The Tesla Model S is the car that put the company on the road to enormous success. It’s a decade old now, but a constant stream of updates has ensured it remains a hugely impressive car. While Tesla has since launched the likes of the Tesla Model X and Tesla Model 3, the Model S remains one of the best electric cars on sale. It has an enormous amount of space, is packed with technology, and can offer a very long range.
If this sounds like the kind of used car you’d like, you’re in the right place to find out everything you need to know. In this guide, you’ll learn what the Tesla Model S is like to live with and which versions are currently on sale. Alternatively, there are plenty of used examples of the Model S available.
The Model S was the best electric car around when it was launched and it’s still right up there now. That’s because its huge 100kWh battery can provide a range of about 400 miles in ideal conditions. You probably won’t go that far in ‘real world’ conditions, but you should be able get well over 300 miles from it.
On the downside, recharging such a big battery takes a long time unless you use one of Tesla’s dedicated Supercharger stations. Program the sat-nav with your destination and it’ll suggest when, where and how long you need to charge the car for.
While that’s happening, you can enjoy the Model S’s minimalist interior. It’s dominated by a 17-inch portrait-style touchscreen, where you’ll find the vast majority of the car’s features and functions. There are loads of amusing ‘Easter eggs’ to discover, too, such as games. It has a lot of menus and submenus to navigate, or you can use simple voice commands.
The system works off a 4G signal, so if it drops out you can lose some functionality. Also, the quality of the interior materials doesn’t match up to the standards of premium-brand rivals.
There’s a massive amount of space inside the Tesla Model S. Five tall adults fit with room to spare, and later versions have lots of clever interior storage areas, while the boot is simply gigantic. The Model S is a hatchback rather than a saloon, with a whopping boot capacity of 745 litres. That’s more than many of the biggest estate cars have. There’s also an extra space under the bonnet – commonly known as a ‘frunk’ – that is useful for storing the charging cables.
Driving the Tesla Model S is quite an experience. It’s dominated by a ballistic turn of speed. It’s actually very easy to drive at normal pace, but you’re always aware of the enormous amount of power available, especially in the mighty Plaid version. You’re also aware of the car’s considerable weight, but it’s pretty agile. The body doesn’t lean much in corners, and the suspension provides a really smooth and quiet ride.
Even after a decade on sale, the Model S is still a deeply compelling car. Its towering performance is a significant part of its appeal, but the crucial factor is the Supercharger network, which makes using a Tesla really easy – especially on a long journey. It’s a hugely practical family car, too.
The Tesla Model S costs quite a lot more than many equivalent petrol or diesel used cars, as electric cars often do. Compared with other premium-brand, long-range electric cars, though, it’s actually pretty good value. Running costs are negligible, but insurance can be costly. Tesla has had problems with reliability but it’s improving all the time. The company provides a four-year or 50,000-mile warranty on the whole car, plus an eight-year or 150,000-mile warranty on the battery. Used examples are in-demand, so retained values are very strong.
Similar electric cars you might want to consider include the Mercedes EQS, Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan. The Mercedes can beat the Tesla’s range, the Audi looks better and the Porsche is more fun to drive. But the Tesla is arguably the best all-rounder.
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The Model S is currently available with a single, large battery but the powertrain features different electric motor set-ups that produce different amounts of power. Rest assured that whichever model you choose, the Model S has a lot of power.
Tesla Model S 60kWh – Even in this least powerful version, the Model S has 440Nm torque to give 0-60 5.8 seconds, a top speed of 120mph, and a range of up 242 miles.
Tesla Model S 85kWh – A bigger battery extends the range to 312 miles, while performance improves with 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and top speed goes up to 125mph.
Tesla Model S 85 kWh Performance Plus – The clue is in the name as this model knocks out 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and hits 130mph flat out. It can cover up to 312 miles on a full charge.
Tesla Model S P85D - This Model S has two electric motors, one rated at 220PS driving the front wheels and the other at 470PS driving the rears. Combined power is 690PS and combined torque is a massive 934Nm.
Tesla Model S – The standard Model S has a 100kWh battery and two electric motors that produce 670PS. There’s one motor at the front and one at the rear, so the car has four-wheel drive. It’s a very fast car by any yardstick, with 0-60mph taking just 3.1 seconds, yet it offers a range of up to 405 miles.
Tesla Model S Plaid – The Plaid has the same 100kWh battery as the above model, but with three electric motors that produce a frankly staggering amount of power: no less than 1,020PS. There’s one motor for each back wheel and another for the front wheels, so the Plaid has four-wheel drive. The result is the fastest accelerating car you can buy. Zero to 60mph takes an unbelievable 1.99 seconds (excluding a 30cm rolling start), yet it can travel as far as 396 miles on a fully-charged battery.
Tesla doesn’t sell its cars in different trim levels. Although there are different versions of the Tesla Model S, they have the same standard features. Instead, they are marked out from each other by their powertrains – i.e. their batteries and electric motors.
Those standard features include a 17-inch touchscreen media/control system with a slightly bewildering array of features, heated and electrically-adjustable seats, leather upholstery, climate control, adaptive cruise control and a panoramic glass sunroof.
The Tesla Model S’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4980mm
Width: 1964mm
Height: 1440mm
The Tesla Model S’s boot capacity is:
Rear seats up: 745 litres
Rear seats folded down: 1645 litres
Front ‘frunk’: 150 litres
Like all EVs, the Tesla Model S is exempt from paying road tax every year at present, so that's a cost saving for used buyers.
Every version of the Tesla Model S in the very highest insurance group – group 50 – so premiums can be steep. This is due to the car’s performance and price tag, and also because the battery pack can cost a lot to repair or replace if it becomes damaged.