The Tesla Model S is a great four-door luxury sports car that happens also to be an electric vehicle. A large, low-slung hatchback, it easily seats five, or seven if you include the child-ready rear-facing jump seats. With its optional 85 kWh battery, the largest available, it can travel between 180 and 225 miles per charge, depending on outside temperature -- at least twice as far as other electric cars. It can be fully charged in as little as five hours and performance is exceptional, with thrilling acceleration, pinpoint handling, a superb ride, and an eerily hushed cabin. A huge and capable iPad-like center screen controls nearly all accessory functions. Drawbacks include tight access and restricted visibility. Initial teething problems and a steep sticker also give pause for thought.
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Tesla Blog Content
Tesla Model S third-row seats are suitable only for kids
Beyond the fact that it's an all-electric luxury car, one of the surprising things about the Tesla Model S, is that it can seat seven. To clarify: That's not exactly seven adult-scale seats like a full-sized SUV. More akin to...
Video: Sci-fi wizardry of the Tesla Model S doors
It's clear the Tesla Model S dazzles us. But what you might not know is that even the door handles are cool. As you approach the car, with the key fob in your pocket, they begin to motor out from...
Consumer Reports names its top-scoring cars
With the release of our Tesla Model S road test, there have been many questions regarding what other models stand out. Here, we present the current class valedictorians, those cars that have faced our more than 50 tests and managed...
Driving the Tesla Model S is like using an iPad, thanks to leading-edge interior
Imagine driving while using your iPad to play music, and look at Google maps. Now imagine your iPad is built into the car and also runs your climate control, phone, and even basic car controls, such as braking, steering, suspension,...
Talking Cars: Our experts discuss life with the Tesla Model S
Auto Test Director Jake Fisher, my fellow Senior Auto Test engineer Gabe Shenhar, and I recorded this Tesla-only episode of our podcast, Talking Cars with Consumer Reports, to share more insights on this top-scoring car. You asked for it, and...
