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Full 2014 Tesla Model S Review
What's New for 2014
Tesla favors running changes throughout the year rather than annual updates so major changes may depend on the timing of your purchase. Most recently, the company released an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor model called the "D." Available on Model S's with the 85kW battery and known as the P85D, these trim levels add all-wheel drive along with several safety enhancements including a 360-degree sonar system and collision avoidance braking.
Introduction
"Sleek," "desirable," "luxurious," "powerful" and "inspiring" are all words that one typically uses to describe the latest European luxury sedan. But in this case, they also describe America's latest and best homegrown electric vehicle, the 2014 Tesla Model S. With its luxury sedan accommodations, pulse-quickening performance, world-class handling and unmatched range, the Model S is a huge departure from the typical electric car. Yet thanks to a thoroughly modern interpretation of interior design and a host of advanced technological features (including an all-wheel-drive model and a rapidly expanding Supercharger network), the Model S also serves as a new benchmark for all vehicles, electric or otherwise.
Despite these many virtues, the Tesla Model S is not exclusive to the ultra-wealthy. Pricing for the base model starts around $70,000 when new, and that's not including a federal tax credit. While this isn't exactly chump change, the base model's EPA-estimated range of 208 miles is more than double that of any other electric vehicle. To get the most out of your Model S ownership, though, we'd recommend the bigger (and more expensive) 85 kWh battery pack, which provides greater performance and an as much as 265 miles of range.
Yet there's literally nothing else like the all-electric Tesla Model S on the road today, and likely won't be for many years to come. Whether you're attracted to the affordable base model or go all-in for a fully loaded P85D version, you're assured of one of the most noteworthy cars since the introduction of the Ford Model T. Better yet, the Tesla is nearly sacrifice-free, as it rides and drives as well as some of the world's best luxury sedans.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2014 Tesla Model S is a large, four-to-seven-passenger luxury sedan. It's available in four trim levels: 60, 85, P85 and P85D. Late in the model year, Tesla updated P85 models to come standard with a more powerful, dual-motor setup (detailed later in the Powertrains and Performance section), and these models are known as P85D. Each trim level's name refers to the kilowatt-hour (kWh) capacity (and thus battery capacity and output) of the sedan.
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