The Tesla Model S is a battery-electric, four-door full-size car made by the American car company Tesla from 2012 to 2026. It was Tesla's second vehicle and is considered one of the most important electric cars in the industry. It won awards, including the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in 2013.
Tesla began developing the Model S around 2007. The car was given the code name WhiteStar. Henrik Fisker was the lead designer for the project. After an argument with Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, Fisker was replaced by Franz von Holzhausen. By 2008, von Holzhausen designed the Model S's exterior. Tesla showed a prototype of the car in March 2009 in Hawthorne, California. In 2010, Tesla bought a factory in Fremont, California, to make the Model S. This factory was previously owned by General Motors and Toyota. Mass production of the car started at the Tesla Fremont Factory in June 2012. Tesla completed final assembly for European markets at its factory in Tilburg, Netherlands, from 2013 to 2021.
The Model S is mostly made of aluminum. It shares 30 percent of its parts with the Model X, a crossover SUV introduced in 2015. The Model S had several updates during its production, with major changes in 2016 and 2021. These updates included changes to the motor, such as power or torque, new exterior parts, and updated interior features. One change was the 2015 introduction of Tesla Autopilot, a system that helps drivers with some tasks, like steering and braking. The 2021 update included the high-performance, three-motor Plaid version. Tesla stopped making the car in April 2026.
In 2015, the Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle. In 2012, it was listed on Time's Best Inventions of the Year. In 2019, Time also included it on its list of the 10 Best Gadgets of the 2010s. Car and Driver named it one of the best cars of the year in 2015 and 2016. In 2014, The Daily Telegraph called the Model S "a car that changed the world." Road & Track said that, with the introduction of the Plaid and features like the yoke steering wheel, Tesla turned the Model S into "perhaps one of the worst [cars in the world]."
Development
In January 2007, Tesla Motors, an American car company, opened a new facility in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The facility employed sixty people to work on new projects, including a four-door sedan. This car was given the secret name "WhiteStar" during its early development. Tesla planned for the car to have two types of power systems. The first was a fully electric version that could travel 200 miles (320 km) on a single charge. The second was a hybrid electric vehicle that could travel 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 km) on electric power before a small gasoline engine recharged the battery, allowing the car to travel up to 400 miles (640 km) total. However, in September 2008, Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive officer, announced that the company would only make fully electric vehicles.
In 2007, Musk hired Henrik Fisker, a car designer known for working with Aston Martin, to lead the WhiteStar project. Fisker signed a contract worth $875,000 to design the car. Tesla asked him to create a "smooth, four-door sedan" priced between $50,000–$70,000 (equivalent to $77,636–$108,690 in 2024) and ready by late 2009 or early 2010. Fisker had a design studio in Orange County, California, where Tesla employees viewed his ideas. Many of them were not happy with the designs. Ron Lloyd, a project leader, called some of the early designs "terrible" and compared them to "a giant egg." When Musk rejected Fisker’s designs, Fisker said the decision was because of technical limits, claiming, "they wouldn’t let me make the car sexy." Soon after, Fisker started his own company and introduced the Fisker Karma in 2008. Musk sued Fisker, claiming he stole Tesla’s ideas and used the $875,000 to start his business. Fisker won the lawsuit in November 2008, and an arbitrator ruled that Tesla’s claims had no basis and ordered Tesla to pay Fisker’s legal costs.
A small group of Tesla engineers visited a Mercedes-Benz dealership to test-drive a CLS and an E-Class. Both cars shared the same frame, and the engineers studied their features, noting their strengths and weaknesses. They preferred the CLS’s design and used it as a model for the Model S. After buying a CLS, they took it apart, modified a Tesla Roadster’s battery pack, removed the CLS’s floor, and combined it with the battery. They then placed the car’s electronics and systems in the CLS’s trunk and replaced the interior. After three months of work, they created a fully electric version of the CLS. They tested it on public roads. It had an all-electric range of 120 miles (190 km) per charge and weighed more than the Roadster.
