2020 Tesla Model S Review

　　

2020 Tesla Model S Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　It's difficult to believe now — given the neat-but-flawed Model X and stupefying Cybertruck — that Tesla knocked it out of the park on its first attempt. The 2020 Tesla Model S is a continuation of the vehicle that turned the automotive world on its head nearly a decade ago. And despite no significant changes since its debut, the Model S remains one of the preeminent electric cars.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2020 Tesla Model S EV Insights

Trim:Model S Long Range Plus

　　Long Range Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) - $69,420 MSRPLong Range 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 05/20 (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $79,990 MSRPPerformance 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) - $91,990 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

　　372 milesThe range for a used 2020 Tesla Model S is estimated to be 372 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 372 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 or 150,000 milesThe 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 4 years or 94,000 miles for this car.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

　　15.3 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$4,000

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

　　For the vehicle to qualify: Price cannot exceed $25,000. Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased. Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted. Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.

　　For individuals to qualify: Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status. Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle. Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle. Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　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

　　$62/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.

　　A standard air suspension provides the basis for this large sedan's comfortable ride, while the seats are both supportive and cushy. Inside is a thoughtfully trimmed cabin. It doesn't stun like the German and Japanese competition, but it quietly impresses in a restrained, almost Scandinavian way.

　　What isn't discreet is the giant 17-inch tablet that houses the infotainment system. While the on-screen menus are logically laid out, they are distracting to use and almost necessitate the presence of the standard Autopilot driving system. For a vehicle brimming with tech, we're also let down by the absence of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　There's nothing to gripe about when it comes to performance. Even the base version is capable of hitting 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and paying an extra $20,000 for the Performance knocks that down to 2.3 seconds. Those are supercar numbers, and almost unbelievable when you consider the Performance trim barely tips the six-figure mark. Estimated range also tops anything else on sale today, though we've often found real-world range falls a bit short of Tesla's figures.

　　Even after all this time, the Tesla Model S is one of the best EVs on the road. It faces serious competition this year with the arrival of the Porsche Taycan, but the Taycan is also a lot more expensive, offers less range, and isn't as quick. 

　　

What's it like to live with the Model S?

zzdcar' editorial team purchased and then tested a 2013 Tesla Model S for a full year. 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 2020 Tesla Model S differs from our early long-term Model S in a number of ways. It's the same generation, though, so many of our general driving impressions still apply. To learn more about the Tesla Model S of this generation, read our complete Recurrent.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Model S drive? The Tesla Model S Performance is comically quick. Its 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds shames nearly every other production car on sale today, or ever really. Thanks to the electric powertrain and lack of transmission, acceleration is smooth and seamless. Whether you're passing on the highway or squeezing into a small gap on surface streets, the Model S delivers. The brakes are fairly impressive too, with plenty of stopping power and the ability to slow to a stop solely with regenerative braking (one-pedal driving).

　　We do wish the handling could match the Tesla's straight-line performance. The steering feels loose and sloppy on center, so it feels a bit unstable at full throttle when the weight shifts rearward. The Model S has plenty of grip, so you can race through corners with speed, but the suspension doesn't feel totally buttoned-down and the car's weight becomes more apparent.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Model S? As with the rest of Tesla's lineup, the Model S has improved immensely over the past few years in terms of comfort and quality. The seats look a little flat, but they're soft and supportive, even after a full day of driving. They don't breathe well, though, and can get a little warm on sunny days. The rear seats are also more comfortable than they appear.

　　The ride quality has improved too, and it's much better at tuning out imperfections on the road. The ride was impressive even with our test car's 21-inch wheels. It's not perfect — the Model S crashed over some bumps rather than tuned them out — but it feels good for what we expect from this class. The Model S is fairly quiet, though we found the wind and road noise on the highway louder than in some gas-powered cars.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Almost all major controls are tied to the massive touchscreen display that takes up the entire center of the dashboard. While it does make for a clean design, it can be frustrating and confusing if you aren't familiar with the menus. Simple tasks such as setting the cruise control or checking the tire pressures requires searching through the digital manual, and other controls mean taking your eyes off the road far too often.

　　That said, the rest of the interior is pretty good. The doors open wide enough to make getting in and out fairly easy, and once you're situated it's easy to find a comfortable position. It's relatively roomy up front, but the back seat has less headroom than you'll find in the smaller Model 3 sedan. Visibility is good thanks to a relatively low hood, but the rear window is narrow and feels positioned too high.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Tesla's Autopilot driver aid system is one of the best on sale today. It's smooth in operation, and it's easy to adjust braking sensitivity or the gap between cars when using cruise control. It also doesn't play Pong between the lane lines like some less sophisticated systems.

