2026 Tesla Model S

Name: 2026 Tesla Model S
Brand: Tesla

Release Date: Late 2025 – early 2026

Estimated Price: Starting around $82,000

The 2026 Model S remains competitive on the strength of its specs even as the sedan has gone years without a redesign. It has an EPA-estimated range of more than 400 miles, and the Plaid version makes prodigious power. But it's also less luxurious, refined and customizable than rival EV luxury sedans.Read full review

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2026 Tesla Model S Review

Pros

Electric range is impressive
Very quick acceleration across the board
Liftback design affords abundant cargo space

Cons

Interior isn't as refined as cabins of similarly priced sedans
No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration
Limited array of paint colors or personalization options from the factory

What's new

We don't expect any significant updates for the 2026 Model S
Part of the first Model S generation launched for 2012

Overview

Written by automotive expert James Riswick

8/7/2025

The Model S is the larger of the two electric sedans Tesla sells. It's a midsize sedan with a hatchback-style liftgate that provides significantly better utility than a traditional trunk. There are currently two versions of the Model S: a base all-wheel-drive model that delivers a substantial EPA-estimated 410 miles of range and the 1,020-horsepower Plaid, which is one of the quickest cars we've ever tested. Both are relative bargains considering the range and power they provide, long list of standard features, and unique tech that's available. Not much will likely change with the Model S for 2026, but Tesla is always tweaking its vehicles with regular over-the-air software updates. In addition to the software updates, Tesla has kept the aging Model S competitive over the years with battery and motor improvements.

Edmunds spotlight: Is the Model S still worth getting?

Even though the Model S hasn't been fully redesigned since it launched in 2012, it's as good as any of its rivals thanks to the numerous incremental improvements and refreshes throughout its lifespan. The Model S is ranked among the best electric sedans in its class because it delivers the range, power, comfort and technology you'd expect from a high-dollar EV. Although it's not as luxurious or as well built as its German rivals, it costs less and offers greater access to Tesla's vast Supercharger network. In most cases, a rival with comparable features and performance will cost a bit more. And if you opt for the Plaid model, you'll own one of the most potent production cars in the world.

Competitors to consider

This Tesla's German rivals include the midsize BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE. Both are more refined to drive and have more impressive interiors, but you'll have to spring for one of the pricier versions if you want to go toe-to-toe with a base Model S in a drag race. Many shoppers will also cross-shop the BMW i7 and Mercedes-Benz EQS, but those models are larger and more expensive. The Model S also competes with the Lucid Air, a similarly sized electric sedan built in the United States that also delivers a more engaging driving experience, quicker fast-charging speeds and a more luxurious interior.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.4

out of 10

We drove the Tesla Model S on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

9/10

How does the Model S drive? We tested a Model S Plaid, which is the highest-performing version. The thrust and speed delivered by this tri-motor-powered sedan are nothing short of mind-bending. In Edmunds' testing, it rocketed from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds and passed the quarter-mile mark in 9.4 seconds at 150.0 mph. This is still among the quickest vehicles Edmunds has ever tested and similar to what we've gotten from the Lucid Air Sapphire (2.2 seconds and 9.2 seconds, respectively) and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (2.1 seconds and 9.3 seconds, respectively). The Model S, like these other triumphs of engineering, is also as easy to drive as a golf cart, albeit a 1,020-horsepower one.

This much power requires excellent brakes and tires. Pleasingly, the Model S Plaid we tested came with the Track package upgrade that comes with sticky Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3R tires and high-performance carbon-ceramic brakes. This combo delivers the much-needed stopping power and endurance for drivers looking to liberally use all of that horsepower. The stock brakes and tires are otherwise suitable for the regular Model S.

We are thrilled you can option the Model S Plaid with a regular steering wheel in lieu of the ergonomically disastrous steering yoke. The more traditional wheel provides huge gains in control. The Track mode for the Plaid is also great. The settings allow you to adjust handling balance and the tri-motor torque vectoring to make the Plaid feel so much more alive and engaging when you're driving around corners.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Model S? The Model S Plaid's world-beating speed doesn't come at the expense of everyday comfort. This is a car you wouldn't hesitate to take on a road trip, run errands or commute in. Ride comfort is commendable with the standard adaptive air suspension, even with the larger optional 21-inch wheels and their less cushy tire sidewalls. The climate control is tri-zone and works relatively well. The seat ventilation and heaters work well too.

But the seats themselves are nothing special. The cushions are decently soft but lack lateral support considering the Plaid's performance potential, and the adjustments are pretty basic. The rear seatbacks feel a bit upright and the floor sits high so your knees sit closer to your chest than they would in most other luxury sedans. The absence of a gasoline powertrain means a lot less noise entering the cabin, but there is some that comes from the electric motors and some to a lesser degree from the road and the wind.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? This is one of the few areas where Tesla has taken a step back with the latest Model S. While the controversial steering yoke still exists and is the largest pain point here, you can get a traditional steering wheel, which we highly recommend. The decision to remove the traditional column stalks and replace them with touch-sensitive buttons has made simple everyday actions much more distracting. Even changing lanes requires you to take your eyes off the road momentarily to press the correct arrow button. The big 17-inch touchscreen looks great, but learning where all of the various controls are takes time.