In August 2008, Musk hired Franz von Holzhausen, a former designer for Mazda, to lead the WhiteStar project. Von Holzhausen reviewed Fisker’s sketches and models but was not impressed, saying the previous team had "no experience." To save money, Tesla set up its design center in a factory owned by SpaceX, another company owned by Musk. As von Holzhausen designed the Model S’s exterior, Tesla engineers worked on building another electric version of the CLS. They took apart the car, removed its body, and lengthened its wheelbase by four inches (10 cm) to match early Model S plans. Within three months, von Holzhausen completed the Model S’s exterior design, and engineers started building a prototype. To reduce the car’s weight, Musk decided to use aluminum instead of steel, stating that the non-battery parts needed to be lighter than similar gasoline cars. He noted that without aluminum, the car’s performance would suffer. To speed up development, engineers worked in shifts, with one group working during the day and another working late into the night in a 3,000-square-foot (280 m²) tent at the SpaceX factory.
Tesla showed a prototype of the Model S in Hawthorne, California, on March 26, 2009. In August 2009, J. B. Straubel announced that a battery pack with a 300-mile (480 km) range would be available, a major improvement at the time. Tesla originally planned to build the Model S in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later in San Jose, California, but changed plans due to financial issues. During the Great Recession, General Motors closed the NUMMI factory in 2009, followed by Toyota. A month after the last car was made at the factory in April 2010, Toyota and Tesla announced a partnership. Tesla agreed to buy part of the factory for $42 million (equivalent to $59 million in 2025), while Toyota invested $50 million (equivalent to $70 million in 2025) in Tesla for a 2.5 percent ownership share.
In the early 2010s, Musk expanded the engineering teams for the Model S, while von Holzhausen grew the design teams in Los Angeles. Engineers worked in a lab with forty-five people. A pre-production version of the Model S, including new body parts from the Fremont factory, an updated battery pack, and improved power systems, was completed in a basement office in Palo Alto, California. Twelve cars were made; some were sent to suppliers like Bosch, while others were kept for testing and adjustments. On June 22, 2012, Tesla invited employees, select customers, and the press to see the first production Model S in Fremont.
Design
The body and chassis of the Model S are mostly made of aluminum. The car uses the same platform and shares 30% of its parts with the Model X, a mid-size luxury crossover SUV introduced in 2015. The Model S is a full-size sedan with four doors and five seats. Until 2018, it had an optional folding third row with rear-facing seats for two children, which included a five-point harness. The company stated that the car had a drag coefficient of C d = 0.24, the lowest of any production car at the time. This claim was confirmed by the magazine Car and Driver in 2014. The car’s low drag coefficient was achieved through features like a solid front fascia instead of a grille, retractable door handles, and a flat underbody with no exhaust pipes to reduce air resistance.
The Model S’s battery pack is its heaviest part and is placed inside the car’s floor. The battery pack contains thousands of identical cylindrical 18650 battery cells. Each cell is 18 millimeters (0.71 in) in diameter and 65 millimeters (2.6 in) in height. These cells use a graphite/silicon anode and a nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathode. The Model S has a center of gravity height of 18 inches (460 mm), which lowers the risk of rollovers. The heavier parts of the drivetrain are located behind the rear axle’s centerline, giving the car a weight distribution of 46% at the front and 54% at the rear. The Model S uses a single-speed reduction gear transmission. Rear-wheel drive models have one alternating current induction motor, while all-wheel drive models before 2019 had two. From 2019, dual-motor models used a rear induction motor and a front permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motor. The Plaid model, introduced in 2021, uses three permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motors.
A cast aluminum cross-member attached to the car’s body supports the front suspension and electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering system. At the rear, a cast subframe connects to the body with four rubber-isolated mounts to reduce vibrations. The front suspension uses a double control arm design, and the rear suspension uses a multi-link arrangement, with air springs for better ride comfort. The chassis also includes disc brake components made by Brembo. Since the Model S does not have a front engine, Tesla added a storage area called a "frunk" with 5.3 cubic feet (150 L) of space. The car’s rear trunk has 26.6 cubic feet (750 L) of space with the rear seats upright and 58.1 cubic feet (1,650 L) when the seats are folded down. Initially, the seats and steering wheel were available in both synthetic and non-synthetic leather. In 2017, Tesla changed to synthetic leather only after a request from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to become the first cruelty-free automaker.
Models and updates
Tesla assigned its first 1,000 Model S units to the "Signature" limited edition configurations. The base Signature model uses an AC induction motor that produces 270 kW (362 hp) of power and 439 N⋅m (324 lb⋅ft) of torque. The Signature Performance model has a motor that generates 310 kW (416 hp) of power and 601 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft) of torque. Both models use an 85 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery and have an all-electric range of 265 miles (426 km).
