If you don't take into account the low-production and short-lived Roadster, the Model S is Tesla's longest-running model as well as the automaker's flagship vehicle. It shattered the mold of what an EV could be, and it continues to be the preeminent luxury EV sedan on sale today. For 2021, Tesla gave the Model S a thorough refresh inside and out, so we're not expecting much to change on that front. Tesla originally claimed that it would make a Plaid+ version with a 520-mile range as well as 1,100 horsepower but has since walked that back. Apparently, the regular Plaid version is all you need.
2022 Tesla Model S





Total MSRP | $96,190 |
---|---|
Edmunds suggests you pay | $96,190 |
2022 Tesla Model S Review

- Electric range is impressive
- Wicked quick acceleration across the board
- Liftback design affords abundant cargo space
- Access to Tesla's extensive Supercharger network
- Lack of a traditional steering wheel and turn stalks hampers usability
- Interior isn't as refined as cabins in similarly priced sedans
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration
- Limited array of paint colors or other ways to customize from the factory
- Power-swiveling capability for the center touchscreen added midway through model year
- Previous Long Range trim is now simply known as Model S
- Part of the first Model S generation introduced for 2012
The Tesla Model S is the car that kickstarted the EV revolution we're living through right now. For a while, the Model S didn't have any true rivals because automakers were playing catchup in the electric vehicle market, but now the competition has finally arrived. The Porsche Taycan, Mercedes EQS and Lucid Air want a piece of the market the Model S has owned for the thick end of the decade.
Tesla recently gave the Model S a thorough refresh inside and out, with a massaged look, a new infotainment screen and the much-talked-about steering yoke. Tesla originally claimed that it would make a Plaid+ version with a 520-mile range as well as 1,100 horsepower but has since walked that back. Plaid is as quick as the Model S is going to get for now, but as our testing has shown, it's plenty more than enough.
There are some drawbacks here. Despite constant improvements over the years, the Model S' interior isn't quite as refined as those in similarly priced rivals. Style might also be a turnoff — the Model S' design is now a decade old and doesn't really stand out anymore. Effectively, the competition is well on its way to catching what was once the undisputed king of the EV world. So does the Model S still stack up in 2022? Take a look at our Expert Rating to find out.
Performance
You might know that Tesla claims 0-60 mph happens in just 1.99 seconds. The difference between our as-tested result and Tesla's likely comes down to the testing surface and number crunching. We do our acceleration tests on regular pavement, not a prepared drag strip. We also publish acceleration without using the drag-racing 1-foot rollout. Applying that calculation would drop our tested 0-60 mph time down to 2.1 seconds.
We're less impressed with the Plaid's ability to stop and turn. While the powertrain will mostly retain its capability to catapult you to irresponsible speeds run after run, the brakes on our test car began to fade after slowing down from a few acceleration blasts. We ended up having to spend some significant time cooling down the brakes to ensure that they still worked. So from a safety standpoint, we lack some confidence in the Plaid's stopping hardware.
Even more disappointing is the Plaid's steering, which always feels too light and lacks a connection to the road. It's exacerbated by the awkward steering yoke that doesn't seem to serve any ergonomic function. The Plaid's tri-motor setup supposedly provides some sort of rear-axle torque vectoring, but the handling feels more muscle car and than sports car. It's not something that feels natural despite the loads of road grip provided by the sticky summer tires.
Comfort
But the seats themselves are nothing special. The cushions are decently soft but lack lateral support considering the Plaid's performance potential, and the adjustments are pretty basic. The rear seatbacks feel a bit upright and the floor sits high so your knees sit closer to your chest than they would in most other luxury sedans. The absence of a gasoline powertrain means a lot less noise entering the cabin, but there is some that comes from the electric motors, and some to a lesser degree from the road and the wind.
2022 Tesla Model S pricing
in Ashburn, VA



