Used 2020 Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is an electric 5-passenger sportback that offers up to 373 miles of driving range on a single battery charge. Owners can recharge overnight using a 240-volt home-charging station or take advantage of Tesla’s Supercharger network for rapid charging on the go. At the start of 2020, it’s free with unlimited use to Model S owners.

Inside, a huge 17-inch screen dominates the minimalist interior and controls virtually all vehicle functions. Speaking of technology, Tesla is a champion of autonomous-driving systems and regularly rolls out new vehicle features via over-the-air software enhancements.

Meanwhile, a pair of electric motors generates massive torque permitting this sensible but sleek car to outrun most honest-to-goodness supercars while hauling up to 63.3 cubic feet of cargo. Is the Model S the perfect car? No, but it sure is trying to be. If nothing else, it foreshadows our fast and fun automotive future.

As a new decade opens, one certain to transform the automotive industry, the 2020 Tesla Model S comes in Long Range and Performance trim levels. The Long Range zips to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds while the Performance blasts to that same velocity in a downright ludicrous 2.4 seconds. That makes the Model S faster than just about any car on the road.

Given the obscene thrust in either version of the car, a Model S is a real thrill ride. Upgrade to the handsome 21-inch wheels, and the wide rubber combined with the exceptionally low center of gravity gives this family-sized luxury car the moves of a high-end exotic.

Under normal driving conditions, a lack of engine noise imbues the Model S with a serene demeanor, supported by good ride quality. And when you don’t want to shoulder all of the driving responsibilities, you can lean on Autopilot, Tesla’s package of advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS). Standard for 2020, Autopilot can, in certain situations and with your constant supervision, take care of the braking, steering and acceleration duties. No, you cannot take a nap. So don’t.

Tesla offers the Model S with three interior colors. Black is standard, while White and Cream cost $1,500 extra. Upholstery is a vegan “leather,” and real wood trim decorates the dashboard and center console. Carbon fiber is available in place of wood when you choose Performance trim.

A standard 17-inch touch screen dominates the dashboard, but unlike with the company’s Model 3, in the Model S the display is deftly integrated into the dash design. All vehicle data and settings are accessible from this screen, from speed and battery charge levels to the climate and infotainment systems. Gratefully, the information is logically and cleanly arranged on the screen, which quickly responds to inputs. Overall, it’s a beautiful and updatable interface that’s easy to love.

Thanks to its hatchback design, the Tesla Model S offers ample cargo space behind its 60/40-split-folding rear seats, supplemented by a sizable underfloor storage bin and a roomy front trunk, or “frunk” as Tesla calls it. With the rear seats in use, the car carries 28 cubic feet of cargo. Fold the back seats down to maximize cargo volume at 63.3 cubic feet.

Even though its design dates to 2012, the Model S remains one of the most striking cars on the road. Highlights include retractable door handles that emerge when the key is nearby and a charging port door that’s hidden in the taillights.

Standard wheels measure 19 inches in diameter, but fancy 21-inch Sonic Carbon wheels are available in exchange for a cool $4,500. Where paint is concerned, if you want any color other than white it’ll add between $1,500 and $2,500 to the purchase price.

LUDICROUS MODE
Words fail to describe the wonders of Ludicrous Mode, which is standard with the Performance trim. When active, and when the driver floors the accelerator, Ludicrous Mode causes the Model S to surge forward with an intense, relentless thrust rarely experienced beyond the worlds of aviation and space travel.

SOFTWARE VERSION 10.0
In September 2019, Tesla rolled out a big software update for its vehicles. The over-the-air download included Tesla Theater for watching Netflix, YouTube or Hulu while the car isn’t moving; Smart Summon to call the car to your location from a parking space; Karaoke for singing; Spotify integration; and more.

Rather than adhere to traditional model-year-change timing, Tesla continually updates the Model S whenever improvements or new features are ready for prime time. At the start of 2020, the car comes in Long Range and Performance trims, which could change at any time and without notice.

Both versions of the 2020 Tesla Model S include the company’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, a predictive and adaptive air suspension, and free, unlimited use of the company’s Supercharger charging-station network. Inside, a premium interior with vegan leather, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, an 11-speaker premium sound system, and a medical-grade air-filtration system for the dual-zone automatic climate control await up to five passengers.

Cold -weather comfort comes in the form of heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated windshield wipers and washer nozzles. Tesla’s well-known Autopilot technology is standard for the 2020 Model S, equipping the car with a sophisticated suite of ADAS including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more.

The Model S also has the most advanced starter system imaginable: There’s no “Start” button — you simply climb in, shift into gear, and start driving. Owners can also enjoy a variety of “Easter Eggs” including a roaring fireplace or classic video games displayed on the standard 17-inch touch screen, and the latest big software updates let you watch Netflix while waiting for the battery to charge at the Supercharger lot.

Aside from wheel, paint and interior theme choices, the only option for the Model S is a Full Self-Driving Capability package ($7,000) that bundles automatic parking, a Smart Summon function, and Navigate on Autopilot that can guide the Model S from freeway onramp to offramp, handling all driving in between.

In our experience, monitoring Navigate on Autopilot’s operation is more stressful than simply driving the car yourself. Future software updates should refine the system’s operation while adding new features. For example, Tesla promises automatic city driving plus stop-sign and traffic-light recognition capability later in 2020.

Then again, the company also promised those features by the end of 2019.

All Model S variants feature a dual electric motor all-wheel-drive system, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack under the car’s floor and spanning the distance between the front and rear axles. The battery is compatible with Tesla’s new 200-kWh V3 Superchargers, cutting recharging time by as much as 50 percent, according to the company.

Tesla doesn’t offer specific power figures for the Model S, but given the car’s staggering speed the unknown numbers are big ones. The Model S Long Range sprints from motionless to 60 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds, on its way to a 155-mph top speed. Meanwhile, the Model S Performance with standard Ludicrous Mode delivers 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds and tops out at 163 mph. Fun!

Long Range – Dual AC electric motors
N/A combined horsepower
N/A lb-ft of combined torque
EPA city/highway economy: 115/107 MPGe

Performance – Dual AC electric motors
N/A combined horsepower
N/A lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway economy: 104/104 MPGe (with 19-inch wheels); 98/96 MPGe (with 21-inch wheels)