Item: Used Tesla Model S 2014-present
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

<p>Among conventionally powered rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/panamera/hatchback/used-review/n17973">Porsche Panamera</a> comes pretty close in terms of luxury and prestige. The 4 E-Hybrid model has strong performance, is superbly built, has plenty of space for four and will impress the neighbours. The electric range is comparatively short, though, and the petrol engine&nbsp;is thirsty.</p>

<p>The conventional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/used-review/n813">Audi Q7</a> can seat seven, like the Model S, whereas the Q7 e-tron version has only five seats. The e-tron is a plug-in hybrid and not a fully electric car. It’s remarkably refined and has lively performance and a comfortable ride. The regular Q7 is capacious and practical, too.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/used-review/n19606">Jaguar I-Pace</a> styles itself as an SUV and it is a brilliant electric car with a sumptuous interior and a longer real-world range than some versions of the Model S. That plush interior also has an excellent driving position, while&nbsp;the ride is&nbsp;comfy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/audi">Audi</a> E-tron is a large SUV that combines those much-loved traditional Audi qualities – such as a top-notch interior – with hitherto unimagined levels of comfort and refinement. The spacious interior is bursting with plush materials and high-tech goodies, too.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></h3>

<h3><strong>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/tesla?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Tesla</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Page 5 of 5</strong></p>


What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3><strong>Loss of power steering</strong></h3>

<p>A problem with corroded bolts snapping on&nbsp;the power steering motor of some Model Ss&nbsp;built between 31 May 2012 and 9 April 2016 could lead to a loss of power steering. You&nbsp;might notice the steering becoming heavier than normal, alongside a warning message on the dashboard. Find out from a Tesla agent if your car is affected, because it will need to be inspected and either have the aluminium bolts holding the motor in place&nbsp;replaced with stainless steel ones, or have the whole steering rack replaced.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Front passenger airbag</strong></h3>

<p>An issue with the front passenger airbag not deploying correctly in a collision of some examples manufactured between 6 March 2014 and 7 December 2016 could lead to an increased risk of injury. Find out from a Tesla dealer if your car is affected, because it will need to have the airbag replaced to solve the problem.</p>

<h3><strong>Parking brake</strong></h3>

<p>Some vehicles made from 22 February 2016 to 10 July 2016 could have an issue with&nbsp;parking brake calipers that fail to operate correctly. If this affects your Model S, it will need to be inspected by a Tesla technician and have the calipers replaced.</p>

<h3><strong>Front driver's side seatbelt</strong></h3>

<p>The driver's seatbelt on some vehicles constructed between 1 February 2014 and 19 November 2015&nbsp;might not perform correctly in a collision. Speak to a Tesla agent about this to find out if your Model S is affected, because&nbsp;it will need to be checked over by a Tesla dealer who will fix the fault for you.</p>


<p>The Model S finished in last&nbsp;place in a class of 15 hybrid and electric vehicles in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. The Model S suffered the highest percentage of faults in our entire survey, with 61% of the cars we were told about having a problem. Although all of them could still be driven, half were out of action for more than a week. And while 93% were fixed for free, the remaining owners paid out between £50 and £100 for repairs.</p>

<p>Tesla as a brand didn't feature in this survey, but hasn't done well in previous years when it has.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A four-year/50,000-mile warranty is standard from new, with the battery covered for eight years, no matter how many miles you do. Tesla’s over-the-air wi-fi software updates fix glitches and add features, rather than requiring you to book your car in to a dealer.</p>

<p>If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042"> What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.</p>

<p><strong>Page 4 of 5</strong></p>


Hatchback

<p dir="ltr">Tesla is the company that changed the car industry, putting electric cars at the forefront of public conscious – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Today, Tesla has a wider line-up than ever, with the BMW 3 Series-rivalling Model 3 set to make its products more accessible. Alongside the Model 3, the larger Model S saloon and the Model X SUV continue to turn heads, while a new roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is in the works.</p>