In 2012, three battery pack options for the Model S were introduced as 2013 model year vehicles. A 40 kWh lithium-ion battery was initially planned as the entry-level version, but Tesla announced in 2013 that it would not be produced. The motor for this version was expected to produce 175 kW (235 hp) of power and 420 N⋅m (310 lb⋅ft) of torque. Instead, a more powerful model with a 60 kWh battery was introduced. This model had its output limited to 40 kWh through software. Its motor produces 225 kW (302 hp) of power and 430 N⋅m (317 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 208 miles (335 km). Two versions of the 85 kWh model were created: one with specifications similar to the Signature model, and a performance version called the "P85," with specifications similar to the Signature Performance.
In 2014, Tesla stopped producing the P85 and replaced it with the P85D ("D" stands for "dual"). The P85D added a front motor to the existing rear motor used in previous models. This setup powers both the front and rear wheels, creating an all-wheel drive powertrain. The two motors together produce 515 kW (691 hp) of power and 931 N⋅m (687 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 275 miles (443 km). The 60 kWh model was replaced by the 70D, introduced as a 2015 model year vehicle. The 70D has dual motors that produce 383 kW (514 hp) of power and 387 N⋅m (285 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 240 miles (390 km). A single-motor version of the 70 kWh model was also made, producing 235 kW (315 hp) of power and 325 N⋅m (240 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 210 miles (340 km).
In 2015, Tesla launched the standard 90D and the performance P90D to replace the 85 kWh model and the P85D, respectively. The 90D has a motor that produces 311 kW (417 hp) of power and 658 N⋅m (485 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 288 miles (463 km). The P90D has dual motors that produce 568 kW (762 hp) of power and 967 N⋅m (713 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 268 miles (431 km).
In April 2016, Tesla redesigned the Model S for the 2017 model year. The most noticeable change was the front fascia, where the previous black grille was replaced by a continuation of the body, leaving only a thin gap between the hood and the bumper, which holds the Tesla logo. The updated model also includes restyled, full-LED adaptive headlights that turn with the car to improve nighttime visibility.
That same year, Tesla reintroduced the 60 kWh model and added an all-wheel-drive version called the 60D. The 60 kWh model produces 235 kW (315 hp) of power and 325 N⋅m (240 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 210 miles (340 km). The 60D has dual motors that produce 242 kW (324 hp) of power and 430 N⋅m (317 lb⋅ft) of torque, with a range of 253 miles (407 km). Customers could also upgrade the battery capacity to 75 kWh through an over-the-air update, increasing the range by 40 miles (64 km). In March 2017, Tesla stopped producing the 60 kWh model to separate its premium cars from cheaper options, making the 75 kWh model the new entry-level offering.
In late 2016, Tesla introduced the P100D to replace the P90D. The P100D’s motors produce 510 kW (680 hp) of power and 1
Technology
The instrument panel is located directly in front of the driver and includes a 12.3-inch (310 mm) liquid crystal display. The infotainment control touchscreen originally had a 17-inch (430 mm) multi-touch display divided into four sections. The top section shows icons and provides quick access to features like charging, HomeLink, Driver Profiles, vehicle information, and Bluetooth. The second section allows access to apps such as Media, Navigation, Energy, Web, Camera, and Phone. The central area displays two active apps, split into upper and lower sections, with most apps able to expand to fill the entire screen. The bottom section includes controls for vehicle functions like doors, locks, lights, temperature settings, and a secondary volume control.
Initially, the Model S's touchscreen used a Nvidia Tegra 3 3D Visual Computing Module (VCM), while a separate Nvidia Tegra 2 VCM powered the instrument cluster. In 2018, Tesla replaced these two chips with a single Intel Atom-based System-on-a-Chip (SoC), which powered both the touchscreen and the instrument cluster. With the Palladium update, Tesla switched to a horizontal touchscreen and an AMD Ryzen-based SoC. The touchscreen includes controls for driver-side climate settings, My App, recent apps, passenger-side climate settings, and volume. It also allows control of features like locking doors, opening the trunk, adjusting mirrors, and using the glove box. In 2021, Tesla introduced a "yoke" steering wheel.
