Car.Tell: The Half-Baked Two-Seater Sedan – 2024 Tesla Model S Dual Motor
The rising popularity of luxury electric sedans has been evident on the streets of California. The Tesla Model S drove the rise of these sedans and now the segment has blossomed with options from our favorite Europeans, Koreans, and Japanese automakers. With so many options, is the Tesla Model S still compelling enough?
Being an ardent Euro fanboy and having my reservations with the Tesla Model Y last month, I was recommended by my mentor to try out the Tesla Model S. It seems like the perfect package on paper, but at a luxury price. Initial driving impressions raved positive feedback and had me stoked. However, the true colors of Tesla started creeping up throughout our recent test of the vehicle.
The driving dynamics of this vehicle are unmatched. Taking long trips, track driving, or navigating through a mountain road is a piece of cake with this vehicle. Pure driving pleasure as I crossed 120 mph with ease and hit a 30-mph curve at 60 mph effortlessly on a wet canyon road. As a daily driver, the car transforms into a comfortable cruiser as the air suspension takes care of the nasty rollercoaster-like bumps on the Bay Area freeways, and the heated supportive seats provide ample comfort to my battered-up body.
First Impressions
Sitting in the Tesla Model S, I was warmly greeted by a driver-centric display with a Ferrari-influenced steering wheel followed by the standard giant tablet – except this one can tilt towards the driver or passenger. Nice touch, Tesla. At first glance, the Model S feels luxurious – supportive seats, nicely appointed leather upholstery and wooden trims. Pair that with a grippy heated steering wheel and a decent sound system, the Tesla Model S was a pleasant space to be in.
As usual, Tesla has all their controls and settings in the center tablet with a bit of a learning curve. I was trained, however. It took me 10 minutes to set up the vehicle and get moving in my test drive.
As I started rolling, I noticed something missing. Tesla decided, once again, to shake things up with daily driving functions. Gone are the stocks for changing gears, controlling turn signals, high beams, and wipers. All the controls are within the steering wheel – just like Ferrari. At first glance, this looked neat. Living with them for a day was a different story.
Effortless acceleration, nicely weighted steering, minimal road noise, and well-balanced air suspension had me mesmerized by the Model S, more than my crush back in high school. Perfection in every driving aspect until the electrical and equipment problems showcase themselves.
With an available est. 405 miles range and the ability to touch 120 effortlessly, going on Hwy 5 or the Pacific Coast Highway should be a piece of cake with the Model S.
Dynamics – A Driver’s High
Every Tesla hails impressive driving dynamics. Connectedness, instant responses, and constant feedback instill confidence in the driver through any given canyon or mountain road. The Model S was the most serene out of the whole Tesla range. Whereas the Model Y/3 has a harsh and bumpy ride with significant road noise, the Model S has a more forgiving, quiet ride. There is a more balanced approach to tackling roads littered with little imperfections, sharp corners, and bits of straights.
As a daily driver, the Model S provides ample driving spirit in “Chill” mode. Turn the driving mode into “Sport” or ‘Insane’ and the acceleration will be on steroids. The acceleration and composure of the vehicle catch people off-guard and send butterflies down their spine.
Drive the car however you want, wherever you want, whenever you want, and the Model S delivers with flying colors. Whether going 120 mph on a highway or 60 mph on a 30-mph curve, the Model S keeps it mellow, well-balanced, and in a constant state of nirvana.
Comfort – Perfect Sedan For Couples Only
Low clearance could lead to challenges getting into the vehicle. My dad and I bumped our heads a few times entering and exiting the car. Once you are in, however, the seats feel nice and supportive. The driving position feels very go-kart-like. I felt a sense of connectedness to the road and isolation from the road once the vehicle started rolling. Thank the noise-isolation and comfort-tuned suspension for that, even with 21-inch rims.
The Model S is perfect for young couples or single millionaires. Why? The vehicle is equipped with two comfortable seats out of the five. Those two seats are in the front.
