2022 Tesla Model S

The 2022 Tesla Model S  With up to 412-miles of estimated driving range—depending upon model—the S can easily be used for long drives, and the 1020-hp Plaid version can deliver supercar acceleration while seating four adults.

The 2022 Tesla Model S is also practical, with a large rear cargo area and a secondary front trunk for extra space.

EV MOTOR AND IMPLEMENTATION

With an electric motor dedicated to each of the fronts and rear axles, the Model S offers full-time all-wheel drive no matter which version you choose. Acceleration of the various models ranges from outstanding to ferocious. We haven’t tested the Model S Long Range or Plaid yet, but our 2020 Model S test vehicle delivered a blistering 2.4-second zero-to-60-mph time and proved endlessly entertaining thanks to its immediate power delivery.

The Plaid model boasts a third electric motor, which boosts combined output to 1020 horsepower. Tesla hasn’t released that beast into the wild yet but claims it’s capable of a zero-to-60-mph time of just 2.0 seconds. That would make it the quickest car to 60 mph we’ve ever tested, so we’ll obviously have to take it to the track to see if its performance matches the hype.

The standard Model S has proven itself an agile sports sedan with well-controlled body motions and direct steering. Two different settings allow drivers to choose heavy or light steering effort, but neither of them enables more feedback from the road. Ride comfort is good, the handling is crisp, and it’s confident and almost tranquil on the highway.

Under the 2022 Tesla Model S  floor lies a battery pack that yields a low center of gravity and evenly distributed weight from front to rear. Driving range and acceleration performance varies from model to model, with the Long Range version’s battery providing up to a 412-mile range while the Plaid model offers up to 390. Upstart Lucid Motors says its Air luxury sedan is rated for up to 517 miles per charge.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

While EVs such as the Chevy Bolt and Polestar 2 deliver serviceable driving range the Model S remains an impressive alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles when it comes to long-distance usability. The base Long Range model receives the highest MPGe ratings at 121 city and 112 highway. In our real-world, 75-mph highway fuel economy test, a 2020 Model S we tested posted a 222-mile highway range number against its 326-mile EPA estimated driving range. For more information about the Model S’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

With 2022 Tesla Model S prices starting at over $90,000, buyers would be reasonable to expect a certain amount of luxury inside the car. The cabin’s atmosphere is nice enough, but it’s not nearly as plush as those of our favorites such as the Mercedes-Benz E-class and the Volvo S90. The Model S’s sloped roofline cleverly hides a rear liftgate that opens up to reveal a huge 26-cubic-foot trunk. We managed to stash eight of our carry-on-size cases without folding down the rear seats. Paltry small-item cubby stowage throughout the interior—especially in the back seat—is offset by a large underfloor bin in the rear cargo area.

IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS

Fans of modern minimalism will adore the 2022 Tesla Model S‘s cabin, which comes standard with a giant infotainment screen that controls almost all of the vehicle’s functions. Technophiles will be in heaven, but we’re not completely sold. The screen’s positioning on the dashboard will require some drivers to lean forward in their seats to reach certain icons, especially those near the top right of the display. Unlike the cheaper Model 3, the Model S provides a secondary display for the gauge cluster and a small touchpad in the rear seat as well.

PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS

Although the 2022 Tesla Model S has sparked a nationwide conversation about the safety of partially autonomous vehicles and has been reported to catch fire after certain types of high-speed impacts, its safety credibility is buoyed by decent crash-test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the knowledge that car fires aren’t uncommon, either in electric- or gasoline-powered vehicles. For more information about the Model S’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

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