2019 Tesla Model S Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

Revised trim level availability and pricing structureImproved driving rangePart of the first Model S generation introduced for 2012

　　It's fair to say the Tesla Model S was the originator of the current luxury electric-vehicle boom. Yes, there were other EVs before it — notably the Nissan Leaf — but it was the first to be aspirational, not just efficient. It was fast, packed with technology, and expensive. Combined with founder Elon Musk's outsize personality and claims, it became something more than just a car.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2019 Tesla Model S EV Insights

Trim:Model S Standard Range

　　Standard Range 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 10/19 (electric DD) - $75,000 MSRP75D 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 1/19 (electric DD) - $76,000 MSRPLong Range 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) - $79,990 MSRP4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 3/19 (electric DD) - $85,000 MSRP100D 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 1/19 (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $94,000 MSRPPerformance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) - $99,990 MSRPP100D 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 1/19 (electric DD) - $133,000 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

　　258 milesThe range for a used 2019 Tesla Model S is estimated to be 258 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 258 miles.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs / Warranty mileage is unlimitedThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　Estimated battery warranty remaining is 3 years.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.

　　

Charging at Home

　　9.2 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　Tesla SuperchargerProprietary Tesla charging standard. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$66/mo

　　Model S

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Recent updates to the car may be controversial to some. The smaller battery pack option has been dropped, and now all cars come with the same 100-kWh battery pack. That means the new trim structure doesn't involve any physical upgrades to the car; rather "upgrades" are software unlocks to enable capability the car already has.

　　For example, the new Long Range trim is a $10,000 upgrade over the base Standard Range model. For that money you get an extra 85 miles of range, made available via a change to the car's software. If you opt for the Model S Performance and decide you'd like Ludicrous Mode enabled, you'll be shelling out an added $20,000.

　　Shoppers may be accustomed to paying more to get more power and more features. But it remains to be seen whether tech-savvy buyers will be happy to dig into their wallets for a software key that allows their car to do something it was mechanically already capable of.

　　While there are plenty of excellent competitors for the cheaper Model 3 (and competitors for the Model X are rolling out), there's really nothing on the market that competes with the Model S yet.

　　You might consider shopping for conventional luxury sedans such as the Audi A7, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Porsche Panamera. They're great cars, certainly, but they just don't offer the same slick all-electric power or technology-above-all-else ethos. At most, you can get them with mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrains. From a style perspective, however, the Germans win the day with their fresher sheet metal and richer interiors.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Tesla Model S as one of zzdcar' Recurrent and the Model S P100D as one of the Recurrent for this year.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar' editorial team was one of the first to acquire and live with a 2013 Tesla Model S for a full year. To learn more about the Tesla Model S of this generation, read our complete Recurrent. In our experience the early build Model S was prone to premature tire wear and a number of quality issues, which were sorted out in the subsequent years. That said, we found it to be a fun car to drive and unlike anything else on the road at the time.

　　The 2019 Tesla Model S differs from our early long-term Model S in a number of ways. The front bumper and grille have been revised, range has improved, and the front motor has been updated to boost performance. And all 2019 Long Range Plus models are now offered exclusively with Tesla's dual-motor all-wheel drive (ours was rear-drive only) and a smart air suspension. It's the same generation, though, so most of our general driving impressions still apply.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Tesla Model S P85D (dual electric motors | direct drive | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2015, the current Model S has received some revisions, notably the discontinuation of the P85D trim. It's similar to the current base Model S, however, and our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Model S.

　　

Driving

　　If the Model S simply accelerated with unbelievable speed yet did nothing else well, it would still get a top grade. But that's not the case. All-wheel drive gives it a ton of grip, and it changes direction like a much lighter machine. It's a total blast to drive.

　　

Acceleration

　　Even the older P85D we tested managed a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.5 seconds. And it's incredibly easy: Just floor the accelerator pedal. Even in typical situations, acceleration is impressive.

　　

Braking

　　Routine deceleration is aptly handled by the regenerative braking, while panic stops are smooth, short (just 102 feet from 60 mph) and stable with consistent distances. It gives a more predictable pedal feel than some other electric vehicles.

　　

Steering

　　The steering effort is variable between three different modes, but all are quite quick. The steering feels lighter than it does on non-all-wheel-drive models, but it's not too light.

　　

Handling

　　Thanks to sharp steering and incredibly sticky summer performance tires, the grip available with this car is impressive. Corner-carving is also aided by immediate pedal response. It's far more fun than such a heavy vehicle should be.

　　

Drivability

　　With instantly available electric power, the Tesla is a cinch to drive. The car's adaptive cruise control is among the best in the business.

　　

Comfort

　　There are no obvious missteps in the Model S. The seats are very good, the ride is firm but not abusive, and the road noise is reasonably quiet. The seats could offer more adjustability as well as a cooling function.

　　

Seat comfort

　　The seats are well-bolstered, grippy and adjustable, and they rival the seats from the class leaders. But no cooling feature is available.

　　

Ride comfort

　　The ride remains on the firm side even in our Model S test car with 21-inch wheels and an air suspension. That's not a real complaint because it's never coarse, but it's far from cushy.

　　

Noise & vibration

　　The Model S suffers from an odd resonance at the back of the vehicle, and our test car had quite a bit of electric whine from the front powertrain. Still, compared to most other cars on the road, it's quiet.

　　

Climate control

　　Be prepared to like virtual touchscreen controls because that's what you get. But the look of the digitally rendered icons artfully mimics tactile controls of old, so they will seem very familiar. We found the air conditioning has a hard time keeping up in hot weather.

　　

Interior

　　The Tesla's interior is a very special place in which to spend time, with a wide-open feel and lovely materials. But thanks to the advanced features in this car, there is a bit of a learning curve. But Tesla focused on the user interface, and it shows.

