Model S

Name: Tesla Model S
Brand: Tesla

Flagship luxury sedan with longest range

Don't Buy

Configure Model S on Tesla.com →

Key Facts at a Glance

Seating 5 adults
Real-World Range 370-390 mi typical (EPA 396-410 mi)
Towing N/A
FSD Hardware HW4 (AI5 Computer)
Max Charging Rate 250 kW DC (Supercharger V3)
Safety 5-star NHTSA overall.

HARDWARE VERSION GUIDE

Tesla's OTA software capability is determined by the hardware computer installed at the factory — not the model year or trim level. If you're buying used, check which HW version is in the specific car before purchasing.

HW1

Autopilot 1 (Mobileye EyeQ3)

Jun 2012 – Oct 2016

Don't Buy

Chip Mobileye EyeQ3

FSD ✗ Not capable

FSD Status Not FSD-capable. Highway Autopilot only (Traffic-Aware Cruise Control + Autosteer). OTA updates discontinued.

OTA Updates No further OTA updates. Frozen on legacy firmware.

Used Market Only

Zero autonomy roadmap. No FSD, no Summon. Used units 10+ years old. Buy only for transport.

HW2.0

Autopilot 2.0

Oct 2016 – Aug 2017

Don't Buy

Chip Nvidia Drive PX 2

FSD ✗ Not capable

FSD Status FSD hardware-insufficient. Tesla sold FSD subscriptions but the hardware cannot support it. HW3 retrofit program discontinued.

OTA Updates Limited OTA. Core FSD/Summon updates excluded.

Used Market Only

Cannot run FSD despite early promises. Retrofit path closed. Avoid.

HW2.5

Autopilot 2.5

Aug 2017 – Apr 2019

Don't Buy

Chip Nvidia Drive PX 2 + 2nd GPU

FSD ✗ Not capable

FSD Status FSD hardware-insufficient. Second GPU added processing headroom but still cannot support FSD. HW3 retrofit program discontinued.

OTA Updates Limited OTA. Cannot receive FSD city/streets updates.

Used Market Only

No FSD capability. Retrofit path closed. Used market only; acceptable if autonomy is not a priority.

HW3

FSD Computer (AI3)

Apr 2019 – mid-2023

Don't Buy

Chip Tesla FSD Chip v1 (72 TOPS)

FSD ✓ Capable

FSD Status FSD Supervised v12.x — city streets, highways, Smart Summon, Autopark. Some HW4-exclusive inference improvements unavailable.

OTA Updates Receives FSD v12.x OTA. Certain v13+ features gated to HW4.

Used Market Only

HW3 runs FSD v12, but Model S is discontinued. No future Tesla service guarantee. Buy only as collector with FSD needs.

HW4

FSD Computer v4 (AI4)

mid-2023 – Jan 2026 (discontinued)

Don't Buy

Chip Tesla AI4 Chip (~300 TOPS est.)

FSD ✓ Capable

FSD Status FSD v13 full feature set. Best inference. Ethernet camera bus. Full access to current and future FSD OTA.

OTA Updates Full OTA — all FSD features. Model discontinued but software still updated.

Used Market Only

HW4 capability is excellent but the Model S is discontinued. Long-term parts and service uncertain. Buy only as a collector.

VERSION COMPARISON

	Model S $94,990	Plaid $109,990
Tagline	Flagship luxury sedan.	Fastest production car. Period.
0-60 mph	3.1s 0-60 mph	1.99s 0-60 mph
Range	410 mi	396 mi
Drivetrain	Dual Motor AWD	Tri Motor AWD
Power	670 hp	1,020 hp
Top Speed	149 mph	200 mph
Highlights	Luxe Package, FSD included, Free Supercharging	Luxe Package, Track Mode, Carbon fiber spoiler
Verdict	DISCONTINUED. Model being phased out. Consider long-term parts/service availability.	DISCONTINUED. Could become a collector's item. Buy only if you accept end-of-life risks.

