units in December 2024, a height hard for others to reach.

For competitors, "partially surpassing the Model Y in product strength" is just the first step. They also need to focus on brand building, reputation, service systems, and delivery capabilities, areas where Chinese automakers should keep learning.

The new Model Y isn't flawless or invincible. Its "same - soup - different - bowl" nature offers a chance for fight back by domestic intelligent EVs.

With better energy - replenishing systems, driving assistance, cabin atmosphere, and ride quality, Chinese intelligent EVs can find their breakthroughs.

In this era of Tesla's fading magic, more automakers dare to respond to provocations with "good" products.

This might be the most justified benchmarking by Chinese new - forces, showing the comprehensive rise of the industry chain, technology, and brand momentum. They can create excellent products surpassing the "leader".

Let's wait and see if the Xiaomi YU7, XPeng G7, and other new models in 2025 can impress us.