Model S
Flagship luxury sedan with longest range
Don't BuyKey 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
Tesla's official v14 support page requires software 14.2 or later for eligible v14 features but does not promise identical HW3 and HW4 behavior. Verify the installed release on the vehicle.
OTA Updates
Software availability varies by vehicle and release branch. Model S is discontinued, so long-term update continuation is uncertain.
Used Market Only
Do not assume a seller's v14 claim applies to every HW3 car. Verify the installed software and included FSD package. Model S is discontinued, adding parts and support risk.
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 v14 full build — best inference, fastest edge-case processing, Ethernet camera bus. Full access to all FSD v14.x OTA updates.
OTA Updates
Full OTA — all FSD v14.x features. Model discontinued but software continues to receive updates.
Used Market Only
HW4 and FSD v14 capability is excellent, but Model S is discontinued. Long-term parts and service uncertain. Collector purchase only.
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 charger-installation credit information previously shown here expired June 30, 2026. Verify whether any replacement federal, state, or utility program applies before purchase.
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
- ▸Tesla current offer: trade in a gas or hybrid vehicle and receive 2,000 free Supercharging miles on an eligible new Tesla; miles expire two years after delivery
- ▸Tesla current offer: Model 3 Premium and Performance financing from 1.99% APR for up to 72 months
- ▸Tesla current offer: Model Y RWD/AWD/Premium financing from 1.49% APR; Performance financing from 3.99% APR for up to 72 months
- ▸Tesla current offer: Model Y L Launch Series includes one year each of FSD (Supervised), Premium Connectivity, and Supercharging plus free interior and exterior options
- ▸Tesla lists a $99/month FSD (Supervised) subscription and a 30-day trial with new-vehicle delivery
- ▸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)
Tesla promotions are subject to eligibility rules and may change or end at any time. Prices exclude destination, order, taxes, and other fees unless stated. State and local incentives vary. Verify every offer on Tesla's Current Offers page before purchasing.