Tesla Model S Plaid 2021 Review

The 2021 Tesla Model S is an all-electric sedan that sits at the top of the automaker's lineup. The Model S might be the oldest vehicle Tesla currently sells, but it's still desirable thanks to robust performance as well as unparalleled all-electric range. Currently, the Model S Long Range boasts an estimated 405 miles, which is the most from any EV on the market.

There's also the Tesla Model S Plaid. The Plaid, which presumably gets its name from an obscure Spaceballs movie reference, gains an additional electric motor, for a total of three. The automaker is touting an output of 1,020 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 2 seconds.

Also on tap for 2021 is an updated interior. It features a new horizontally oriented touchscreen, which is the style Tesla implemented on its Model 3 and Y. It's paired with an additional dash-mounted driver information display above the steering yoke and an entertainment display for rear passengers. Wait, what's a steering yoke? Yep, leave it to Tesla to try to reinvent the (steering) wheel. The Model Y has a new design that's styled to look like an aircraft's flight yoke or, perhaps more whimsically, the twin-grip design from Knight Rider's KITT.

So what's it like driving the updated Model S? Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's evaluation of the car's performance, real-world range and more.

Which Model S does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Tesla Model S is a five-passenger electric luxury sedan currently available in two trims: Long Range 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 2021.

Long Range Standard features include:

• 405 miles of EV range
• Touted 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.1 seconds
• All-wheel drive
• Adaptive air suspension
• LED headlights and foglights
• Tinted glass roof
• Power liftgate
• Heated front- and second-row seats
• 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 pad

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. Tesla says it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2 seconds and provide 396 miles of range.

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.

Larger 21-inch wheels are optional, though adding them reduces vehicle range slightly.