Overview
Tesla’s Model S sedan was the first mass-market car to prove that electric vehicles could be fun-to-drive, eco-friendly, viable as everyday transportation, and even usable for long trips. The Model S, which earns a spot on our Editors’ Choice list, does all that even better for 2021. Depending on which trim you choose, the Model S can travel up to 412 miles on just one charge and deliver blistering acceleration performance that rivals some of the world’s best supercars. Tesla now sells more practical and more affordable models such as the Model Y SUV and the Model 3 sedan, but the Model S remains the flagship of the brand. Its interior is spacious for four adults but doesn’t live up to the luxury price tag. With increased pressure from rivals such as the Porsche Taycan and the upcoming Lucid Air, the Model S is no longer in a class of one, but for some buyers, the car’s athletic chassis, Ludicrous driving mode, and exceptional range are enough to sell them on the Tesla EV lifestyle.
What’s New for 2021?
For 2021, Tesla is adding even more performance to the Model S. A new top-spec model will be called Plaid, will boast 1020 horsepower from three onboard electric motors, and is said to be capable of a zero-to-60-mph time 2.0 seconds. In addition to its impressive power and speed credentials, Tesla also says the Plaid is capable of providing up to 390 miles of driving range. The rest of the lineup benefits from an exterior styling refresh and an upgraded interior, complete with a yoke-type steering wheel that looks inspired by F1 racing cars.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We’d stick with the base Long Range model, which carries an estimated range of 412 miles per charge. The 1020-hp Plaid model sounds compelling, but its six-figure asking price represents diminishing value—unless you must have a car with the performance of a Top Fuel dragster.
Engine, Transmission, 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 the various models ranges from outstanding to ferocious. We haven’t tested the Model S Long Range or Plaid yet, but our 2020 Model S test vehicle delivered a blistering 2.4-second zero-to-60-mph time and proved endlessly entertainment thanks to its immediate power delivery. The Plaid model boasts a third electric motor, which boosts combined output to 1020 horsepower, which is enough to send it to 60 mph in just 2.1 seconds in our testing. The standard Model S has proven itself an agile sports sedan with well-controlled body motions and direct steering. Two different settings allow drivers to choose heavy or light steering effort, but neither of them enable more feedback from the road. Ride comfort is good, the handling is crisp, and it’s confident and almost tranquil on the highway.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Under the Tesla’s floor lies a battery pack that yields 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 Long Range version’s battery providing up to a 412-mile range while the Plaid model offers up to 390. Upstart Lucid Motors says its Air luxury sedan is rated for up to 517 miles per charge.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
While EVs such as the Chevy Bolt and Polestar 2 deliver serviceable driving range the Model S remains an impressive alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles when it comes to long-distance usability. The base Long Range model receives the highest MPGe ratings at 121 city and 112 highway. In our real-world, 75-mph highway fuel economy test, a 2020 Model S we tested posted a 222-mile highway range number against its 326-mile EPA estimated driving range; the Plaid managed 280 miles of its claimed 390 miles of range.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
With Model S prices starting at close to $80,000, buyers would be reasonable to expect a certain amount of luxury inside the car. The cabin’s atmosphere is nice enough, but it’s not nearly as plush as those of our favorites such as the Mercedes-Benz E-class and the Volvo S90. The Model S’s sloped roofline cleverly hides a rear liftgate that opens up to reveal a huge 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 back seat—is offset by a large underfloor bin in the rear cargo area.
Marc UrbanoCar and Driver
Infotainment and Connectivity
Fans of modern minimalism will adore the Model S’s cabin, which comes standard with a giant infotainment screen that controls almost all of the vehicle’s functions. Technophiles will be in heaven, but we’re not completely sold. The screen’s positioning on the dashboard will require some drivers to lean forward in their seat to reach certain icons, especially those near the top right of the display. Unlike the cheaper Model 3, the Model S provides a secondary display for the gauge cluster and a small touchpad in the rear seat as well.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Although the Model S has sparked a nationwide conversation about the safety of partially autonomous vehicles and has been reported to catch fire after certain types of high-speed impacts, its safety credibility is buoyed by decent crash-test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the knowledge that car fires aren’t uncommon, either in electric- or gasoline-powered vehicles. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Tesla offers a comprehensive warranty package to protect the Model S’s powertrain and hybrid components but lacks the lengthy bumper-to-bumper coverage and complimentary scheduled maintenance packages of the 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
PRICE
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
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drives
CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink Brakes, F/R: 15.0-in vented disc/14.4-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S; F: 265/35R-21 (101Y) T1; R: 295/30R-21 (102Y) T1
DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 116.5 in Length: 197.7 in Width: 78.2 in Height: 56.3 in
Passenger Volume: 100 ft3
Cargo Volume: 28 ft3
Curb Weight: 4828 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 2.1 sec 100 mph: 4.3 sec 130 mph: 6.9 sec 1/4-Mile: 9.4 sec @ 151 mph 160 mph: 10.8 secResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 2.3 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 0.9 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 1.0 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 162 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 150 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 284 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.08 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 71 MPGe 75-mph Highway Driving: 91 MPGe
Range: 280 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY Comb./City/Hwy: 101/102/99 MPGe
Range: 348 mi
2020 Tesla Model S Performance
VEHICLE TYPE
front- and mid-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE 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
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 245/35R-21 96Y TO R: 265/35R-21 101Y TO
DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 116.5 in Length: 195.7 in Width: 77.3 in Height: 56.9 in
Passenger volume: 95 ft3
Cargo volume: 26 ft3
Curb weight: 4998 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 2.4 sec 100 mph: 6.1 sec 130 mph: 11.4 sec 150 mph: 19.3 sec 1/4 mile: 10.6 sec @ 126 mph Top speed (mfr’s claim): 163 mph
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/city/highway: 97/98/96 MPGe
Range: 326 miles
Keyword: 2021 Tesla Model S Review, Pricing, and Specs