Tesla Model S review – Supercar-like acceleration for an electrified luxury saloon
Page one of 7Tesla Model S review – Supercar-like acceleration for an electrified luxury saloon
We’ve been led to believe that the internal combustion engine is old-hat and that electrical cars will be the future.
Not that long ago, that would have been a dire and scary proposition, but electrical cars have gone through a renaissance and now some are even becoming desirable. This switch of reputation is, in part, thanks to Tesla and its venerable Model S; a premium, prompt, and usable electrified saloon car.
The latest version, the P100D, takes these attributes that have made the Model S so sought-after and amplified them to create a £129,400, four-wheel drive, luxurious vehicle that’s also, with a 0-60mph time of Two.5sec, the fastest accelerating saloon car ever.
The Model S combines such incredible spectacle with an effortless driving practice making it an astoundingly effective machine for covering ground. With a maximum range from two hundred fifty to over three hundred miles (depending on which spec you choose) and an expanding network of supercharger points that permit the Model S to top up its battery in a remarkably brief space of time, it’s also one of the most usable electrified cars on the market.
When it comes to unspoiled thrills nothing else about the Model S can match its capability to accelerate. That’s mostly because it’s such a remarkable party chunk, but identically the Model S isn’t a car that comes alive in a corner or permits a driver to truly get under its skin.
Tesla Model S in detail
> Spectacle and 0-60 time – All models of the Tesla Model S can securely be described as brisk. Opt for the fastest P100D and initial accelerative spectacle matches that of many hypercars. Read more about the Model S’s spectacle here
> MPG and running costs – Its range is good enough for the vast majority of journeys and with no fuel costs the Model S can be a cheap car to run. Read more about the Model S’s running costs here
> Design – Some will say the Model S looks a little conservative, but we like that Tesla has avoided attempting too hard. Read more about the Model S’s design here
Prices, specs and rivals
There’s now less complexity about the Model S lineup. Since release the price range has narrowed and risen to around £60K for the entry-level, 75kWh model to make room for the upcoming Model three below. Adding a secondary motor to the 75, makes it four-wheel drive and thrusts the price up by £5000. Next up is the 100D, sitting not too far off £100,000, somewhat £30K less than the range-topping, phenomenally accelerative P100D.
The array of standard kit will sate most and so the options list is gratefully brief. Brainy air suspension (once an option) is now standard, but enhanced autopilot and utter self-driving capability still remain pricey additions, at £4,700 and £2,800 respectively. An uprated stereo, a heated steering wheel and all-round heated seats make up the premium upgrade package which will set you back £4,700. Should the school run be a frequent calling for you and your Model S, the £3,800 fold-away, rear facing extra seats may come in handy.
However the Model S boasts exceptional spectacle it’s far from rival-free across its price spread. The competition may be fuelled more conventionally but have the benefit of more focused, sporting-inclined engineering on their side. None suggest utter electrified powertrains, tho’.
Porsche’s super-limo, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid can travel for thirty one miles on battery power alone and has fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 81.1mpg and just 66g/km. The likelihood of the HUD reading such figures is little with the V8 combining with the electrical motors to staggering effect – 671bhp and 627lb ft of torque.
The above Porsche is the only competition that can provide a similar blend of spectacle and frugality, otherwise BMW’s fresh M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63 certainly rival on the power front packing around 600bhp each. Free of concern for the polar ice caps the two German barges suggest superior treating and agility, especially on track with the AMG emitting a typically raucous soundtrack. Interior is another area where the Tesla is subpar to its German rivals.