2025 Tesla Model S Consumer Reviews
Pricing
Best Car We've Ever Owned
We had a great experience with a Tesla Model 3 for a few years and decided to upgrade the Model S Long Range. Pro's: The air suspension makes a huge difference in ride quality combined with a quiet interior makes it feel like you're floating. The performance of the car is incredible, it handles well and is lightening quick! Pre-purchase the yoke was my biggest concern. After driving a few thousand miles with it I've grown to love it. Better field of view and easy to use with a nice flat bottom area to rest your hands. The yoke's solid grip works well when you let loose on windy country roads. Voice commands work really well, and I'm now used to not having a stalk. I really appreciate the turn-signal auto shutoff when you complete the lane change is slick. The tech for this car is the best in the industry. From battery to infotainment. Plenty of range for us to cart the kids around, shop and travel anywhere. We love the fact that the instrument panel screen free's up the main 17" screen. We get a giant map for directions! That's a nice improvement from the Model 3. Spotify works well as does Netflix and the games. The touch screen is simple to use and extremely responsive. Tesla pioneered the over the air software updates for cars. We look forward to updates every month or so. Model 3/S keep getting better. Zoom conferencing coming soon! The only iPhone app we miss are the Waze speed trap and obstacle warnings. Purchased FSD, waiting in the queue. Bought it as Autopilot was pretty good in the 3 (though far from perfect.) Cons: My Wife & I share the car, but the profiles don't always seem to sync properly. The auto-high beams are a bit too erratic on the freeway. Autopilot does have the occasional phantom break still which hopefully FSD will address. The trunk had a small gap on one side that shouldn't happen for a car in this price range. Outside of that the build is solid. The horn button was a dumb idea. They are supposed to push an update to address this. Final thoughts: Highly recommend if it's in the budget. We loved the Model 3 but the S is now the best car we've ever driven or owned!
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Shocking disappoint. Half baked technologies.
As a disappointed owner of the Tesla Model S Plaid, I must caution prospective buyers about the numerous shortcomings of this vehicle. Upon delivery, I was dismayed to find paint imperfections and noticeable gaps in the panels, indicative of subpar manufacturing standards. Throughout my ownership, I encountered a litany of electrical issues, from software glitches to malfunctioning components, which marred the driving experience and eroded my confidence in the car's reliability. Despite its hefty price tag, the interior of the Model S Plaid lacks the craftsmanship expected in a luxury vehicle. Cheap materials and shoddy assembly detract from the overall appeal, leaving me feeling shortchanged for my investment. Admittedly, the Model S Plaid delivers impressive acceleration, but harnessing its power on the road requires costly aftermarket upgrades to enhance control and handling—a disappointing necessity for a car of this caliber. Equally disappointing is Tesla's service center experience. Lacking in customer service and refinement, these centers make you feel like you're dealing with a budget brand rather than a premium automaker. The lack of attention to detail and professionalism further underscore the Model S Plaid's shortcomings. In conclusion, while the Tesla Model S Plaid may dazzle with its speed, it falls short in delivering the quality and luxury expected in its price range, making it a regrettable choice for discerning buyers.
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The excitement hides many flaws
I bought new a ‘22 Tesla S Plaid, with all the options. The car looks nice on the outside, I think is beautiful. On the inside is quite basic for the price point but is smart in several ways; the air conditioning is well designed, the seats are fine and adjust well, and the infotainment is great, very likely the best of the industry. Acceleration is nothing short of amazing. And that’s it, it excites you if you like cars. Now the problems. Paint quality is very bad, it dents with very little… the wheels as well, look around teslas on the street and look at their wheels…brakes need a big improvement, the plaid doesn’t have the breaks it needs, I believe is dangerous, I have two sports cars of traditional brands and the gap in breaking is big. Also remember this is a very heavy car. After a month a noisy squeak noise started at breaking and reversing, the app for service even has an option for squeaky noises.. the interior of the car and the body started to make little noises while driving that you don’t see at cars at this price point in my experience. In summary this is a car with an acceleration of a $150k car, a great infotainment, a body work of a $20k car and not the right brakes. Autonomy is decent though. An strange product. It feels like it will age poorly.
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Great, but...
After one year: Repeated problems with cameras that Tesla shop has looked at (not repaired) 3 times. The cameras are not "a safety issue" they consider them shutting down "an inconvenience". As Tesla has no dealers it is a challenge to get a RLP (real live person) to talk to: you have to go through the app and leave messages. To which the responses don't always make sense to the question asked. The Tesla insurance is much less expensive and watches driving habits. It would be nice to know what the definitions of a "hard turn" and other dings are so you could avoid them. Also a known issue is Tesla's poor quality paint: so need to factor in having a full wrap done. Otherwise: it is a magnificent car, love driving it, enjoyable ride. I'd buy another.
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What I expected!
I bought the Model S after a long period of indecision. When the price dropped to the mid-$70s, I decided to buy it. My only complaint is that the dealership is located 100 miles from where I live. I love how this car handles. I have multiple profiles to choose from based on my needs and ability to customize the steering to suspension to the throttle response is great. Some of the panels make intermittent noise, but it’s not a deal breaker for me. I’ve done a few long trips, and the car was flawless. I liked the full driving capability (which came as a free trial), but I didn’t purchase it when the trial ended. I still miss the engine sound of my BMW, but the Model S more than compensates with its instant torque. Oh, and the last thing: I really like the regenerative braking; it provides better control at the corners, allowing me to slow down as much as I like. Update after one year and more than 10 miles: My opinion remains the same.
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