Official Model Y Juniper refresh EPA range test estimate is out and it runs longer on a charge despite using the same battery

When Tesla releases the 2026 Model Y Juniper facelift in March, it will come with a longer range on a charge, as per the official EPA estimate test. The new Model Y will bring a 5% range increase for the previous AWD version.

In an interview with two Tesla engineers who worked on the refreshed Model Y, they also confirmed that there is no battery capacity upgrade for the Model Y refresh.

Tesla, apparently, wanted to keep the facelift affordable and fast-charging, so it is using the same batteries and 250 kW charging system as it still features the aging 400V powertrain of its predecessor.

Official 2026 Tesla Model Y EPA range estimate

• 327 miles

When Tesla announced the New Model Y Long Range AWD Launch Series edition that is currently the sole trim one can order, it listed it as capable of covering 320 miles of range on a charge. This, however, is according to its own internal testing routine that typically turns out to be more demanding than the EPA tests needed for an official estimate.

The Model 3 refresh, for instance, was listed with 305 miles of range according to its own testing, then the range got revised up to 316 miles when Tesla got the official EPA rating. Tesla even had to halt the 2025 Model Y AWD sales last year because it needed to undergo the EPA's updated range test routine of a city/highway mileage mix that is more representative of the driving habits of the American public.

This again resulted in longer range on a charge when the official numbers were out, and the same scenario has now played out with the 2026 Model Y Juniper refresh that comes with 5% longer range on a charge. Considering that the previous AWD version is rated for 311 miles, the new Model Y facelift should be good for 327 miles of EPA range on a charge, and that number should soon be reflected in its official specs, too.

Tesla decreased the drag coefficient of the Model Y Juniper refresh design from 0.23 Cd to 0.22 Cd, as well as its clearance, but it is not just the aerodynamics that bring the longer range.

The Tesla engineers also mentioned the lightened brake calipers and tire resistance as reasons behind the increased Model Y efficiency, and said they went down to how long the LED light in the center console would stay on in the hunt for energy savings on the refresh.

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