Tesla Model S review

I had the opportunity to drive a 2014 Tesla Model S sedan this weekend.  It is certainly the future of a car - many things have been engineered out:  no engine, no drivetrain, no transmission, no gas tank, no combustion heat, no cooling system.

In its place are two electric motors and a battery assortment to power the car.  There's no firing up, no lag, no loud noises.  You do hear the A/C running, as well as the tire friction and the air flow.

At heart its a luxury sedan, roomy as the largest cars available, the S class Mercedes, the 7 series BMW, the Hyundai Equus, the Ford Crown Victoria.  To some degree that is not the most popular class today.   Trucks and SUV dominate the roads here in Texas.  So the Tesla sits much lower than those bigger vehicles.

Performance it's got.  No lag means instant power pushing the accelerator.  It will jump from highway speed of 70 or 75 to as high as you want.  Top speed limited to 140 mph on this version.  The speed and room is the difference between this all-electric performer and a Toyota Prius for example.  The Prius due to smaller size and weight is probably more quiet, even with hybrid technology.

This 2014 version which sold for $105,000 new does not have the most advanced Autopilot technology.  You still have to drive it.  But it does have excellent Navigation and cell phone connectivity and a large (double iPad size) screen.  Very helpful to have a co-pilot work the screen as you can hardly drive and work the large screen at the same time.

Top battery range I was able to get after 2 Supercharges was about 222 miles.  The local Supercharger at the Embassy Suites in McAllen, TX was pretty easy to use.  On Sunday afternoon there were 4 of us there charging up.   Nearest Supercharger is in Kingsville TX about 100 miles away.

I'll be interested to investigate how the Model 3 stacks up for those who want more basic transportation.  But the Model S clearly hits the luxury sedan target with extra points for the cutting edge technology.  Hard to imagine that electric will not take over in the near future.