Interior
Interior space is decent as far as midsize sedans go, as is the ease of getting in and out. Notably, there is far more space here than in the Model S' closest EV competitor, the Porsche Taycan. The all-glass roof provides lots of headroom. But backseat toe room is a bit tight under the front seats. The floor height is also awkwardly high when you're sitting in back. The Model S is easy to see out of, especially out the front. The Model S' fastback hatch makes for a slightly shorter window view out of the back, but not so short to cause any real obstruction.
Technology
Though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration has become pervasive in the industry, Tesla still doesn't offer either system. The Bluetooth system offers just one phone connection at a time, while on some other cars you can connect additional devices. At least there are ample options for keeping your devices charged up with four wireless chargers, four USB-C ports and one USB-A port.
As far as driving aids go, no advanced driving aid system is better known than Tesla's Autopilot. It works great in slow-moving and stop-and-go traffic, but it seems to be more easily spooked or confused on roads that aren't clearly marked or are lined with parked cars on the shoulder. Tesla has a tendency to release new features in beta phase too, making you the guinea pig. This underdeveloped approach feels half-baked.
Storage
Getting a car seat in and out is relatively easy. The doors open wide, though the anchors seem to be buried a little deeper than usual. The lack of headroom might be a bit of an issue when installing a seat.
Range and Efficiency
Value
Build quality aside, access to Tesla's vast Supercharger network is one of the best parts of Tesla ownership. It helps relieve range anxiety and can allow you to take the Model S across the country on most major highways without worry. The basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles, which is about average in this luxury EV segment. The powertrain and battery are covered for eight years/120,000 miles.
Wildcard
Which Model S does Edmunds recommend?
Tesla Model S models
The 2022 Tesla Model S is a five-passenger electric luxury sedan currently available in two trims: Model S and Plaid. Previously, Tesla offered a Performance trim but phased it out in favor of the new Plaid trim. Here's what the Model S comes with, but be aware that Tesla updates the Model S on an ongoing basis rather than by model year, so additional changes may occur throughout 2022.
Model S
Standard features include:
- EPA-estimated 405 miles of EV range
- Touted 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.1 seconds
- Dual electric motors produce 670 horsepower combined
- 19-inch wheels
- All-wheel drive
- Adaptive air suspension
- LED headlights and foglights
- Tinted glass roof
- Power liftgate
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Heated front- and second-row seats
- Ventilated front seats
- Satellite radio
- 22-speaker sound system
- Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
- 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation system
- Driver information display
- Rear-seat entertainment display with gaming computer
- Wireless smartphone charging pads in the front and rear
- Wi-Fi hotspot
Every Model S also comes with a suite of safety systems that Tesla calls Autopilot. It includes:
- Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
- Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
- Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Tesla and the car in front)
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Plaid
Tesla's top trim level, the Plaid gets maximum performance via an upgraded battery system and an additional motor but otherwise has the same features as the base model. Total output stands at 1,020 horsepower.
Edmunds' testing shows the Plaid can sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds, while the EPA says it can provide up to 396 miles of range on a full charge and when equipped with the car's 19-inch wheels. Going with the 21-inch wheels drops that estimate to 348 miles. We've put this latter Model S Plaid through our real-world EV range test; it made it 345 miles, which is among the longest distances we've observed.
Tesla's so-called Full Self-Driving Capability option is available on the Model S. It adds nifty semi-automated driving features, including automated parking and the ability to change lanes simply by flicking the turn signal. It also adds the Summon feature, which Tesla says enables the vehicle to drive unmanned to its owner in a parking lot. Tesla also says the Full Self-Driving Capability feature will gain additional automated driving capabilities in the future via over-the-air updates.




Consumer reviews
There are no consumer reviews for the 2022 Tesla Model S.
2022 Tesla Model S video
Best Electric Cars Right Now | Ranking the Tesla Model Y, Porsche Taycan, Rivian R1T — More
Features & Specs
- Total MSRP
- $96,190
- EPA Battery & Range
- EPA KWh/100 mi.This value tells you how much energy in kilowatt-hours a vehicle would use to travel 100 miles. Unlike mpg, however, where a larger number is better (for example, a vehicle that gets 30 mpg is better than one that gets 20 mpg), a smaller number is better in kWh/100 miles because you are using less battery energy per mile.: 28
- Time To Charge Battery (At 240V)This can be tough to pin down, but we assume for simplicity that the 240V power source will enable the vehicle's onboard charger to operate at full capacity, and that the battery is fully depleted and will be recharged to 100%. Given those assumptions, the value provided is simply the battery's capacity divided by the onboard charger's power rating. For example, a battery rated at 100 kWh will need 12.5 hours to recharge fully using an 8.0-kW charger.: 15.0 hr.
- EPA Electricity RangeThis value is the estimated number of miles that a vehicle can travel in combined city and highway driving (using a mix of 55% highway and 45% city driving) before needing to be recharged, according to the EPA's testing methodology.: 405 mi.
- EPA Combined MPGeA combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe: 120 MPGe
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: all wheel drive
- Transmission: 1-speed direct drive
- Basic Warranty
- 4 yr./ 50000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 197.7 in. / Height: 56.3 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: 86.2 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 78.2 in.
- Curb Weight: 4561 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 28.1 cu.ft.

