Tesla is possibly the most well-known Electric Vehicle (EV) brand and its flagship passenger car, the Tesla Model S, has a lot to do with their success. For once, here’s an EV that doesn’t look odd and boring, or gives an uninspiring driving experience (in my opinion).
It looks just like a regular sedan at first glance and has a reputation for blisteringly fast acceleration. And having always been interested in Tesla, I was understandably excited to see the car in person when I found out that Carsome had one of the few Tesla Model S in Malaysia.
So, I took it for a test drive, and here is my honest review.
My First Impressions of the Tesla Model S Exterior
When I first saw the Tesla Model S at the Carsome Petaling Jaya Experience Centre, I was struck by its size; it’s a big car with the commanding stature you see in other luxury sedans. It’s comparable in size to a D-segment sedan but slightly bigger than a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. At first glance, the front face of the car looked like other large, luxury sedans, but then I noticed that there’s no grille. There’s just a sleek, slightly curved face with the iconic “T” badge in the center. This was flanked by sleek headlights with prominent LED DRLs (daytime running lights) giving it a clean yet sporty look.
Even on its side, the Tesla Model S had a sporty profile with minimal lines for a clean, pleasant aesthetic. The flush door handles popped out when I approached the car with the keyfob and retracted when I walked away, which gave a futuristic feel to the car. Its wheels are available in 19- and 21-inches and this particular unit had red Tesla-branded brake calipers which made it look like it could drive fast.
Comparable to other luxury sedans in Malaysia, the Tesla Model S has pronounced fenders, especially on the rear which gave it an aggressive stance, while the minimalist rear section was clean with the wide bumper and of course, being an electric car, there’s no exhaust since there was no engine to produce exhaust fumes. The roof also caught my eye as it’s a functional sunroof completely made of glass. This added a touch of luxury while still maintaining a minimalist look to the car.
What’s It Like on the Inside?
The clean aesthetics carry into the Tesla Model S interior with mostly clean surfaces and minimal lines. That being said, the huge 17-inch touch screen on the center console immediately grabbed my attention (which I talk more about below).
The doors, seats, steering wheel, and lower dashboard are covered in leather, whereas the top of the dashboard and ceiling are clad in Alcantara. The suede-like texture of the Alcantara was pleasing to the touch and gave the cabin added warmth that the leather couldn’t. The center of the dashboard had a glossy wood grain finishing running the length from left to right which gave the cabin a warm and inviting look.
There’s also just enough silver-colored trim in the cabin that gives it a luxurious yet functional feel. Although the Tesla Model S interior is a practice in minimalist design, these elements managed to add something special to make it inviting and not boring.
Meanwhile, the full glass roof is fully retractable and being sufficiently tinted, it gave me a glimpse of the sky above while still keeping the heat out. Overall, the Tesla Model S interior is a luxurious and pleasant space indeed.
Impressive Cabin Comfort & Cargo Space
I test drove the car with two colleagues, with the tallest of us being 173 cm tall and we all felt the Tesla Model S interior was very comfortable. Both the front seats were well-cushioned and provided excellent support – it has plush cushioning and ample side bolstering which I appreciated. Both seats were electronically adjustable in all directions and had powered adjustable lumbar support so I was able to get just the back support I needed.
At the rear, it had ample space for three adults. Being an electric car, the floor was completely flat, so I had plenty of legroom no matter where I sat. There were also adjustable air conditioner vents for the rear passengers, which I think makes the Tesla Model S suitable for Malaysia’s warm tropical weather.
In terms of storage space in the cabin, the Tesla Model S’ interior had ample of it in the front. There’s a glove box on the passenger side, a cavernous cubbyhole in the center that could fit two cups or possibly a small handbag, while more storage lies underneath the armrest. There’s also a USB charging port and a 12V socket in the center. However, there were no storage pockets on all front and rear doors.
The sloping rear roofline hides a large boot with 744 liters of space. With the rear seats folded down, that number goes up to 1,645 liters, enough to quite possibly fit a bicycle, a tall lamp, or about six medium suitcases with some room to spare. In the front, instead of an engine bay, the bonnet or frunk (front trunk) has 150 liters of cargo space giving you a total of up to 1,795 liters of space.
Infotainment & Connectivity
Compared to other cars in Malaysia, the Tesla Model S is unique in that it sports a huge touch screen on the center console. The 17-inch screen had sharp visuals and was responsive with no lag during operation. With it, I could control the air conditioning settings, music, navigation, check the charge of the battery, and other statistics. There were games such as Solitaire, Stardew Valley, and more installed, which I imagine could keep me occupied if I had to wait for a friend in the car. The car’s speaker performance was on par with other luxury car makers in Malaysia; the Tesla Models S speakers produced loud, crisp tones and sufficient bass.