In 2014, Tesla launched Autopilot, a driver-assistance system that provides partial vehicle automation. All Model S vehicles made from September 2014 onward included Autopilot hardware, and the system was released as a software update in October 2015. Autopilot uses cameras, radar, and ultrasound to detect road signs, lane markings, obstacles, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, traffic lights, and other vehicles. It also includes features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, auto lane changes, and auto parking. The Model S's software is partly built using open-source software (OSS), such as Linux, GNU tools, Buildroot, and Ubuntu. Starting in 2021, Tesla replaced radar sensors with a system called "Tesla Vision," which uses only cameras. In 2023, Tesla stopped using ultrasonic sensors as part of this change.
Autopilot has faced criticism. After a crash in Florida, the National Transportation Safety Board found that the driver relied too much on the system and did not understand its limitations. Some people accuse Tesla of misleading customers by implying the vehicles were fully autonomous. Tesla says the lack of objections from authorities suggested approval of its advertising. A 2019 survey found that many Tesla owners reported unsafe Autopilot behaviors, such as sudden braking, lane departures, and failure to stop for hazards. Users also noted problems like software crashes, unexpected shutdowns, and inconsistent speed changes.
Tesla offers several ways to charge the Model S. A 240-volt home wall connector provides up to 44 miles (71 km) of range per hour of charging. A mobile connector, used away from home, offers up to 30 miles (48 km) per hour. Models before 2016 could use two onboard chargers, providing up to 62 miles (100 km) per hour. Tesla partnered with businesses to install free or low-cost Tesla Wall Connectors, which are available to customers, employees, or residents. In late 2012, Tesla launched a network of 480-volt Superchargers.
Tesla originally planned for the Model S to use fast battery swapping. In 2013, the company demonstrated a battery swap that took about 90 seconds. However, Tesla later stopped the plan, citing low customer interest. Experts say battery swapping would be costly and impractical due to the size and weight of batteries. Critics claim Tesla used California's zero-emission vehicle credit system unfairly by promoting battery swapping without making it available. In 2020, Tesla announced plans to integrate batteries into the vehicle's body to improve strength and reduce weight and cost.
Environmental impact
A 2015 study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that in areas of the United States where the Model S is commonly used, its higher emissions during manufacturing are balanced by lower emissions from driving over a few years. The UCS report assumes that materials from electric car batteries are recycled at the same rate as materials from other vehicles. It also did not include information about battery disposal because there was not enough data on recycling practices or future plans at the time. Over their lifetime, electric vehicles like the Model S produce about half the carbon dioxide emissions of similar cars powered by fossil fuels. The lithium-ion batteries in the Model S contain nickel and small amounts of cobalt, which have a large environmental impact because of how these materials are mined and used.
In 2021, Tesla reported that it recycles all returned battery packs. The company said that its Gigafactory Nevada can recover up to 92 percent of materials from old batteries, creating a system where old batteries are reused to make new ones. In 2020, Tesla recycled large amounts of metals, including 1,300 tons of nickel, 400 tons of copper, and 80 tons of cobalt. Tesla’s report states that most of its batteries are recycled in some way, but it does not explain whether 92 percent of each individual battery is fully recycled. The company aims to improve its recycling program by increasing material recovery, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental harm. However, it does not share details about how close it is to reaching these goals. A 2021 study showed that recycling the Model S battery is profitable because it is inexpensive to take apart and because cobalt can be sold for a high price. Dana Thompson, a materials scientist from the University of Leicester, warned that battery recycling may have risks. She explained that if a Tesla battery cell is damaged in the wrong way, it could cause a short circuit, which might lead to fires or the release of harmful gases.
Production and initial deliveries
The Model S is the company's second vehicle. It was made at the 5.4 million square foot (500,000 square meter) Fremont, California, facility from June 2012 to April 2026. Tesla first planned to produce 1,000 units each month, with a goal of making 5,000 units by the end of 2012. For 2013, Tesla aimed to increase that number by four times. Tesla completed its 1,000th Model S by October 31, 2012, and delivered 2,650 units by the end of the year. In the first half of the next year, 10,050 units were delivered to customers.
Starting in August 2013, final assembly for European countries was done at Tesla's Tilburg, Netherlands, facility. The goal of the Tilburg factory was to reduce delivery times for customers in Britain and the European Union, improve product quality, and help Tesla establish a presence in Europe by producing the Model S and Model X. Assembly of both vehicles at Tilburg stopped in early 2021. According to the Dutch newspaper NU.nl, changes to the production process in 2021 made it impossible to complete final assembly at Tilburg.