- $40,900starting MSRP

Safety
Our experts’ favorite Model S safety features:
- Autopilot
- Uses four cameras and a dozen sensors to monitor and improve safety and provide semi-automated operation in various driving situations.
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Determines if a front collision is imminent and can initiate braking to prevent or mitigate a crash if you take no action.
- Lane Departure Warning
- Warns you of an unintended lane change or drifting from the lane. Optional automated steering can steer the car back into the lane.
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Rating |
---|---|
Overall | Not Rated |
Driver | Not Rated |
Passenger | Not Rated |
Side Crash Rating | Rating |
Overall | Not Rated |
Side Barrier Rating | Rating |
Overall | Not Rated |
Driver | Not Rated |
Passenger | Not Rated |
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings | Rating |
Front Seat | Not Rated |
Back Seat | Not Rated |
Rollover | Rating |
Rollover | 5 / 5 |
Dynamic Test Result | No Tip |
Risk Of Rollover | 5.7% |
Tesla Model S vs. the competition

2022 Tesla Model S

2021 Porsche Taycan
Tesla Model S vs. Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is Porsche's first EV, and it is aimed squarely at the Model S. Both sedans are fast and luxurious, but the Taycan is literally the Porsche of EVs. It's fantastic to drive and better built than the Tesla. The Model S wins out on EPA-estimated range, but according to our test data, the real-world range difference between the two isn't as significant.
Tesla Model S vs. Tesla Model 3
In a way, the Model S' biggest competitor is actually its little sibling. Both cars offer the Tesla experience, and the Model 3 Long Range has 358 miles of EPA-estimated range. The Model 3 is also significantly cheaper and should serve the needs of most buyers as well as the Model S would. The only exception would be if you really need to go Plaid. The only exception would be if you really need to go Plaid. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Model 3.
Tesla Model S vs. Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 offers compact SUV-like practicality, low-slung sedan-like looks and a touch of Swedish luxury. If sustainability is important to you, the Polestar has you covered, as much of its interior is made from recycled and renewable materials. Where the Polestar falls down is when it comes to range. It offers a maximum of 270 miles from a single charge, way less than the Tesla, but it is much less expensive than any Model S.
2022 Tesla Model S First Impressions
The 2022 Tesla Model S will continue to offer its unique mix of futuristic luxury and massive EV performance. Be sure to check out our real-world range tests on various electric vehicles and keep it locked on Edmunds for all the latest Tesla updates and our expert reviews.
FAQ
Is the Tesla Model S a good car?
What's new in the 2022 Tesla Model S?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2022 Tesla Model S:
- Power-swiveling capability for the center touchscreen added midway through model year
- Previous Long Range trim is now simply known as Model S
- Part of the first Model S generation introduced for 2012
Is the Tesla Model S reliable?
Is the 2022 Tesla Model S a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2022 Tesla Model S?
The least-expensive 2022 Tesla Model S is the 2022 Tesla Model S 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $94,990.
Other versions include:
- 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) which starts at $94,990
- Plaid 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) which starts at $129,990
What are the different models of Tesla Model S?
2022 Tesla Model S Overview
The 2022 Tesla Model S is offered in the following submodels: Model S Sedan. Available styles include 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD), and Plaid 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD). The 2022 Tesla Model S comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 1-speed direct drive.
What do people think of the 2022 Tesla Model S?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2022 Tesla Model S and all its trim types. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2022 Model S.
Pros
- Electric range is impressive
- Wicked quick acceleration across the board
- Liftback design affords abundant cargo space
- Access to Tesla's extensive Supercharger network
Cons
- Lack of a traditional steering wheel and turn stalks hampers usability
- Interior isn't as refined as cabins in similarly priced sedans
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration
- Limited array of paint colors or other ways to customize from the factory
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2022 Tesla Model S and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2022 Model S featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What's a good price for a New 2022 Tesla Model S?
2022 Tesla Model S 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD)
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD)
Which 2022 Tesla Model SS are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2022 Tesla Model S for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2022 Tesla Model S.
Can't find a new 2022 Tesla Model Ss you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a new Tesla for sale.
Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.
What is the MPG of a 2022 Tesla Model S?
2022 Tesla Model S 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD), 1-speed direct drive, electric
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD), 1-speed direct drive, electric
EPA Est. MPG | N/A |
Transmission | 1-speed direct drive |
Drive Train | all wheel drive |
Displacement | N/A |
Passenger Volume | 120.0 cu.ft. |
Wheelbase | 116.5 in. |
Length | 197.7 in. |
Width | N/A |
Height | 56.3 in. |
Curb Weight | 4561 lbs. |
Should I lease or buy a 2022 Tesla Model S?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Tesla lease specials
Related 2022 Tesla Model S info
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