2022 Tesla Model S Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Tesla Model S is the brand’s best-known vehicle and the luxury electric sedan that drove the brand’s success. It’s been the premier luxury electric vehicle (EV) on the market for about a decade, with some of the best performance and efficiency specs that money can buy. That said, the Model S starts at well over six figures these days, and there are a number of great rivals that can be purchased for the same money, or even for considerably less.
The Model S can be cross-shopped against the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air, and Porsche Taycan. You may also find a suitable alternative within the Tesla stable: The Tesla Model X starts at a similar price point, so it’s worth a look if you’d rather have a crossover than a sedan, and the Tesla Model 3 is a smaller and more affordable sedan with many of the same virtues.
For 2022, the Model S is available in two trim levels: Base (formerly known as Long Range) and Plaid. Both use a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single-speed transmission. The base Model S features two motors, one on each axle, providing standard all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s good for a range of up to 405 miles, EPA ratings of 124 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent (MPGe) city and 115 highway, and a 3.1-second zero-to-60-mph sprint. The Plaid model adds a third electric motor, improving performance with only a small impact to efficiency. It’s capable of 396 miles of range, 199 MPGe city and 112 highway, and an astounding 1.99-second run to 60 mph. Those numbers are for a Plaid on 19-inch wheels; upgrading to one of the 21-inch wheel design options sacrifices about 15 MPGe and about 30 to 40 miles from the range.
The Model S features a spare, upscale interior design, though actual build quality can be inconsistent and some materials don’t meet expectations for vehicles at this price point. Still, the solid list of standard features includes a 17-inch touchscreen infotainment display that consolidates all of the car’s functions and controls, synthetic leather upholstery, heated seats in both rows, a heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, a panoramic glass roof, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth, a premium audio system, heated washer nozzles and wiper blades, and a HEPA air filter. Apple and Android devotees should note that Tesla does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have fully tested a Tesla Model S. However, Tesla loads on the advanced safety and driver-assistance technology via the standard Autopilot package. That includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automated lane centering. With the optional Full Self-Driving Capability system, the Model S can automatically navigate highway interchanges and ramps, change lanes, parallel and perpendicular park, interpret and comply with traffic signals, and come out of a parking spot to the driver using the Summon feature via smartphone.
The Tesla Model S provides one of the best combinations of power and efficiency available in a large luxury sedan, though it’s still worth taking a close look at rivals in the electric vehicle segment.
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2022 Tesla Model S Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Slacker internet radio · Internet radio app: Spotify · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total speakers: 22 · Watts: 960
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 14.0 · Front brake width: 1.26 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.4 · Rear brake width: 1.1 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leatherette · Dash Trim: Leatherette · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: wood · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: alloy · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Steering wheel trim: leatherette
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: fully automated · Camera System: Front · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: steering wheel · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: air conditioning · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating · Wireless charging station: rear
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 9.33
Engine
EV battery capacity: 100 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 11.5 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 240 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 670 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 500 · Electric motor charger connector: Tesla (SAE J3400) · Electric motor charging time (240V): 15 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 405
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 17 in. · Video monitor location: rear · Video monitor size: 8
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: self-leveling · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Sunroof: panoramic
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Dash camera: rear recording · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash · Traffic sign recognition: adaptive speed limiting
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front and rear · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leatherette
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.27
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: height · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: over-the-air map updates (OTA) · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Tesla App · Smart device app function: lock operation · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Slacker internet radio · Internet radio app: Spotify · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total speakers: 22 · Watts: 960
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 14.0 · Front brake width: 1.26 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.4 · Rear brake width: 1.1 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leatherette · Dash Trim: Leatherette · Dash trim: carbon · Door trim: leatherette · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: cargo area carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: alloy · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Steering wheel trim: leatherette
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: fully automated · Camera System: Front · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: 10 driver · Multi-function remote: vehicle and key memory · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): USB front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating · Wireless charging station: rear
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 9.73
Engine
EV battery capacity: 100 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 11.5 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 240 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 1020 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 761 · Electric motor charger connector: Tesla (SAE J3400) · Electric motor charging time (240V): 15 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 396
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: carbon fiber · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 17 in. · Video monitor location: rear · Video monitor size: 8
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: cornering · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: auto-dimming
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Sunroof: panoramic
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Dash camera: front recording · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash · Traffic sign recognition: adaptive speed limiting
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leatherette
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.27
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: over-the-air map updates (OTA) · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Tesla App · Smart device app function: vehicle location · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse