The Tesla Model S is an electric hatchback offering a spacious interior plus some of the quickest acceleration times of any vehicle. It competes with a growing group of electric luxury cars including the BMW i7, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air, and Audi E-Tron GT.
The Model S is nearly peerless for its incredible acceleration and clean, straightforward interface. It’s been available for more than 10 years, and along the way it has received various updates, including a most significant one arriving for 2021. If you steer away from the yoke, the Model S’s mix of performance and tech remain winners, boosting this model to a TCC Rating of 8.2 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
For 2023, Tesla gives buyers a workaround past what was our most significant reservation regarding the Model S: Its mandatory steering yoke. At the time you build and order the car, Tesla now offers a choice between a traditional steering wheel and the controversial yoke, which includes buttons rather than a turn-signal stalk and has proven confounding even for some dedicated Tesla fans.
Most else about the Tesla Model S carries over. For 2021, Tesla refreshed the Model S exterior, and gave this long-running design its first complete redesign inside, with a new horizontally oriented touchscreen. It also then rolled out a new model to the lineup: the Model S Plaid. Yes, it’s another “Spaceballs” reference, and another notch past Ludicrous.
You have to look closer to spot the differences from the outside, and despite the rethink inside, the styling of the Model S holds a constant—especially if you squint and size up the profile as a whole. It’s a fastback design that’s aged well and offers impressive aerodynamic efficiency and a claimed coefficient of drag of just 0.208—making it close to that of the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Air without looking like it’s trying as hard. Beware: Larger wheels beyond the base 19s have a detrimental effect on range.
Once again for 2023, the rear-wheel-drive Long Range is gone from the lineup and there are only two versions of the Model S available: a dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant, and the high-performance, tri-motor Plaid version. Both of these models include an adaptive suspension system for impressive ride quality and use the same lithium-ion battery pack with about 100 kwh, but the Plaid has additional cooling capacity that gives it the capability for track use and to play drag-racer.
The dual-motor vehicle is already quicker than many performance cars, producing 670 hp and good for a sprint from 0-50 mph in just 3.1 seconds. The Plaid elevates it to the bonkers category, with 1,020 hp, a 1.99-second 0-60 mph time (according to Tesla, with some dragstrip prep), and a 200-mph top speed (provided you’ve equipped it with worthy wheels).
Dual-motor versions of the 2023 Model S earn a 405-mile range rating, although it can drop to 375 with larger wheels. Plaid models range from 348 miles to 396 miles.
While the silhouette of the Model S hasn’t changed much in recent years, the dash has gone clean and minimalist, with a 17.0-inch screen serving as a hub for nearly all of the vehicle’s functions. Fine adjustment may be done via steering-wheel toggles, but it all has to start with the screen. That said, flat menus make the most of the menu system, and even after an hour or two it all feels quite intuitive.
Inside, there are two very noticeable changes up front: the screen has been tilted 90 degrees on its side and there’s no more steering wheel, just a racing-car style yoke.
Seating and cargo space is a surprise delight. There’s 28 cubic feet of cargo space including the hatch and front trunk, but if you flip the rear seatbacks forward there’s enough space for a bicycle or furniture.
Automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors are all included in the Model S as part of Tesla’s Basic Autopilot suite. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving capability is on offer for $15,000, but it doesn’t yet deliver on the promise baked into its name, and in the meantime most of the package’s convenience items come with the $6,000 Enhanced Autopilot.
How much does the 2023 Tesla Model S cost?
The dual-motor version starts at $96,380 (including a $1,390 destination charge), while the Plaid starts at $116,380.
Where is the 2023 Tesla Model S made?
In Fremont, Calif.