In terms of connectivity, only Bluetooth was available and not Android Auto or Apple Carplay, which was a bit disappointing. Since there were no physical buttons or knobs on the center console, I expected controlling the music and aircon to be cumbersome at first. Turns out, the icons are pretty big and clear, so I had no problems once I got the hang of it. Some features, such as the volume and music control, were also controllable with buttons on the steering wheel and through voice command.
The driver’s dashboard was also fully digital and showed a host of customizable information including available range, temperature, average mileage, and more. It could show a lot of information at once, which is useful for drivers who don’t like toggling between multiple screens. While driving, it quite accurately displayed 3D renderings of vehicles driving around the car whether it be a motorcycle or a lorry, acting as a blind-spot monitor (and quite a good one at that).
Performance & Driving Impressions – It Doesn’t Disappoint
The Tesla Model S that I tested was the P100D variant. It had a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain capable of 605 Horsepower (hp) of power and 967 Newton Meters (Nm) of torque. With all that torque being available at any rev range, I had instant acceleration whenever I wanted it.
I test drove the car in Petaling Jaya and briefly on the Federal Highway. Based on my time with it, it’s a powerful sedan that’s comfortable in city driving and on the open highway. The throttle response was smooth and not at all abrupt. However, when I did flat foot the throttle, I got some serious acceleration and G-force pushing me back into my seat.
Having a low center of gravity thanks to its low-set battery pack, the car was nimble, befitting its sport sedan stance. The Model S also handled Malaysian roads with poise – It’s definitely better than expected given the size and weight of the car.
Additionally, there were multiple drive modes with varying power delivery. During my test, I drove in Sports mode but there’s even a Ludicrous mode capable of launching this car from 0-100 km/h in only 2.6 seconds; that’s sports car territory!
Tesla Model S Safety
The Tesla Model S was built from the ground up with safety in mind. It has a high-strength architecture all around and a low, floor-mounted battery pack giving it superb impact protection. This gives it the highest NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) safety rating in the United States. There are also advanced safety features including active emergency braking (AEB) and side collision warning.
The cameras set around the car also act as security cameras. When parked, the car automatically enters Sentry mode where it can sense when there are people around the car. When this happens, the cameras start recording the car’s surroundings in case of burglary or vandalism. As far as safety features go, I would say that the Tesla Model S is very well equipped.
Tesla Model S Price in Malaysia & Specifications
The Tesla Model S P100D is a performance-oriented car with a large 100 kWh battery pack. As such, it was priced starting at US$136,000 in the USA. In Malaysia, this Tesla Model S price would be over RM700,000. However, lower variants currently start at US$89,990 in the USA (RM375,278), which is significantly more affordable.
The 100kWh battery is capable of providing a range of over 500 km, but that depends on your driving style. Driving with a heavy foot and frequent hard acceleration will drain the battery faster. However, the dual-motor powertrain produces 605 hp and 967 Nm. This is capable of a 250 km/h top speed and 2.6 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration.
The Tesla Model S can be charged with a Type 2 charger with 11 kW AC charging. Alternatively, a regular 2.4 kW charger plugged into your home wall socket works too. However, this would take more than 24 hours. With a 120 kW DC charging pack, it can be charged a lot faster, although I didn’t test it.
So, Would I Buy It?
Yes, if I could. I was impressed during my time with the Tesla Model S, especially with the comfort, long list of features, impressive 17-inch center display, and performance. It’s one of the most futuristic passenger cars in the market; not only for being a powerful electric car with an impressive driving range, but also for the creature comforts, entertainment, and safety features packed into it.
Being a luxury EV sedan, the Tesla Model S price in Malaysia may be out of reach for many. However, it has paved the way for more affordable EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and EVs from other manufacturers. With Tesla’s mission to provide a greener driving experience, I’m excited to see what it has planned for the future.
The Tesla Model S P100D demo car is available for test drives at our Petaling Jaya Experience Centre at No 2, Lorong 51a/227c, Seksyen 51a, Petaling Jaya.
But if you are looking to own a Tesla, you would be delighted to know that Carsome has brought in the Tesla Model 3 – it’s up for pre-order now! To top it off, for your peace of mind, all Tesla models purchased from Carsome come with the Official Manufacturer’s Warranty.
Keyword: I Drove a Tesla Model S & Here Are My First Impressions