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2022 Tesla Model S Plaid
Model SModel S PlaidModel S Plaid 202220212022 $135,990 Price (MSRP) Build and Price 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid For Sale Fastest Sedans Sedans With Best MPG Tesla Sedans Review Exterior Interior Trims & Specs Performance Safety & Reliability 24 Photos Compare insurance prices: Save an average of $440 Free Quote 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Review Fast Forward
by Gerhard Horn Nearly all discussions about the Tesla Model S Plaid before its launch were dominated by the controversial yoke steering wheel. But we're here to tell you there's so much more to this car than an admittedly silly steering device. What about the fact that it's Tesla's first triple-motor car, producing 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, or that it can cut under two seconds flat to 60 mph and still attain a 396-mile range? Recently, the Lucid Air has emerged as one of the Plaid's main rivals, but it's still impossible to find a quicker four-door sedan - or any car for that matter. If the claimed specs are to be believed - with real-world tests rapidly proving that they are - the Plaid is the fastest accelerating production car ever. Even the marvelous Porsche Taycan doesn't have an answer to the Plaid. The Plaid isn't a one-trick pony, and recent improvements like a new infotainment system and better build quality than ever are quickly cementing its place in the pantheon of vehicles that redefined automotive history.
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Exterior Design 9 /10 Performance 10 /10 Fuel Economy 10 /10 Interior & Cargo 9 /10 Infotainment & Features 10 /10 Reliability 8 /10 Safety 10 /10 Value For Money 9 /10 9.4 What is BuzzScore? 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Changes What s the difference vs 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid
Unlike other automakers, Tesla makes regular and unforeseen improvements to its vehicles, so not every 2022 Model S Plaid will necessarily be the same. At the time of writing, recent changes to the Plaid included a higher top speed of 175 mph, a new Track driving mode, and available carbon-ceramic brakes which are expected to be available around midway through 2022. Tesla also added a highly controversial new feature where video games can be played even when the car is in motion.
Pros and Cons
Hypercar performanceRepeatable performanceFantastic rangeHigh-tech interiorInterior quality is vastly improved No Android Auto or Apple CarPlaySmall dealer networkAwkward yoke steering wheel Best Deals on 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid $134,990 3,694 miles Fair Deal $11,300 above 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid $139,991 5,048 miles Fair Deal Average price 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid $117,998 13,663 miles Good Deal $20,700 below 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid $132,578 7,578 miles See All Model S Plaid For Sale 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Trims
See trim levels and configurations: Trim Engine Transmission Drivetrain Price (MSRP) Plaid Electric Single Speed Automatic All-Wheel Drive $135,990 See All 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Trims and Specs Handling and Driving Impressions
First, we'll address the elephant in the room. The yoke steering wheel is a ridiculous idea. For proof, look no further than the Plaid that Randy Pobst used at the 2021 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. If the yoke was so brilliant, why not use it for this race? At slow speeds within the confines of a city, it's idiotic. You find yourself reaching for a piece of the steering wheel that isn't there. It's less of a problem at higher speeds where only small inputs are required. Honestly, just go for a regular steering wheel, and stop trying to defend this idiotic idea that the yoke is somehow superior. It's a gimmick and a ridiculous one at that. Another oddity overshadowed by the yoke controversy is the lack of a gear selector. The Plaid uses many sensors and artificial intelligence to predict whether you want to go forwards or backward. It can also track your habits. In other words, it will know that you want to reverse when pulling out of the driveway in the morning, and it will know to move forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic. We can get behind this sort of technology, as simplicity is perhaps the ultimate luxury. Still, it's something to get used to. It feels like years ago when adaptive cruise control first arrived on the scene. Handing over braking duties to the car looks good on paper, but it takes time to develop the kind of trust needed to not keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal. The Tesla is capable of delivering stupidly quick acceleration times, but it's not a hypercar. Thankfully, Tesla kept the adaptive air suspension system that errs on the side of comfort. That's perhaps the Plaid's most impressive attribute. It can embarrass a Bugatti Chiron off the line, but it can also take the kids to school in style and luxury. In many ways, the Tesla has out-classed the S-Class. The latter is no longer the technological tour de force it once was, an indication of the future, and one can reasonably argue that it has passed the baton to this particular Tesla considering the direction the automotive world is heading. We're not saying that the Tesla is better than an S-Class, merely that if you want to see the future of the automobile, you're looking at it right here. When it comes to dynamic driving, the Porsche Taycan still comes out on top. Given Porsche's illustrious history, it was perhaps a given. But we'll let you in on a little secret. Hitting 60 mph in two to three seconds isn't fun. It's a neat party trick but highly disconcerting. In short, it's just not as much fun as you'd imagine. We first experienced this kind of scary acceleration in the McLaren 675LT many moons ago. Trust us when we say four seconds is all you need. That's why we appreciate the softer ride quality of the Plaid. In Sport mode, it can hustle along, but it's no performance saloon. The near 5,000-pound curb weight is too much to overcome, but we prefer it that way. If the Plaid were a RWD stripped-out performance saloon with a hardcore suspension setup, the streets would be lined with burning bodies within six months. Once again, not a criticism aimed at Tesla, but perhaps something that's not being appropriately addressed. Pretty soon, the roads will be flooded with cars with supercar-like performance and drivers ill-equipped to handle it. Now Buzzing Electric Vehicles Tesla Cybertruck Spotted With Production-Ready Rear End Crash Watch A Seventh-Gen Toyota Hilux Truck Launch Into The Air After Losing Control Auctions One-Off Plymouth Barracuda Four-Door Is A Muscle Car Unicorn First Drive 2023 Toyota Crown First Drive Review: A Tale Of Two Hybrids Sports Cars 2023 BMW M2 Coming With Optional Center-Lock Wheels Tuning 700-Horsepower 2023 Nissan Z By AMS Performance Hits Nine-Second Quarter Mile Verdict Is the 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid a good car
Any car that moves the entire automotive industry's goalposts forward is spectacular. The Model S Plaid does just that. It provides hypercar performance at a relatively reasonable price, has more range than its rivals, and it's an everyday sedan that does normal sedan things without breaking a sweat. Twenty years ago, a car like this would have been impossible to produce, and yet here it is. While we're not big fans of certain Tesla owners who base their entire identity on the car they own, we have to admit that the Model S Plaid might just be the best car on sale today. It's all things to all men. It steals the Mercedes S-Class's job of showcasing what the next generation of cars will offer, and we like where things are going. It's also worth pointing out that Tesla is forcing the legacy manufacturers to up their game. It hasn't been that long since the Taycan was introduced, not to mention the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The new Model S, and by extension the Plaid, is Tesla's answer, and in one fell swoop, it's forced Ford, Porsche, and anyone else building an EV with performance aspirations to return to the drawing board. Whichever way you look at it, the consumer wins. However, the new Lucid Air is here and it brings with it phenomenal performance, incredible luxury, and an EPA-certified range of 520 miles. If Lucid can improve its brand recognition quickly, it's the closest challenger to the Plaid. Check out other Tesla Model S Styles
Model S Compare 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Comparisons
Porsche Tesla 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid vs Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo
The Taycan doesn't have as much range as the Tesla, but Porsche hits back with this new sport wagon model based on the Taycan. Is the allure of owning a sporty Porsche wagon enough to get people away from that sub-two-second sprint time? The standard Taycan Turbo comes with 670 hp, while the Turbo S gets 750 hp on overboost. The latter can sprint to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, and, in the real world, you won't be able to tell the difference between it and the Tesla. Range is still the main issue. The standard Turbo has a claimed range of around 275 miles, which is literally miles away from the Plaid's claimed range of 396 miles on 19-inch wheels. Even with the wagon body, the Porsche can't match the Tesla's practicality. Still, we wouldn't dismiss the Porsche so easily. It has a higher quality interior, rides better, and has the backing of one of the oldest manufacturers in automotive history. To our eyes, it also looks better. If we had to spend our own money, we'd need at least a week to decide. There are obvious upsides to both cars, and we'd constantly be hovering between the two. See Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Review 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid vs Tesla Model S
Like so many other cars, the Plaid will be purchased simply for bragging rights. The cheaper Model S - now simply called Model S and not Model S Long Range - retails for $94,990, comes with an estimated driving range of 405 miles, and can sprint to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. That's fast enough for us, thank you very much. It comes with the same features, minus the third electric motor. The interior is the same, the standard features are the same, and you can add the Full Self-Driving Package at the same price. The Plaid is an astonishing accomplishment, but you have to wonder whether getting to 60 mph a second earlier is worth $35,000. If you can afford it, sure, get the model with all the bragging rights. If you want to be sensible, get the standard Long Range instead. See Tesla Model S Review 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Popular Comparisons
The most popular competitors of 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid: Audi RS e-tron GT $142,400 Price (MSRP) Compare Lucid Air $87,400 - $169,000 Price (MSRP) Compare Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan $102,310 - $125,900 Price (MSRP) Compare Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo $133,300 Price (MSRP) Compare Audi A6 e-tron TBC Price (MSRP) Compare Genesis Electrified G80 $79,825 Price (MSRP) Compare Lucid Motors Air Sapphire $249,000 Price (MSRP) Volkswagen ID.Aero TBC Price (MSRP) Compare See All 8 Comparisons Tesla Model S Plaid News
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