The Model S was the first vehicle made at the Fremont facility. It was followed by the Model X in 2015, the Model 3 in 2017, and the Model Y in 2020. These cars form the "S3XY" acronym. In 2015, the Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle, with Tesla selling 50,366 units that year. It was the second-best-selling electric car in the first half of 2016 after the Nissan Leaf. During its production, the Model S was mainly equipped with batteries from Panasonic, a company in Japan. Starting in January 2017, batteries for the vehicle were also made at the Gigafactory Nevada.
European retail deliveries began between August and September 2013 in Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany. The first Australian delivery happened in Sydney on December 9, 2014. Deliveries to mainland China started on April 22, 2014, followed by Hong Kong in July 2014. Deliveries to the United Kingdom began in June 2014.
Musk announced that production of the Model S and Model X would stop by mid-2026 after a 11% drop in Tesla's automotive revenue in 2025. He also said the Fremont facility, where the vehicles were made, would be used to produce Tesla's upcoming Optimus robot. On April 1, 2026, Musk announced the company had stopped making new units of the Model S and Model X.
Safety
In 2022, the European New Car Assessment Programme tested the Model S and gave it a five-star rating. In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also tested the Model S and gave it a five-star rating. Tesla later said the car achieved 5.4 stars based on the test details. NHTSA responded by stating it does not award more than five stars and said Tesla’s claim was misleading.
On June 14, 2013, Tesla recalled Model S vehicles made between May 10 and June 8, 2013, because the left-hand seat back striker was not properly aligned with the bracket. This could weaken the weld between the bracket and frame. Elon Musk said no cars had weld failures, no complaints, and no injuries. In early 2014, Tesla recalled 2013 Model S vehicles due to a risk of overheating during charging with adapters, cords, or wall outlets. Tesla said most adapters had been fixed through software updates. The recall affected nearly all 2013 Model S vehicles and adapters. In November 2015, Tesla voluntarily recalled all 90,000 Model S vehicles to check for a possible defect in the front seat belt assemblies. The issue was reported by one customer in Europe. Tesla’s investigation found no root cause and decided to inspect every car. No accidents or injuries were linked to the problem.
On January 20, 2017, Tesla recalled all Model S vehicles made in 2012 because of defective Takata airbags. This recall also affected about 652,000 other vehicles from other companies, making it the largest automotive recall in U.S. history at the time. On April 20, 2017, Tesla recalled 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles sold in 2016 due to faulty parking brakes. Tesla said the issue was unlikely to cause safety problems and no accidents or injuries had occurred. Customers were asked to have their cars inspected, a process taking about 45 minutes. About 5% of the vehicles were affected, and the supplier, Brembo, would pay for repairs. In March 2018, all 123,000 Model S cars made before April 2016 were recalled because of excessive corrosion on bolts securing the power steering. This was especially common in cold regions with salted roads. Tesla’s stock dropped nearly 4% after the recall was announced.
In December 2021, 119,009 Model S vehicles made between 2017 and 2020 were recalled due to a possible latch failure that could allow the front hoods to open unexpectedly. The recall affected about 14% of all Model S vehicles. In February 2024, Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. because the warning lights on the instrument panel were too small to meet federal safety standards. This could make it harder for drivers to read warnings, increasing the risk of crashes. The Model S was part of a July 2024 recall of 1.8 million vehicles to fix a software issue that could prevent the detection of an unlatched hood. This issue could cause the hood to open while driving, blocking the driver’s vision and increasing the chance of a crash.
On October 1, 2013, a Model S caught fire after hitting metal debris on a highway in Washington. The driver was warned by the car’s system and safely exited the highway. Tesla said the fire was caused by a direct impact from a large metal object to one of the car’s 16 battery modules. The vehicle’s design, which included firewalls between modules, limited the fire to a small section at the front. The debris was identified as a curved section from a truck. It pierced a 3-inch hole through the car’s 0.25-inch armor plate with an estimated force of 25 short tons. Vents directed flames away from the passenger compartment.
In October 2013, NHTSA said it found no evidence the fire was caused by a safety defect or noncompliance with federal standards. However, in November 2013, NHTSA began a preliminary evaluation to study risks from undercarriage strikes on 2013 Model S vehicles. On March 28, 2014, NHTSA closed the investigation, stating Tesla’s changes to the vehicle’s ride height and underbody protection should reduce fire risks.