TL;DR

Value N/A — Not recommended. Model is being discontinued by Tesla.

YOLO Model S Plaid — Last chance to own the fastest production car. Collector potential.

The mistake? Buying without understanding the model is discontinued. Long-term parts and service uncertain.

RELEASE HISTORY & WHAT CHANGED

Jun 2012

Initial Release

First production units delivered.

Apr 2016

Major Facelift

Updated front end design with various hardware improvements.

Jan 2021

Plaid Refresh

Completely redesigned interior with yoke steering option. New Plaid tri-motor variant added with an updated powertrain and revised suspension.

Jun 2025

Efficiency Refresh

Improved aerodynamics and faster charging capability. Minor exterior design tweaks.

Jan 2026

Discontinued

Elon Musk announced discontinuation during Q4 2025 earnings call, giving Model S an 'honorable discharge'

FEATURE DEEP-DIVE

Full Self-Driving (FSD)

Hardware: HW4 (AI5 Computer)
Capabilities: Supervised FSD on city streets & highways, Auto Lane Change, Navigate on Autopilot, Smart Summon, Autopark
Option: FSD included on all new orders
Subscription: $99/month FSD subscription also available

Charging

Max Rate: 250 kW DC (Supercharger V3)
Range per 15 min: ~200 miles in 15 min
Home Charging: Wall Connector (48A, 11.5 kW) — full charge overnight
Port: NACS (CCS adapter included)

Interior

17" cinematic touchscreen (landscape)
Yoke or round steering wheel option
22-speaker premium audio system
8" rear entertainment display
Heated & ventilated front seats, heated rear
HEPA air filtration with Bioweapon Defense Mode
Tri-zone climate control

Safety

5-star NHTSA overall. 8 cameras, Automatic Emergency Braking, Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure Warning, Sentry Mode, Dashcam.

5-YEAR OWNERSHIP ESTIMATE

Fuel Savings (5 yr): $6,000-8,000 vs premium gas sedan
Maintenance (5 yr): ~$3,000 (tires, wipers, cabin filter — no oil changes, no brake pads typically)
Insurance: Higher than average due to repair costs; expect $2,500-4,000/yr
Depreciation: DISCONTINUED — expect accelerated depreciation, uncertain resale
Federal Credit: Expired — federal EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025
Bottom Line: High ownership cost due to insurance and uncertain resale. Buy only as a collector or enthusiast.

PRICING & SAVINGS

Federal EV Tax Credit (Expired)

The federal EV tax credit expired September 30, 2025. The up-to-$7,500 credit for new EVs (Section 30D) and up-to-$4,000 credit for used EVs (Section 25E) are no longer available for vehicles acquired after that date.

The federal tax credit for EV charging equipment (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit) remains available — up to 30% of installation costs — through June 30, 2026.

STATE INCENTIVE EXAMPLES

California

Up to $7,500 CVRP

Clean Vehicle Rebate Project for qualifying buyers + HOV lane access stickers

Colorado

$5,000

State tax credit for new EVs

New Jersey

~7% sales tax exemption

No sales tax on zero-emission vehicles

New York

Up to $2,000

Drive Clean rebate at point of sale

Texas

No state rebate

No state income tax offsets total cost; check local utility rebates

OTHER SAVINGS

▸Federal charger tax credit: 30% of EV charger installation costs (through June 30, 2026)
▸Many employers offer pre-tax commuter benefits for EV charging
▸Some utilities offer time-of-use rates — charge overnight at $0.04-0.08/kWh
▸Tesla Supercharger network: ~$0.35-0.50/kWh, still 40-60% cheaper than gas
▸No oil changes, no transmission service, brake pads last 100k+ miles (regen braking)

The federal EV purchase credit expired Sept 30, 2025. State and local incentives vary and change frequently. Always verify current eligibility with your state's energy office and a tax professional before purchasing.