V I TAL STATS
OVERALL
SCOREROAD-TEST
SCORE
Price as tested
$85,795
Trim line 75D
Drivetrain
417-hp dual electric
motors; 1-speed
direct drive; AWD
Range 235 miles
(Long Range model
is up to 370 miles)Reasons to Buy
Doesn’t consume
any gasoline
Quicker
acceleration than
many sports cars
Agile handling
Access to Tesla’s
Supercharger
network of fast
chargersReasons to Skip
Interior fit and
finish doesn’t match
the price
Below-average
reliability
Distracting
controls
Autopilot may
give drivers a false
sense of confidenceTesla
Model SOn the Road Charged and Ready
28 NEW CARS CR.ORG/CARS
EVEN THOUGH THE Tesla
Model S has been on the
market for a while, Tesla’s
first sedan is still one of
the most advanced vehicles
on the road.
With a usable range of
up to 370 miles and the
ability to charge quickly
and often, Tesla makes
it relatively painless for
drivers to go electric.
It takes about 12 hours to
charge fully from a
240-volt connector. Public
Superchargers are also
available and can add up to
a 50 percent charge in
30 minutes or so. That’s
a significant (and exclusive)
benefit for Tesla owners.
The Model S rides com-
fortably, carves corners
with precision, accelerates
like a catapult, stops on a
dime, and glides in a whisper-
quiet manner. It also has
two trunks and hatchback
versatility. All-wheel drive
comes standard.
Even getting into the car
is an experience: Approaching
the car makes the flush alu-
minum door handles slide
outward. With the car-shaped
fob nestled in a pocket
or purse, a tap of the brake
pedal brings the Model S
to life. There’s no need to
start an engine or release an
emergency brake, and over-
the-air updates can add new
features to existing vehicles.
The large center screen
serves as the gateway to many
of the car’s functions. It
is highly configurable, but it
also proves distracting.Other downsides include
just so-so interior fit and
finish, a rather snug rear
seat, and hampered
rear three-quarter visibility.
Apple CarPlay compati-
bility and a true blind spot
warning (BSW) system aren’t
available, and the Model S’
high price puts it out of reach
of many shoppers. Reliability
is below average, too.
It’s also important to
remember that Tesla’s Auto-
pilot is a driver assist system
and does not make the Model
S a self-driving car. That’s
still the case even if owners
pay for an option that Tesla
calls Full Self Driving.BEST VERSION TO GETIt’s hard to say
because Tesla
often makes
changes within
model years. Aside
from range and
performance,
current buyers can
select only the
car’s exterior and
interior colors
and wheel size.
We’d skip the
optional 21-inch
wheels, which
hurt ride comfort
and increase
road noise.78 97