The 2024 Tesla Model S carries over with no changes. Ordinarily, not having a brand new model every few years would worry some automakers, but not Tesla. With its impressive range, sizzling performance, and high-tech innovations, the Model S stays at the top of every EV buyer’s shopping list.
Not that the competition isn’t nipping at this Tesla’s heels. The Lucid Air, for example, has a greater range and a far more appealing interior. The Audi e-tron GT, BMW i7, and Mercedes-EQ EQS are all viable alternatives, and while they can’t match the Model S’s 405-mile range, they may appeal to those who still want the look and feel of a more traditional car.
Model S buyers have two options: Long Range and Plaid. The Long Range features dual electric motors, endowing it with all-wheel drive (AWD) capability. It can dash to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and travel 405 miles on a single charge. The Plaid trim adds a third motor, granting it a phenomenally quick 2-second 0-60 mph run and a 359-mile range.
For now, the Model S does not qualify for a federal tax credit as its base price exceeds what the IRS allows.
Prices are current at the time of publishing.
What’s New:
The 2024 Tesla Model S carries over with no modifications. But Tesla can install midyear upgrades via over-the-air updates.
Our Recommendation:
Unless you have an insatiable need for speed (or to impress your buddies), the Model S Long Range is more than sufficient. It’s still lightning quick, offers the best range, and carries a more affordable price.
Tesla Model S Long Range
Starts at $74,990 | See listings
- 405-mile range
- AWD
- Air suspension
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 360-degree camera w/Sentry mode
- Vegan leather upholstery
- 12-way heated and cooled front seats
- 12.3-inch driver display
- 17-inch center console
- Autopilot
- 22-speaker audio
- See more
Tesla Model S Plaid
Starts at $89,990| See listings
- 2-second 0-60 mph time
- Carbon-fiber spoiler
- Torque vectoring
- Upgraded brakes
- Rear seat touchscreen display
- Front and rear wireless charge pads
- Navigation
- Tri-zone climate control
- See more
2024 Tesla Model S Long Range: $74,900
For most people, the Long Range is all the car they’ll need. Its dual-electric-motor setup gives it superior year-round AWD traction, while its adaptive air suspension ensures a smooth ride and impressive cornering capabilities.
The Model S rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and boasts adaptive Matrix LED headlights, a fixed glass roof, a power liftgate, plus auto-dimming and power-folding heated side mirrors.
Where a gas-powered car has an engine, the Model S has a frunk (front trunk), providing additional storage beyond the cabin and rear cargo area.
The Model S features keyless entry, with an available app turning your smartphone into a key. With your phone on you, you need only approach the Model S, and the door handles electrically extend. There’s also a wallet-sized key card that allows its owner to unlock and drive the Model S.
Other exterior features include rain-sensing wipers and a 360-degree camera system with Sentry Mode.
The Model S interior is an exercise in starkness. Color choices are limited to black (standard), black and white with walnut accents, or cream with walnut ($2,000). Vegan leather upholstery abounds, covering 12-way adjustable power front seats.
Model S buyers can choose between a tilt/telescoping yoke-style or a traditional round steering wheel — both feature capacitive-touch controls for the horn, wipers, and turn signals.
Directly in front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with a massive 17-inch center touchscreen to the right. The center screen electrically tilts left or right, making it easier for the driver to see and reach. The touchscreen controls just about every feature inside the Model S, including the heated and ventilated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, navigation, and infotainment.
There are two wireless charging pads in the front console and USB-C fast charge ports for every passenger.
Rear seat passengers enjoy heated seats in all three positions and a 9.4-inch touchscreen with 10 teraflops of processing power, ideal for on-road gaming. The setup even includes wireless controller capability.
The rear seat also gets a stowable center armrest with integrated wireless charging. Push a button, and the rear seats fold flat, creating a large cargo area easily accommodating a mountain bike, a flat-screen TV purchase, or enough groceries to last two weeks.
Audio reproduction comes from a 22-speaker, 960-watt premium audio system. The Model S streaming arsenal includes FM and SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Google Maps.
What you won’t have access to is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, you can subscribe to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity service (the first year is free), which adds live traffic visualization, satellite navigation maps, video streaming, Caraoke (Tesla’s version of car karaoke), music streaming, and access to the Google internet browser.
Tesla’s Autopilot comes standard and includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.
Also standard are automatic high-beam headlights and adaptive cruise control.
Optional upgrades include Enhanced Autopilot, which adds another $6,000 to the bottom line. Check this box, and you’ll get features such as the ability to navigate on Autopilot, Auto Lane Change, Auto Park, Summon, and Smart Summon.
For $12,000, you get Full Self-Driving Capability, which adds traffic light and stop sign control and, coming soon (or so says Tesla), Autosteer on city streets.
The Full Self-Driving feature still requires you to pay attention and keep your hands on the wheel, although its parameters seem to change with every over-the-air update.
Buyers can also opt for 21-inch wheels, which somewhat reduce the range.
As for color, there aren’t many. Stealth Grey is standard at no charge, while Pearl White Multi-Coat, Deep Blue Metallic, and Solid Black cost an extra $1,500. The seldom-seen Ultra Red costs an additional $2,500.
With the $1,390 delivery fee and $250 nonrefundable order fee, the 2024 Tesla Model S Long Range costs $76,630. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $1,446. See 2024 Tesla Model S models for sale near you
2024 Tesla Model S includes:
Heated and ventilated front seats – These vegan leather front seats keep you cool in the summer and warm in winter.
Premium audio – The 22-speaker sound system envelopes Model S passengers in an auditory nirvana.
Available Smart Summon – With the ability to self-park and pull out of a parking space, the Model S can also maneuver itself through a parking lot, delivering the car to wherever you’re waiting.
2024 Tesla Model S Plaid: $89,990
The Plaid is the high-performance Model S featuring most of the same equipment as the standard Model S but with a more potent punch.
The Plaid adds torque vectoring, better brakes, and a carbon-fiber spoiler.
It also gets a third electric motor at the rear, giving the Plaid a 2-second 0-60-mph time and a top speed of 200 mph.
With the $1,390 delivery fee and $250 nonrefundable order fee, the 2024 Tesla Model S Plaid costs $91,630. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to approximately $1,729. See 2024 Tesla Model S Plaid models for sale near you
2024 Tesla Model S Plaid includes:
1,020 horsepower – The Plaid’s third electric motor produces impressive torque and horsepower, which Model S rockets to 60 mph in just two seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 9.23 seconds at 155 mph.
Torque vectoring – The Plaid uses its electric motors for torque vectoring, which increases or decreases power to each wheel for improved cornering.
Upgraded brakes – Given the insane speed and acceleration of the Plaid, enhanced brakes with better resistance to heat fade are smart and necessary.