<p>However, while the cars are all impressive, and for all that Tesla has acted as a catalyst for the more traditional car firms to develop electric vehicles, it’s a firm that continues to attract criticism, most notably for the reliability of its vehicles – a fact verified in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey.</p>


TESLA

MODEL S

<p>The Tesla Model S is highly desirable and extremely capable. A poor reliability record lets it down, though</p>


Used Tesla Model S 2014-present

<h3><strong>Range</strong></h3>

<p>The 100D version has an official maximum range of 393 miles, while the more powerful P100D is capable of 381 miles and even the 75D can&nbsp;do up to 304 miles between charges. The more common 60kWh version can cover up to&nbsp;208 miles. Such figures are possible due to the Model S’s enormous batteries, with their huge capacity. Later models under different testing procedures had official ranges of 375 miles for the Long Range version and 367 miles for the Performance Ludicrous model.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A&nbsp;full charge will probably cost you between £6 and £10 in electricity on an Economy 7 night rate. However, provided you buy a Model S built before 15 January 2017, you can have free public rapid charging at any of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/tesla-ends-free-charging-and-raises-prices/n14980">Tesla Supercharger sites across the country</a>.</p>

<h3><strong>CO2 emissions</strong></h3>

<p>Naturally enough, the Model S's CO2 emissions are zero if you get your electricity from a renewable energy tariff.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Road tax</strong></h3>

<p>You won’t pay road tax if your car was registered before 1 April 2017, and the law regarding the supplementary luxury car tax was changed so that all EVs are now exempt from that charge too.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Servicing</strong></h3>

<p>Servicing is required annually or every 12,500 miles and servicing plans are available. A three-year maintenance plan includes three inspections in total – one every 12 months or 12,500 miles, whichever occurs first – and can be paid for up front or in instalments at a cost of £1575.</p>

<h3><strong>Insurance</strong></h3>

<p>Insurance costs will be on the high side –&nbsp;understandable given that the Model S matches most sports cars for performance. Be warned that any repairs might be more expensive than rivals, due mostly to the aluminium construction, but also because some parts have to come direct from America.</p>

<p><strong>Page 2 of 5</strong></p>


The Tesla Model S is both desirable and capable. A poor reliability record lets it down, though


<p>The starting point for Model S ownership is currently around £30,000, which will buy you a 2014&nbsp;model with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. Spending between £30,000 and £35,000 will get you slightly better or lower-mileage examples of the same year, while between £35,000 and £40,000 buys a good 2016&nbsp;car or a facelifted&nbsp;example with a smaller battery and rear-wheel drive. Expect to spend a little more than that on a 2017&nbsp;or 2018&nbsp;car, or closer to £50,000 to get an incredibly quick P85D or P90D&nbsp;on your driveway.</p>

<p>You’ll need around £45,000&nbsp;for a 2018&nbsp;or 2019 car with a dual motor setup. Spend over&nbsp;£50,000 and you'll be able to get&nbsp;a car with the 100kWh battery.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Check the value of a used Tesla Model S with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a></strong></p>


<h3><strong>Motor</strong></h3>

<p>It’s the 75D version that we'd go for, because it still gives staggering performance and an impressive range for an electric car.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Specification</strong></h3>

<p>Aside from the different motors, there aren't any trim levels to speak of. But, there are some option packs to look out for, such as the Sub-Zero pack if you want heated rear seats, or the Tech package that includes parking sensors.</p>

<p><strong>Our favourite Tesla Model S:</strong> 75D</p>

<p><strong>Page 4 of 5</strong></p>


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

<p>We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £3500.</p>

<p>The Renault Zoe is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.</p>

<p>At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s own network of super-fast chargers – makes the Model S a tempting choice. It has seating for up to seven, an classy interior and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.</p>

Electric

<h3><strong>Bodywork issues</strong></h3>

<p>Owners have told us about broken exterior door handles and other bodywork problems, as well as some faults with exterior lights. This is a large car that will have been used in tight urban car parks, so check the bodywork carefully for dents and scuffs; Teslas are expensive to repair. Check the alloy wheels for kerb damage, too.</p>