On November 6, 2013, another fire occurred when a Model S hit a tow hitch on the road. Tesla extended its warranty to cover fire damage and issued a software update to increase ground clearance at highway speeds. In early February 2014, a fire was reported in Toronto, Canada. The car was parked and not charging. Tesla said the fire did not originate from the battery, charging system, adapter, or electrical receptacle, as these parts were untouched.
On January 1, 2016, a 2014 Model S caught fire in Norway while supercharging. The car was destroyed, but no one was injured. Norway’s Accident Investigation Board said the fire started inside the car, but the exact cause was unknown. In March 2016, Tesla said its investigation found a short circuit in the vehicle’s distribution box caused the fire, though the damage made it impossible to confirm the exact cause. In December 2018, a three-month-old Model S caught fire three times, requiring firefighters to spend nearly ten hours to prevent reignition. In July 2021, a Model S Plaid caught fire, and its electronic door system failed, forcing the driver to use force to open the door. The car moved about 35 to 40 feet before erupting into a fireball.
Reception and legacy
The Model S has been called one of the most important electric cars by many critics. In 2014, Nick Rufford from The Sunday Times said, "the Model S represents the last attempt to make electric cars popular. If this car cannot convince people to stop using gasoline and switch to electric power, no other car can." In the same year, The Daily Telegraph listed the Model S as one of the "cars that changed the world" and called it the most important car of the past 20 years. A magazine called Top Gear, which is owned by the BBC, described the Model S as "one of the most appealing electric vehicles in the world" and said it helped major car companies begin using electric technology. Keith Barry from Consumer Reports noted that features like a circular steering wheel and Elon Musk’s public image have sometimes distracted people from the car’s strong qualities. Consumer Reports also said the Model S’s success made other car companies rethink how they design and market their vehicles. Car and Driver stated that the Model S was the first long-range electric car that many people wanted when it was released, and that other car companies had trouble keeping up with its success.
The Model S has received both positive and negative reviews from critics. Samuel Gibbs from The Guardian called it a "stylish car" and said it looked more like a regular car than other electric vehicles. He also praised its fast acceleration, saying it can outperform cars like the Aston Martin Rapide without using gasoline or producing pollution. Lee Williams from The Independent described the Model S as "a beautiful car that shows how far humanity has come in making vehicles more automated," but he said the car was too large. Chris Perkins from Road & Track criticized the Model S, calling it a "joke" and saying the Model S Plaid version was one of the worst cars in the world. He disliked the circular steering wheel and said the car’s handling was uncomfortable. A report from U.S. News & World Report said the car’s inside looked outdated for its price, and newer models offer more space, style, and range. Lee Hutchinson from Ars Technica said the car’s design reminded people of cars like the Maserati and Aston Martin DBS. Critics often compare the Model S to the first version of the Nissan Leaf, a smaller car.
Hutchinson also said the Model S’s acceleration is extremely fast, describing it as "instant" and "neck-snapping," and said it felt more like a roller coaster than a car. He called its design "graceful" and well-made. Mat Watson from Carwow praised the Model S Plaid for being very fast and quiet but said it was too expensive and that other cars offer better comfort. He gave it a score of eight out of ten. Keith Adams from Car called the Model S "the king of the hill" and said its power felt exciting. Lawrence Hodge from Jalopnik criticized the circular steering wheel, calling it "stupid" and saying it made the car worse. In 2012, Time magazine named the Model S one of the best inventions of the year. It later appeared on Time’s list of the 10 best gadgets of the 2010s. Car and Driver included the Model S 60 on its list of the 10 best cars of 2015 and the 70 and 70D models on its 2016 list.
Some companies have created special versions of the Model S with different designs. In 2019, a one-of-a-kind Model S with a shooting brake style, called the Model SB, was announced by Niels van Roij Design. Only one car was made, painted in British racing green, a color inspired by the logo of a company called Elipo and the plants in the garden of Elipo’s owner. The car was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019. In 2020 and 2023, companies called Coleman Milne and Binz made special versions of the Model S into hearses, named the Wisper and Binz.E, respectively. Both versions can travel 220 miles (350 km) on a single charge.
The Model S has won many awards, as shown in the table below.