Electric Excellence: The 2024 Tesla Model S Sets the Bar High

While Tesla has moved on to flashy new products such as the Cybertruck, the 2024 Model S carries on in its role as the brand’s flagship luxury car. Its maximum estimated range of 405 miles per charge sits near the top of what buyers can expect from an EV, and its impressive performance and sports-sedan agility combine for a grin-inducing drive.

Several rivals are edging in on Tesla’s territory, though, including the Lucid Air, which offers more range, similar performance, and a more upscale experience inside its cabin. Tesla’s notoriety remains difficult to compete with, and the same can be said for the brand’s sprawling network of fast charging Supercharger stations. These things, combined with the car’s high-tech features and impressive estimated driving range, keep the Model S in contention with its rivals.

What’s New for 2024?

Tesla hasn’t announced any changes to the Model S lineup for 2024—yet. The company is known for making updates to its lineup of electric vehicles on the fly at random times during the model year, so details on this page are subject to change. If any revisions to the Model S happen throughout the year, we’ll update this story with details.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The price of the 2024 Tesla Model S starts at $74,630 and goes up to $89,630 depending on the trim and options.Long Range$74,630Model S$74,630Plaid$89,630We’d stick with the Long Range model, which carries an estimated range of 405 miles per charge. The ultra-high-performance Plaid model sounds compelling, but its six-figure starting price represents diminishing value—unless you absolutely must have a car with the quickness reminiscent of a Top Fuel dragster, we’d prioritize range.

GETTING STARTED WITH EVSEV

Motor, Power, and PerformanceWith an electric motor dedicated to each of the front and rear axles, the Model S offers full-time all-wheel drive no matter which version you choose. The acceleration of the two models ranges from outstanding to unbelievable. The standard Model S has proven itself an agile sports sedan with well-controlled body motions and direct steering. Two different settings allow drivers to choose heavy or light steering effort, but neither of them enables more feedback from the road.

Unfortunately, the available yoke-style steering wheel is poorly integrated and diminishes the driving experience; a regular steering wheel is a no-cost option. The ride comfort is good, handling is adroit, and it’s confident and almost tranquil on the highway.Under the Tesla’s floor lies a battery pack that yields a low center of gravity and evenly distributed weight between front and rear.

Driving range varies from model to model, with the Long Range model offering up to 405 miles per charge and the Plaid not far behind at 359. The Lucid Air is the only EV sedan that offers more driving per charge, with high-end models estimated to deliver up to 516 miles of range.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

While EVs such as the Audi e-tron GT and the Porsche Taycan deliver serviceable driving range, the Model S is a more impressive alternative to gas-powered vehicles when it comes to long-distance travel. The Long Range model has the highest MPGe ratings at 124 city and 115 highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, a Model S Plaid managed 280 miles of its claimed 390 miles of range. For more information about the Model S’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

With Model S prices starting close to $80,000, it’s reasonable for buyers to expect a certain amount of luxury inside the car. The cabin’s atmosphere is nice enough, but it’s not nearly as plush as rivals such as the BMW i5 and the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The Model S’s sloped roofline cleverly hides a rear liftgate that opens to reveal a huge 26-cubic-foot trunk. We managed to stash eight of our carry-on-size cases without folding down the rear seats.

Paltry small-item cubby stowage throughout the interior—especially in the back seat—is offset by a large underfloor bin in the rear cargo area.Fans of modern minimalism will adore the Model S’s cabin, which comes standard with a giant infotainment screen that controls almost all the vehicle’s functions.

Technophiles will be in heaven, but we’re not completely sold. The screen’s positioning on the dashboard will require some drivers to lean forward in their seats to reach certain icons, particularly those near the top-right of the display. Unlike the less expensive Tesla Model 3, the Model S provides a secondary display for the gauge cluster and a small touchpad in the rear seat as well.

The Tesla Model S comes with an adaptive cruise control system called Autopilot, but before you get too excited about a self-driving car, you should know that it’s little more than an adaptive cruise control system with a lane-centering feature. A more advanced Enhanced Autopilot package is available and adds an automatic lane-changing system, and an automatic parking feature, among other tricks.

The company has repeatedly touted a “full self-driving” feature over the years but in our experience, it doesn’t quite work as advertised and still requires driver attention and intervention. For more information about the Model S’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Key safety features include:Warranty and Maintenance CoverageTesla offers a comprehensive warranty package to protect the Model S’s powertrain and hybrid components but lacks the lengthy bumper-to-bumper coverage and complimentary scheduled maintenance packages of the Jaguar I-Pace.Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers eight years and unlimited miles.