<h3><strong>Electrical issues</strong></h3>

<p>Problems have been reported that relate to the climate control, steering and suspension systems. Other problems have involved&nbsp;faulty&nbsp;electric motors that have needed to be replaced, warped brake discs and door handles that fail&nbsp;to pop out as a driver approaches.</p>

<h3><strong>Other problems</strong></h3>

<p>Other areas cited by Tesla owners are leaking cooling pumps for the battery pack, dead windshield wipers, persistent alignment issues with the wheels, and misaligned latches for the front boot and&nbsp;tailgate. Although all cars were fixed under warranty, some were off the road for more than a week.</p>

<p>Make sure you don't get taken in with all the talk of future self-driving capabilities if you're going to view an older example. A&nbsp;number of important hardware changes have been made over the years, and some cars will not be able to have this feature. For example, anything made before late 2014 won't qualify, because those cars have a brake actuator run by vacuum, rather than an electronically controlled one (as on later&nbsp;cars) that'll allow the various autonomous systems to operate it. Also, you'll need a car&nbsp;made from&nbsp;late 2016 onwards (which has&nbsp;the&nbsp;additional cameras and sensors as standard) in order to be able to activate this feature.</p>

<p>At present, fully autonomous driving isn't allowed, despite the system&nbsp;being called 'Autopilot', and you'll need to pay attention and be in control of the vehicle at all times.</p>


<p>So, your list of demands reads&nbsp;that you&nbsp;want a car&nbsp;with storming performance,&nbsp;technology that'll rival even the latest smartphone plus a body of exceptional elegance? And you want all this&nbsp;in a vehicle with zero emissions.</p>

<p>Blimey, a bit fussy, aren't you? Well, in fact, there is a car that satisfies all of those criteria. It's been around since 2014 and it comes from America:&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/tesla">Tesla</a> Model S. It’s the product and&nbsp;brainchild of a Paypal billionaire who happens to be passionate about electric vehicles. And space travel, among other things.</p>

<p>In truth, it's difficult to keep count of all the various motor, battery capacity and driven wheel options in the Model S (we know of at least 12 so far with this generation). Basically, 60kWh is the smallest battery capacity and lowest performance at 'only' 314bhp. If you want something faster, go for either a Dual Motor (four-wheel drive), Performance or Performance Ludicrous model – particularly the Dual Motor Long, which has a 100kWh battery pack and&nbsp;762bhp.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Standard equipment includes 19in alloy wheels, electrically operated front seats that are heated, dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera. There were plenty of options, ranging from&nbsp;internet connectivity&nbsp;with access to Google Maps to an&nbsp;Enhanced Autopilot function. If you have a large family, it's worth seeking out one with&nbsp;the two rear-facing kids’ seats in the boot.</p>

<p>What's it like to drive in&nbsp;the real world? With a stiff, mostly aluminium body and a huge battery located below the interior’s floor, the Model S handles rather well, and if it’s speed you’re after, one version of the car can fly from 0- 60mph in just 2.5sec – quicker than nearly any conventionally powered supercar.</p>

<p>The interior is a tech fest, with a massive, 17.0in colour touchscreen that displays sharp, high-definition graphics and online connected services. The screen is responsive, with decent-sized icons, and nearly everything is on it, including controls for&nbsp;the sat-nav, audio and even the sunroof operation.</p>

<p>At first glance, the interior&nbsp;impresses with its&nbsp;eye-catching design, complete with a&nbsp;large panoramic roof that floods the interior with light. Close up, it isn't quite a match for its German executive car rivals, especially around the centre console area, but it’ll still impress your neighbours.</p>

<p>Freed from the space restrictions of housing a conventional engine and all its associated gubbins, the Model S has masses of room inside, with lounging room for five and no hump in the floor to interfere with rear passenger comfort. There's even a boot in the front if you find the one in the rear isn't massive enough for your needs.</p>

<p>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/tesla?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Tesla</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</p>

<p><strong>Page 1 of 5</strong></p>


Used Tesla Model S 2014-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Tesla Model S hatchback?