　　

Ease of use

　　The giant 17-inch touchscreen is amazingly easy to use. Everything works great except the power exterior door handles. Annoyingly, they frequently fail to deploy right away.

　　

Getting in/getting out

　　The large door openings, good seat height and a medium-low step-in height make this an easy car to get in and out of, in spite of its seemingly low-slung stance.

　　

Roominess

　　The cabin feels huge, and all occupants have a ton of leg- and headroom. Overall, there's an airy and spacious feeling.

　　

Visibility

　　Excellent visibility all around is augmented by the largest backup camera display we've ever seen, with a high-definition camera and advanced parking sensors. It's simply outstanding.

　　

Quality

　　Our Model S has an impressively buttoned-up build quality. The panel gaps are tight, the materials are excellent and everything feels expensive.

　　

Utility

　　The Model S offers significantly more space than most large luxury sedans. But some might find the open center console concept a little polarizing.

　　

Small-item storage

　　There are cupholders, yes, but the open center-console concept — basically just an open channel running between the two front seats — isn't so much a storage space as a drop zone for wallets, bags, shoes, banana peels and packets of beef jerky.

　　

Cargo space

　　The Model S has a usable front trunk and a massive rear trunk. That's a lot more space than other large luxury sedans offer.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

　　The Model S features three standard LATCH anchor points in the second row, tucked tightly between the seat cushions.

　　

Technology

　　From its powertrain to gadgetry, the Model S is a rolling monument to technology. Its massive central control display will feel familiar to anyone who uses a tablet. But some of its driver assistance features, such as Autopilot, aren't as effective as you might think they are.

　　

Audio & navigation

　　The main touchscreen is huge, and it responds very well to inputs, though the control menus are complex. The audio options are limited, but the premium audio system has an appealing sound quality. Internet radio, scrolling and playlist creation are all well-executed. Navigation is unreliable.

　　

Smartphone integration

　　The Model S offers standard Bluetooth hands-free phone functionality with voice control, but there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration yet.

　　

Driver aids

　　The screen depicting the proximity of objects near you when parking is industry-leading. The large backup camera display is very helpful, too. We also like the adaptive cruise control, but full Autopilot is a mixed bag and should never be used without full attention.

　　

Which Model S does zzdcar recommend?

　　In general, we recommend the base Model S. You get all the same equipment as more expensive versions, a respectable 4-second 0-60 mph time, and an already excellent 285 miles of range. Tesla discontinued this version midway through the model year, however. As such, the next best option would be the Long Range. We certainly understand the appeal of the Model S Performance and of Ludicrous Mode, but it's up to you to look into your heart — and wallet — and decide how much the extra acceleration is worth. Whichever trim you get, we do highly recommend the Enhanced Autopilot option.

　　

2019 Tesla Model S models

　　The 2019 Tesla Model S is a five-passenger electric luxury sedan. At the start of the model year, it was available in four variants: the base Model S, Extended Range, Performance, and Performance with Ludicrous Mode. Midyear updates replaced the base model with the Standard Range variant, and the Extended Range model was replaced by the Long Range. Soon after this, Tesla discontinued the Standard Range variant.

　　All Model S sedans come with the same 100-kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive. Effectively, there's a single, feature-loaded Model S that buyers can then upgrade with more range and more performance.

　　Be aware that Tesla updates the Model S on an ongoing basis rather than by model year, so what follows might not necessarily reflect the most current offering.

　　The base Model S offers 310 miles of range and a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds (the Standard Range car offers 285 miles and a 0-60 mph time of 4 seconds). It comes standard with 19-inch wheels, all-season tires, an adaptive air suspension, adaptive LED headlights, access to Tesla's Supercharger network, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 17-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, a rearview camera, keyless entry, parking sensors, power-folding and heated side mirrors, automatic wipers, blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

　　Inside, you'll find power-adjustable front seats, 60/40-split folding rear seats, heated front and second-row seats, leather upholstery, a heated and power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 11-speaker sound system with dual USB ports (media and charging) and HD radio. A cellular connection, internet radio and Wi-Fi connectivity are also included, as is a universal mobile connector for charging (with 110-volt, 240-volt and J1772 adapters).

　　The Enhanced Autopilot package comes with three extra cameras and upgraded sensors. It allows for limited hands-free driving, including automatic lane changing by selecting the turn signal indicator, semi-automated steering, a parking-spot detection system, and hands-free parallel parking and summoning functions.

　　The Extended Range adds 25 miles of range, for 335 miles total. You can upgrade the standard model with this extra range at any time by buying an over-the-air software update.

　　Midyear updates add the Extended Range boost to the standard car, now called Long Range. Range is increased to 370 miles, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. The audio system is also upgraded to 11 speakers. The Enhanced Autopilot package is also renamed Autopilot. A new feature called Full Self-Driving Capability adds automated parallel and perpendicular parking, additional fine-tuning to the way Autopilot behaves on the highway, and a summon feature that calls the Model S to your location in a parking lot.

　　The Model S Performance sees a reduction in range to 315 miles (later increased to 345 miles), but it can make the sprint to 60 mph in an impressive 3 seconds. Selecting the Performance model also adds ventilated front seats. Later versions also include Ludicrous Mode, which knocks a few tenths off the 0-60 mph sprint, cutting the time down to just 2.4 seconds (although it can only deliver on that promise a few times per charge). While Ludicrous Mode comes standard on models produced later in the model year, it's optional on early 2019 Performance models.

　　

2019 Model S Highlights

Trim: Standard Range75DLong RangeBase100DPerformanceP100DStandard Range

　　

Base MSRP	$75,000
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$400
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	285 miles
Cost to Drive	$66/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	9.2 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	28.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / unlimited miles