Overview
The car that kickstarted the EV revolution is starting to show its age. While the 2023 Tesla Model S lags behind newly developed rivals with over-the-top features and longer driving range, the sedan-like hatchback remains competitive. Lastly, the Model S offers up to 405 miles of range on a single charge. Plus, the 1020-hp tri-motor plaid performance model sprints to 60 mph in just 2.1 seconds, which is as quick as a multimillion-dollar hypercar. However, cutting-edge rivals like the BMW i7 and Lucid Air have grabbed plenty of headlines for Tesla. The Model S also carries a six-figure price tag with its mid-luxe interior that doesn’t compare particularly well to Lucid and BMW’s deluxe cabins. We get that Tesla’s weird yoke-style steering wheel compromises the driving experience as well, but at least a regular wheel is available once again. Still, the 2023 Model S remains the brand’s flagship, providing access to its most up-to-date software and Tesla’s advanced—albeit somewhat questionable—Autopilot hands-free driving mode.
What’s new for 2023?
This year, the Model S adds a new key card that replaces the previously standard car-shaped key fob. A regular steering wheel also returns as a no-cost option (a $700 retrofit is also available for existing owners). Since Tesla is known for tweaking its cars each model year, be prepared for more changes to the Model S to pop up the line.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We’ll stick with the base model, which has a claimed range of 405 miles per charge. The ultra-high-performance Plaid model sounds compelling, but its nearly $138k starting price represents diminishing value—unless you have a car reminiscent of a Top Fuel dragster.
EV Motor, Power and Performance
With an electric motor dedicated to each of the front and rear axles, the Model S offers full-time all-wheel drive no matter which version you choose. Acceleration of different models ranges from excellent to incredible. Our 2020 Model S test vehicle hit a brisk 2.4-second time to 60 mph and proved endlessly entertaining thanks to its instant power delivery. The plaid version features a third electric motor, which bumps the combined output to 1020 horsepower—enough to send it to 60 mph in just 2.1 seconds. The standard Model S proved itself to be an agile sports sedan with well-controlled body motions and direct steering. Two different settings allow drivers to choose heavier or lighter steering effort, but neither of them enables much feedback from the road. Unfortunately, the available yoke-style steering wheel is poorly integrated and lets down the driving experience; A regular steering wheel is a no-cost option. Ride comfort is good, handling is efficient, and on the highway it’s confident and almost quiet.
Range, Charging and Battery Life
Tesla has a battery pack under the floor that ensures a low center of gravity and evenly distributed weight from front to rear. Driving range and acceleration performance varies from model to model, with the base version’s battery providing 405 miles of range while the Plaid model offers up to 396. Lucid Air is the current high-water mark with its 517-mile estimate; The maximum range of the BMW i7 is the shortest ever at 318 miles.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
While EVs like chevy bolt And pole star 2 While providing serviceable driving range when it comes to long distance travel, the Model S remains an impressive alternative to gas-powered vehicles. The base model’s highest MPGe rating is 124 city and 115 highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, The 2020 Model S posted a 222-mile result, still well short of the 326-mile EPA range rating at the time. The Plaid managed 280 miles out of its claimed 390 miles of range. For more information on the Model S’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort & Cargo
With Model S prices starting at $100,000, it’s fair for buyers to expect a certain amount of luxury inside the car. Cabin ambience is decent, but it’s not as luxurious as our favorite Mercedes-Benz E-Class And Volvo S90– Both of which cost quite a bit. The Model S’s sloped roofline cleverly hides a rear liftgate that opens to reveal a massive 26-cubic-foot trunk. We managed to stash eight of our carry-on-size cases without folding down the rear seats. Paltry small-item cubby stowage throughout the interior, especially in the rear seat, is offset by a large underfloor bin in the rear cargo area.
Infotainment & Connectivity
Fans of modern minimalism will love the Model S’s cabin, which comes as standard with a huge infotainment screen that controls almost all of the vehicle’s functions. Technophiles will be in heaven, but we’re not totally sold. The position of the screen on the dashboard requires some drivers to lean forward in their seat to access certain icons, particularly in the top-right side of the display. Unlike the less expensive Model 3, the Model S also offers a secondary display for the gauge cluster and a smaller touchpad in the rear seat.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Although the Model S has sparked a nationwide discussion about the safety of partially autonomous vehicles and has been reported to catch fire after some types of high-speed impacts, its safety reliability has received a good crash rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Excited by the test results. And the knowledge that car fires are not uncommon, either in electric or gas-powered vehicles. For more information on the Model S crash-test results, visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Key security features include:
- standard automatic emergency braking
- standard lane departure warning
- Adaptive cruise control available with hands-free driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Tesla offers a comprehensive warranty package to protect the Model S’s powertrain and hybrid components, but it lacks bumper-to-bumper coverage and a complimentary scheduled maintenance package. Jaguar I-Pace,
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers eight years and unlimited miles
- no complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Tesla Model S Plaid
Vehicle type: Front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
worth
Base/as tested: $131,440/$137,440
powertrain
3 permanent-magnet synchronous ac
Combined power: 1020 hp; Combined torque: 1050 lb-ft
Battery pack: Liquid-cooled Lithium-Ion, 99.3 kWh
Transmission, F/R: Direct-Drive
chassis
Suspension, F/R: Multilink/Multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.0-in Vented Disc/14.4-in Vented Disc
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S; F: 265/35R-21 (101Y) T1; R: 295/30R-21 (102Y) T1
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.5 Inch
Length: 197.7 inches
Width: 78.2 inches
Height: 56.3 inches
Passenger Quantity: 100 ft3
Cargo Volume: 28 ft3
Curb Weight: 4828 lb
CD Exam Results
60 mph: 2.1 sec
100 mph: 4.3 sec
130 mph: 6.9 seconds
1/4-mile: 9.4 seconds @ 151 mph
160 mph: 10.8 seconds
The above results leave a 1-ft rollout of 0.2 seconds.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 2.3 seconds
Top speed (Official Limited): 162 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 150 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft skidpad: 1.08 g
CD fuel economy
Seen: 71 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 91 MPGe
Range: 280 miles
EPA Fuel Economy
Comb./City/Hwy: 101/102/99 MPGe
Range: 348 miles
2020 Tesla Model S Performance
vehicle type
Front- and mid-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
value as tested
$108,690 (Base Price: $96,190)
powertrain
Front: Permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 275 hp, 310 lb-ft;
Rear: Induction AC, 503 hp, 531 lb-ft;
98.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
transmission
single-speed direct drive
chassis
Suspension (F/R): Multilink/Multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.0-in Vented Disc/14.4-in Vented Disc
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 245/35R-21 96Y to R: 265/35R-21 101Y
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.5 Inch
Length: 195.7 inches
Width: 77.3 inches
Height: 56.9 inches
Passenger Volume: 95 ft3
Cargo Volume: 26 ft3
Curb Weight: 4998 lb
CD Exam Results
60 mph: 2.4 sec
100 mph: 6.1 sec
130 mph: 11.4 seconds
150 mph: 19.3 sec
1/4 mile: 10.6 sec @ 126 mph
Top speed (MFR claimed): 163 mph
1-feet rollout of standing-start accel bar 0.3 sec.
EPA Fuel Economy
Combined/City/Highway: 97/98/96 MPGe
Range: 326 miles
CD test explained
More Features and Specifications