Interior space is decent as far as midsize sedans go, as is the ease of getting in and out. Notably, there is far more space here than in the Porsche Taycan, though slightly less than what the Lucid Air offers. The all-glass roof provides lots of headroom. But backseat toe room is a bit tight under the front seats. The floor height is also awkwardly high when you're sitting in back. The Model S is fairly easy to see out of, though the front roof pillars do slightly obstruct your view when making left turns. The Model S' fastback hatch makes for a slightly shorter window view out of the back, but not so short to cause any real obstruction.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Having Google Maps built-in continues to be one of the better navigation experiences, but it's not without issues. In areas of spotty service, you'll either have a slow-refreshing map or no map at all. But having the power of Google search in the car is a huge convenience, not to mention it looks great on a 17-inch touchscreen. The 22-speaker sound system is also quite awesome and can push out loud-yet-rich sound through the cabin.

Though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration has become pervasive in the industry, Tesla still doesn't offer either system. Many streaming services are built into the touchscreen, but we would still prefer to have the option of being able to fully project one's phone onto the touchscreen. At least there are ample options for keeping your devices charged up with wireless charging pads and USB charge ports.

As far as driver aids go, no advanced driving aid system is better known than Tesla's Autopilot. It works great in slow-moving and stop-and-go traffic, but it seems to be more easily spooked or confused on roads that aren't clearly marked or are lined with parked cars on the shoulder. Tesla has a tendency to release new features in beta phase too, making you the guinea pig. This underdeveloped approach feels half-baked.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The Tesla Model S is actually a hatchback, and that means there's lots of rear cargo space, plus a bonus front trunk that's easy to access and take advantage of. It features far more cargo space than many rivals, EV or not. The split rear seats fold flat, opening up the space even more. Storage up front is much improved compared to prior years of the Model S. There's a variety of sliding and retracting compartments that better help to organize all your stuff up front. The cupholders still lack an anti-tip design and don't hold drinks all that well, but there are also now door pockets, which means not everything has to go in the center console storage space.

Getting a car seat in and out is relatively easy. The doors open wide, though the anchors seem to be buried a little deeper than usual. The lack of headroom might be a bit of an issue when installing a seat.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Range and Efficiency

8/10

How are the range and efficiency? The 2025 Model S Plaid with 21-inch wheels has an EPA-estimated range of 322 miles and consumption of 36 kWh of electricity used per 100 miles. There is no estimate for how the Track pack wheels and tires affect range, but we suspect they would not improve things. We also range tested a 2021 Model S Plaid equipped with the optional 21-inch wheels, giving it an EPA-estimated range of 348 miles and a consumption rate of 33 kWh/100 miles. In the real-world Edmunds EV Range Test, we came up just a tiny bit short of the EPA estimates, managing 345 miles on a single max battery charge with a slightly more efficient consumption rate of 32.1 kWh/100 miles. That's a laudable amount of range and efficiency given the performance the Plaid delivers.

We also subjected the Plaid to the Edmunds EV Charging Test and found the Plaid's fast-charging speeds to be pretty impressive too. We measured an average charging speed of 523 miles of range per hour of charging, slightly edging out the Lucid Air Grand Touring's speed of 518 mph.

Value

8/10

Is the Model S a good value? The Model S Plaid, which is what we tested, is considerably less expensive than other high-performance luxury EVs. If you're looking for a vehicle with incredible speed and nearly unassailable bragging rights, there is nothing better for the money. Build quality still doesn't quite match other luxury makes in this price range, but the car's performance makes up for a lot.

The basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles, which is about average in this luxury EV segment. The powertrain and battery are covered for eight years/120,000 miles.

Wildcard

10/10

Putting aside personal biases of those of us who prefer cars that are fun to drive around corners, the sheer power, speed and the ease of its accessibility make the Model S Plaid incredibly entertaining. It also has a strong sleeper vibe; there's no giant rear wing or other obvious styling element to indicate that you're driving a 1,020-horsepower sedan. We heartily respect understatement.

2026 Tesla Model S trim level differences

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Model S. We expect the 2026 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.]

Which Model S trim does Edmunds recommend?

Tesla hasn't released official information on the 2026 Model S as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Model S, we would suggest sticking with the standard all-wheel-drive Model S. It's blazingly quick with a stated 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, can go an estimated 410 miles on a charge, and is loaded with technology and creature comforts. The Plaid model is quite simply overkill.

2026 Tesla Model S videos

U-Drags Race: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT vs. Tesla Model S Plaid | Quarter Mile, Handling & More

NOTE: This video is about the 2024 Tesla Model S, but since the 2026 Tesla Model S is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

Welcome back to Edmunds U-Drags, our series of down-and-back drag races that incorporate a standing quarter mile, handling, and a rolling start all in one race! In this episode, it’s a battle of two ultra-quick electric sedans as the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT takes on the Tesla Model S Plaid.

2026 Tesla Model S

2026 Tesla Model S Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Is the Model S still worth getting?

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Range and Efficiency

Value

Wildcard

2026 Tesla Model S trim level differences

Which Model S trim does Edmunds recommend?

2026 Tesla Model S videos

U-Drags Race: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT vs. Tesla Model S Plaid | Quarter Mile, Handling & More

Related 2026 Tesla Model S info

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