　　The navigation system is simple and easy to use, and the massive Google-based map provides plenty of detail. Voice commands are limited in scope, but what's there works well. Our biggest knock: device integration. Tesla enjoys doing its own thing, so there's no support for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The only way to play stuff from your phone is through Bluetooth. On-screen controls are limited too, and the audio system is just good but not up to the level of the class leaders.

　　One of Tesla's most significant innovations, and a big selling point for many buyers, is the capability to update their cars over the air, adding features or improving performance and efficiency. Other manufacturers are beginning to follow suit, but Tesla pioneered the concept.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Despite what it may appear to be, the Tesla Model S is actually a hatchback. That means there's tons of rear cargo space that's easy to access and take advantage of. It features far more cargo space than many rivals, EV or not. The split rear seats fold flat, opening up the space even more. Storage up front isn't so great, and we'd prefer a better alternative to Tesla's solution of making the center console one big bin with adjustable dividers. The lack of door pockets means everything goes in the center, and small items can get lost.

　　Getting a car seat in and out is relatively easy. The doors open wide, and the anchors are fairly accessible. The lack of headroom might be a bit of an issue when installing a seat.

　　

Range and Efficiency

8.0/10

　　How are the range and efficiency? The Model S Performance we tested was equipped with 21-inch wheels, giving it an EPA-estimated range of 326 miles at 35 kWh/100 miles. In zzdcar' real-world range testing, we came up a little short of the EPA estimates, managing 318 miles on a single max battery charge with a slightly more efficient consumption rate of 32.6 kWh/100 miles. That's more range than most EVs we've tested. Still, it fell short of the Porsche Taycan 4S we drove that had a significantly lower EPA rating.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Model S a good value? Tesla has improved its build quality immensely over the years, though it didn't have anywhere to go but up. We think it still falls short of the class leaders and other luxury cars at this price, but the flaws in the paint, trim and bodywork have been greatly reduced. The Model S offers a lot of performance and range for the money, but the interior isn't as nice or premium as those of other cars in this class or at this price point.

　　Access to Tesla's vast Supercharger network is one of the best parts of Tesla ownership. It should help relieve much range anxiety and can allow you to take the Model S across the country on most major highways without worrying about finding a charging station. The basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles, which is about average in this luxury EV segment. The powertrain and battery are covered for eight years/120,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　Anything with this much power is fun, and the fact that the power is backed up by sharp looks and competent handling only makes things better. There's no gap too small or highway on-ramp too short for the Model S, even the non-performance models. It's not quite as sharp to drive as the Porsche Taycan, but it's still plenty entertaining.

　　The design has held up well too, and there's almost a subtlety to the Model S at this point. Even the performance models don't shout in your face like some German performance cars do.

　　

Which Model S does zzdcar recommend?

We think the base Long Range (replaced by the Long Range Plus later in the year) offers plenty of performance and capability for most buyers. With only minor differences, it has essentially the same feature set as the considerably more expensive Performance trim.

　　

2020 Tesla Model S models

The 2020 Tesla Model S is a five-passenger electric luxury sedan. Two variants are available — Long Range (later changed to Long Range Plus) and Performance. Both use the same 100-kWh battery pack and come standard with all-wheel drive.

　　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 standard Model S Long Range offers 373 miles of range and a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. Standard feature highlights include an adaptive air suspension, LED headlights, a power liftgate, heated front- and second-row seats, a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel, a 17-inch touchscreen and a navigation system. Later in the model year, this was replaced by the Long Range Plus, which offers up to 402 miles of range.

　　Every Model S comes with a suite of safety systems that Tesla calls Autopilot. This includes front and rear parking sensors, a blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　The Model S Performance sees a reduction in range to 348 miles, but the sprint to 60 mph is estimated at a face-flattening 2.4 seconds. (Note: It can only deliver on that promise a few times per charge.)

　　The so-called Full Self-Driving Capability option is available on both trims. It adds nifty semi-automated driving features, including automated parking and the ability to change lanes simply by flicking the turn signal. It also adds the Summon feature, which Tesla says enables the vehicle to drive unmanned to its owner in a parking lot. Larger 21-inch wheels are optional on either model, though adding them reduces vehicle range slightly.

　　

2020 Model S Highlights

Trim: Long Range PlusLong RangePerformanceLong Range Plus

　　

Base MSRP	$69,420
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	402 miles
Cost to Drive	$62/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	15.3 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 / 150,000 miles