Used 2021 Tesla Model S

Imagine if the 2021 Tesla Model S all-electric large luxury car were completely new this year. People would rave about the sleek looks, the range it can cover on a single charge (better than any competitor), blistering acceleration, competent handling and impressive technology.

So it’s kind of shocking that the Tesla Model S is almost 10 years old. That’s how far ahead of its time it was. And still is. Admittedly, it has evolved considerably. But it had superior range, acceleration, and tech back in 2012, just as it does now.

The Model S has established itself as a serious choice among luxury cars. And for most of its existence, the competition has been nowhere.

Only now are we seeing things like the Porsche Taycan (maximum range: 203 miles) and Lucid Air (from a company that supplies batteries to Formula E racers) take up the electric luxury challenge. Otherwise, it’s the ubiquitous crossover, with the Jaguar I-Pace being first to market, now followed by the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

This year, the Long Range version extends the distance covered from 373 miles to 412. And a new Plaid version (there goes Tesla being unconventional again) has three motors instead of two. Tesla claims it has 1,020 horsepower and can jet from standstill to 60 mph in under two seconds. All without burning a drop of fossil fuel.

Spacious for people and cargo, the Model S is practical and has the potential to be practically ballistic.

No start button is supplied with the 2021 Model S. Owners can open their car, jump in, buckle up, engage Drive (or Reverse), and away they go.

By the time 3.1 seconds have passed, the Long Range might easily be hitting 60 mph. Tesla claims the Plaid can do it in under 1.99 seconds, with the rollout subtracted. That means not starting the clock for the first 12 inches of movement, which usually helps by a couple of tenths. The Plaid+ version is naturally expected to be even quicker.

Such are the joys of electric motors that dish up all their energy almost instantaneously, aided and abetted by the traction of all-wheel drive. A Model S can be faster than virtually any other road car.

As rapid as the Model S is, the chassis can keep up. A standard adaptive air suspension is responsive and controlled. The wider rubber on the larger 21-inch wheels (optional with the Long Range, standard with the Plaid) supplies extra grip. And the low center of gravity makes the Model S feel wonderfully stable.

Or drivers can go the other way — enjoy the silence (no engine means no engine noise) and put the suspension into comfort mode. Perhaps engage the standard adaptive cruise control with steering assistance. Or exercise the Full Self-Driving Capability option. Both systems still require continual driver alertness, but they sure take out some of the stress.

Changes to the Model S include using its Autopilot sensors to determine whether the car should be put into Drive or Reverse. For example, if the car is facing a wall, the “brain” will select Reverse automatically. This is all cutting-edge stuff.

The cabin of the 2021 Model S has had a complete rethink. It’s radical and supremely uncluttered. The steering wheel is no longer a wheel. It’s a rectangle without a top section. And there are no stalks, just buttons on the steering “yoke” for drivers to activate turn signals.

The decapitated steering wheel/yoke makes the new digital driver information display as visible as possible. It’s the new landscape-oriented 17-inch infotainment touchscreen that grabs the attention next, however.

Set into a redesigned dashboard devoid of controls, it looks better than high-resolution. Perfect for streaming Netflix while waiting for the car to charge, as well as handling all the usual car functions. It’s logical, user-friendly and has the potential for improvement through over-the-air updates.

A third, 8-inch display now enters the Model S. It’s for the rear passengers, set into the back section of the new center console and angled up a little. Elsewhere in the cabin are a wireless charging compartment and USB-C ports that supply enough power to recharge a laptop — all to the ultimate detriment of the car’s range, however.

The Model S is not a sedan, but a hatchback with rear seats that split and fold in 60/40 fashion. Behind these seats is a luggage area measuring 28 cubic feet. When they’re folded down, maximum cargo space is 63.3 cubic feet. There’s also an underfloor storage bin and an extra compartment under the hood.

It’s unlikely that anyone with more than $80,000 to spend on a car has a small garage, but it’s worth mentioning that the Model S is a little wider than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Changes to the outside of the 2021 Model S aren’t quite as sweeping as those on the inside, but some subtle revisions to the front end definitely freshen things up a touch. The Model S is the most aerodynamically slippery car, with a drag coefficient of 0.208.

Things that have now become Tesla staples first appeared on the Model S, such as the recessed door handles and carefully proportioned sloping roof.

The Long Range version of the 2021 Model S starts out with 19-inch alloy wheels, but 21-inch rims are available for $4,500. White is the only color that comes free of charge. Black, blue, and gray (Midnight Silver Metallic) are $1,500; Red Multi-Coat is $2,500.

PLAID
The fastest mode in a Model S used to be Ludicrous. Now the Plaid model takes over. Because in the Spaceballs movie, created by Mel Brooks, Plaid was one better than Ludicrous in relation to spaceship speed. It’s good to have a little Brooks-inspired chuckle while traveling toward a maximum velocity of 200 mph.

ZERO EMISSIONS
More carmakers are going down the electric route. This method of propulsion seems increasingly like the future. Tesla was futuristic before everyone else, though, creating a well-rounded and workable package in the Model S that brings the future into the now.

Although Tesla vehicles are not luxurious in the traditional sense, they still come with many top-class features. As well as the “vegan” faux-leather upholstery, the ventilated front seats come with 12-way power-adjustment, and all the seats are heated.

An adaptive/predictive air suspension is also standard in the 2021 Model S, along with all-wheel drive, glass roof, wiper blade defrosters, heated windshield washer nozzles, heated steering wheel, and a HEPA cabin air filtration system that stops viruses and bacteria from coming into the cabin.

The infotainment setup includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless charging, navigation, and a premium 22-speaker/560-watt audio system with active noise cancelling. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration is not available at all, but the car’s own system allows video streaming.

Safety systems include adaptive cruise control with steering assistance, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Tesla’s usual practice is to issue over-the-air updates whenever they become available, rather than hold them until the following model year. Chances are, the Model S could have even more standard features later in 2021.

Buying a new Model S requires a little research up front, like finding out if the Long Range Plus version is fast enough (it probably is). Whether the Performance’s greater speed is preferable. Or maybe waiting for the ultra-rapid/super-powerful Plaid+ variant just because it’s the most extreme Model S.

Other choices are easier to make, such as exterior and interior color schemes. But there’s still the question of spending $10,000 on the Full Self-Driving Capability package with self-parking, Smart Summon virtual valet feature, and a freeway assistant that handles duties from on-ramp to off-ramp.

This package can be provided even after taking delivery of the car, but it might cost even more. Tesla says it’s working on adding Autosteer on city streets. It said that last year as well.

The 2021 Model S Long Range variant has a dual electric motor configuration with all-wheel drive. They run off a lithium-ion battery pack located under the floor between the axles.

The Plaid version is propelled by three electric motors (one up front, one for each rear wheel) that combine to make 1,020 horsepower. As well as the sub-two-second sprint to 60 mph, the Plaid is also claimed to run the quarter-mile in 9.23 seconds, achieving 155 mph through the speed traps.

According to Tesla, the company’s latest 200-kWh V3 Superchargers can cut recharging times by 50 percent. They can deliver up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.

Long Range
Dual AC electric motors
670 combined horsepower
N/A lb-ft of combined torque
EPA city/highway economy: 124 MPGe/115 MPGe
Range on a full charge: 405 miles

Plaid
Triple AC electric motors
1,020 combined horsepower
N/A lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway economy: 102 MPGe/99 MPGe
Range on a full charge: 348 miles