The back seat felt like an airline Economy seat. Don’t get me wrong, the seat itself was comfortable. The problem is with seat posture. A sloped roofline and a raised footwell led to my legs cramping up. A very sad oversight from Tesla. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so critical if the rear seat tablet had been working and provided some stimulation. Instead, I was greeted with a blank screen on the new rear tablet. A disappointment as I was trying to feel like an executive for once. I was riding in the back of a $90,000 vehicle after all.
Equipment – A Sea of Flaws
Ten minutes into my 16-hour experience, I questioned Tesla’s decision to package all the important drive functions into a matrix of buttons on the steering wheel. The horn, high beams, wipers, and turn signals are all mapped around the steering wheel as heartless buttons that provide no feedback or sensation upon touching them. Half of the time I questioned whether I was dyslexic, or my thumbs weren’t strong enough to operate the turn signals. Unless the buttons are smashed like the ‘enter/return’ button on your keyboard, there seems to be no reaction to the action of pressing a button on the steering wheel. An uncomfortable thumb-scraping ball for multimedia controls and cruise control was part of Tesla’s steering wheel. I was reminded of how my thumbs would ache and turn red after abusing my PS3 controller with hours of gaming. Yeah, my parents paid a lot of money for new controllers. Sorry about that.
As if the steering wheel wasn’t enough of a challenge, the giant tablet in the center has been burdened by even more controls. Tesla decided that changing gears would be managed by a slim row on the side of the tablet instead of a stalk behind the steering wheel.
The Model S we tested was plagued with electrical glitches. The rear seat tablet failed to power up and stayed blank for the whole test. The frunk refused to open so we couldn’t check how many beers could be stored. Then the rain-sensing wipers decided to challenge my visibility and patience in very heavy rainfall. It completely failed when the windshield was covered with rain.
Call it my misfortune or fortune, but these issues made me question the Tesla’s overall build quality. It wasn’t all bad. There were some positives with the electronics in the vehicle.
Voice controls worked almost flawlessly for changing the interior temperature, calling someone, or asking for directions. My recommendation would be to use voice controls, instead of butting heads with Tesla’s behemoth tablet.
Thankfully, the Model S does have a driver-centric display showing the speedometer, navigation guidance, and driver assistance – blind spot, lane markings, object distance, etc. The two-screen setup was a godsend compared to the Model Y’s one-screen layout.
The high-definition cameras throughout the vehicle make parking a breeze. However, front cameras and a full-surround view were missed. I guess the proper way to park a Tesla is by backing it in, no matter how inconvenient.
Then there was the Full Self-Driving technology for the Model S. Having a bit of PTSD from my last experience with FSD, I was a little skeptical to test it out. Rightly so. After much mustering, I decided to run FSD on the freeway. It is still a little finicky and a little aggressive. In one instance, the FSD insisted on entering the Express Lane when tolls were required. The FSD system also failed to recognize feedback on the steering. I had to yank the steering a bit for the alert to go away. After a few close calls, I ditched FSD and just chose to drive the vehicle. I wasn’t complaining. The driving experience is super rewarding.
Final Verdict
The Tesla Model S can be described as a two-seater electric statement. With ample comfort for the front row, inspiring driving dynamics, and enough range to get from the SF Bay Area to Los Angeles, the Model S is the best vehicle in the Tesla range. Being the torchbearer for luxury electric sedans, the Model S continues to impress with its sleek design, features set and interior appointments. However, the pursuit of futurism leads to woes faced by owners of the vehicle. At first, these changes seem futuristic and game changing. It is when the honeymoon period ends and a whole slew of inconveniences fuel up regret.
Mind-bending performance, range-abundance, supportive seats, sleek design inside out, and an immersive sound system make the Model S a compelling choice. However, for a car that is almost $90,000, I would think twice or even thrice before pulling the trigger on this vehicle, especially when competition like the BMW i5 and the Mercedes EQE exist.
