Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that not all Tesla Model S owners can afford to buy a top of the range version like the P85D, and that that’s perfectly OK.
If owning a P85D would be like reaching the summit of Mount Everest, then the just about entry-level 70D version would be like planting your flag at Camp 2 (6,400 m/21,000 ft) and being perfectly fine with not climbing any further.
Some accomplishments are big enough to stand on their own, and the Model S 70D can more than stand up to actually, most of its petrol and diesel powered rivals in terms of usable speed. Again, you probably shouldn’t look to drag race it against an Audi S6 over long distances, but as far as short sprints go, you’re all set.
Technically, this isn’t the entry-level model – that would be the rear-wheel driven 70…as in no ‘D’, but that car won’t get you off the line as efficiently as the 70D will.
Spec-wise, it features a 70 kWh battery, an AWD system, a total range of 386 km (240 miles) and a total power output of 328 horses working along side 524 Nm (387 lb-ft) of torque. In a straight line, it should be able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.2 seconds, and complete a 1/4 mile run in 13.5 seconds.
So what did this real-world test uncover about the 70D? Well, for starters they eventually managed to complete the 0-60 mph run in 5 seconds flat (after initially going 5.3 seconds). Zero to 100 mph (160 km/h) took 12.6 seconds and the 1/4 mile sprint came in at 13.6 seconds.
Basically this means that you can trust the car’s technical specs, and that you certainly don’t need to upgrade to a P85D or even an ’85’ in order to outrun most premium German saloons.