2023 Tesla Model S: Specs, Prices, Ratings, and Reviews (2024)

The Model S is available with two different powertrains. The base Model S has two electric motors for all-wheel drive and a range of 405 miles, while the Plaid features a tri-motor design that can carry you 396 miles on a full charge. Tesla doesn’t provide information on what kind of battery pack the Model S comes with.

With 1,020 horsepower, the tri-motor Plaid is one of the quickest cars on sale today. Despite its massive horsepower bump over the base trim, the Plaid doesn’t lose that much when it comes to range or fuel economy. It’s an impressive feat of engineering and a hilarious riot to drive – it makes the 0-60 sprint in less than 2 seconds. The Base Model S is no slouch either making the 0-60 run in 3.1 seconds.

One thing to consider when thinking about purchasing a Model S is Tesla’s Supercharger network. When charging at a rate of up to 250 kW, the Model S can gain 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. With Tesla’s 11.5-kW wall-mounted charging unit, the large electric sedan can get up to 44 miles of range per hour.

Every Model S offers seating for up to five people. The large electric sedan may have a footprint that’s similar in size to other options in the class, but it has a roomy cabin with 35.5 inches of rear legroom. The sedan’s hatchback practicality results in a large cargo area with 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 61.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded.

The Model S is equipped with Tesla’s Autopilot suite of advanced safety features. The large sedan comes equipped with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, and parking sensors.

Enhanced Autopilot is available for an additional $6,000 and brings navigate on Autopilot, automatic lane change, automatic park assist, Summon, and Smart Summon. Full Self-Driving Capability is a $15,000 upgrade and adds traffic light and stop sign control and all of the features from Enhanced Autopilot.

Tesla continually introduces new safety features, which become available through an over-the-air software update. Advanced features will only be available to Tesla owners with Full Self-Driving Capability.

A large central display is a hallmark quality of every Tesla, but the Model S has one of the largest screens in the automaker’s lineup. The sedan comes with a 17-inch touchscreen that not only works as an infotainment system but as a main hub for all of the vehicle’s controls. Other standard tech features on the Model S include an eight-inch rear display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, front and rear wireless charging pads, navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite radio, Bluetooth, five USB ports, and 22 audio speakers.

The entry-level Model S rivals a large luxury sedan with its list of standard equipment. The trim comes with synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, 19-inch wheels, a power trunk, adaptive air suspension, and a heated steering wheel.

There aren’t many options for the Model S. A black and white interior or a cream interior are available for $2,000. Larger 21-inch wheels are a $4,500 option.

On top of an extra electric motor and added horsepower, the Plaid doesn’t bring much in the way of features over the base trim.

Compare Model S Trims Side-By-Side

Generous space and specifications. Touchscreens are the portal to almost everything that happens inside a Model S. Rear passengers receive a similarly crisp and responsive 9.4-inch display unit that offers control over the rear climate, alongside their own wireless charging pads. There’s no smartphone mirroring, but there is plenty of space for five adults throughout the cabin. Storage is excellent, with enough room for a mountain bike if you drop the rear seats to increase the standard 28 cubic feet of capacity. Under the hood, the absence of an engine means a frunk will accommodate two small bags.

Standard equipment on any Model S runs to a 22-speaker sound system, ventilated front seats, and three-zone climate, plus a glass roof. Safety encompasses active lane control, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking, with parking sensors at both ends of this deceptively long vehicle. You’ll have to raid the options list for traffic light recognition, automated lane changes, or automatic parking. We can’t comment on impact protection, since the S has never been crash tested, but the IIHS has rated its headlights as “poor”.

Blisteringly fast, but dynamically compromised. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Model S is astonishingly fast. The standard dual-motor setup uses its standard AWD to blast from 0 to 60 in just over three seconds, while the Spaceballs-inspired Plaid name is attached to a tri-motor setup generating a frankly preposterous 1,020 horsepower. The end result, if you tinker with the settings and replace the standard-fit wheels, can reduce the 0-60 sprint to a fraction under two seconds and lift the speed beyond 200 mph.

Unfortunately, there are reasons why you may not wish to capitalize on this devastating performance. Firstly, the steering is numb, and secondly, Tesla is persisting with the ridiculous yoke that makes any kind of cornering (especially parking maneuvers) potentially stressful. You can now upgrade to a conventional steering wheel as a no-cost option, and we would, though we wouldn’t recommend upgrading to the larger 21-inch wheels whose low-profile tires generate quite a bit of cabin noise. Otherwise, the ride is impressive thanks to adaptive suspension, making this a highly capable long-distance cruiser.

Tell me about economy. This has long been the Model S’s trump card. As well as acceleration that’ll reposition your eyes on the side of your head like a pigeon, it will transport you an EPA-estimated 405 miles in dual-motor guise. Even a Plaid shod in 21-inch wheels is predicted to have almost 350 miles of range when fully charged. Speaking of charge, a standard 240V socket will add 30 miles of range per hour, whereas a Tesla supercharger connector will add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

The cheapest way into Model S ownership is the $96,380 dual-motor version, and this makes far more economic sense than spending an additional $20,000 on a Plaid model. We’d also counsel against the Full Self Driving option, which costs a further $15,000 and doesn’t actually drive itself. There’s a four-year warranty and an eight-year battery/motor warranty, and you’re likely to be calling on at least one of them – Tesla’s reliability remains a cause for concern.

Final thoughts. That last sentence might sound like a throwaway, but one of the biggest arguments against buying a Tesla is the mechanical and electrical gremlins that infect some (though not all) of its cars. When you’re paying six figures or thereabouts for a luxury sedan, reliability ought to be taken as read. The Model S also has an underwhelming interior in terms of materials and quality, and the stark dashboard will deter as many as it attracts. The steering yoke is awful, so we’re pleased it can now be replaced on the dealership order sheet.

If you specify a steering wheel and don’t spend $15,000 asking the car to drive itself (which it can’t), you’ll have great fun in a Model S. Hysterically fast acceleration and a refined ride underpin an easy driving experience, with a spacious and well-equipped cabin offering outstanding cargo capacity. The rear climate control, upgraded touchscreen and wireless device charging mean back seat occupants won’t feel like poor relations, and the front touchscreen is a software masterpiece.

Check prices for the 2023 Tesla Model S »