No matter where you live, you’ve seen a Tesla Model S at some point and inevitably turned your head towards it as it drove by. But how does it feel from behind the wheel, and is it really that rewarding?
At €110,445 ($122,414) for the Long Range in Ireland, where the following review takes place, few are able to afford it, but it’s not a car aimed at the masses. It’s a luxurious and very quiet EV, with an appealing exterior design, a tailgate for extra practicality and 745 liters (26.3 cu-ft) of boot space.
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Not having an internal combustion engine at the front has freed up an extra 150 liters (5.3 cu-ft) in the frunk for extra storage. Speaking of space, rear passengers won’t struggle for head or legroom. The lack of the transmission tunnel translates into a flat floor, which makes it more comfortable for middle seat passengers on long journeys.
The massive 17-inch touchscreen display can be a bit too much at first. Nonetheless, you’re going to have to get used to it if a Tesla is on your bucket list, as it’s used to control everything. And we really mean everything: temperature, seats, music, opening the trunk and so on.
It also comes with Netflix, YouTube and Spotify, although the first two are not available while on the move, for obvious reasons. The cream leather upholstery and wood inserts made driving this Model S even more pleasant, but this being an eco-friendly car, the leather is not genuine, although it’s more hard-wearing, apparently.
Pushing hard on the throttle will take it from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds. This dual-motor variant with electric four-wheel drive has a WLTP range of 610 km (379 miles), which drops to 450-500 km (280-311 miles) in the real world. The car offers ballistic performance and tons of grip, as well as a firm or comfortable ride thanks to the automatic adaptive suspension. Thus, everything you need to do is hold on to the steering wheel and push on the pedals – unless you want it to do that for you too, which it can.