EV Review: 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid

Photo Credits: Tesla Media and Press Gallery

The Future of Driving

Overview

Performance: Three electric motors, 1,020 horsepower

Mileage estimate: Up to 396 electric miles

Price estimate: From $130,000

—

Warranty: 4 years / 36,000 miles

Drivetrain Warranty: 8 years / 120,000 miles

Corrosion Warranty: 12 years / 100,000 miles

Battery Warranty: 8 years / 150,000 miles

2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Review

Intro

The latest Tesla vehicle can attribute its name to a goofy 1987 Mel Brooks movie – Spaceballs – a Star Wars parody that will keep one laughing throughout if a penchant for silliness happens to inhabit your DNA makeup.

In contrast, there’s nothing funny regarding the 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid, a ridiculously fast version of the company’s flagship all-electric midsize sedan. Speed is at the core of the latest Tesla to hit the streets and reportedly travel up to 200 mph if properly equipped.

So, what’s the Spaceballs connection? In the movie – that features John Candy, Rick Moranis, Brooks, Joan Rivers, and other notable comic actors – stars streak by as the spaceship hits “ludicrous” speed. It’s going so fast that instead of leaving a typical white streak in space, it leaves a plaid trail.

Although it may not seem like it, the Model S has been around since 2012. The vehicle enjoyed high sales of 25,745 in 2018 and last year finished with 17,500.

Tesla admirers know ludicrous speed is part of the standard Tesla Model S makeup that provides a significant power boost. The new Plaid version of the Tesla S takes it one step further. Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims the Plaid model goes 0-60 mph in a crazy-fast 1.99 seconds, arguably the quickest ever track time of any production car.

“You can pick this motor up with your hands, and it can accelerate a two-ton car to 60 miles an hour in under 2 seconds. That kind of power-to-weight is insane,” Musk said in a June 2021 press conference introducing sales of the Plaid.

Exterior Style

The Tesla Plaid is slightly lighter, longer, and lower than the previous Model S. Keeping with Tesla tradition; there’s nothing outrageous concerning the exterior of the S Plaid –it’s a rather long, appealing sedan with a sweeping roofline.

Interior Space

Known for its understated cabins, the Tesla Plaid follows the blueprint. It doesn’t look fancy or too intimidating, despite its considerable technology. The dominant features are a new horizontal 17-inch center touchscreen display and a separate 8-inch entertainment display for rear passengers.

The 17-inch touchscreen is more user-friendly than previous models, yet mastering the menu will still take some time. Tesla’s switch to touch-sensitive buttons has made simple everyday actions more distracting for the driver. There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration.

Seating is comfortable and roomy with the exception of the back seat, which has a sloping tinted glass roof that can be bothersome for taller individuals. The cargo area is 25 cubic feet in the trunk and 3.1 cubes in the frunk (small front trunk).

Steering, Braking, and Other Features

Besides the sticker price, another possible downside to the Tesla Plaid is the controversial yoke steering wheel that has a rectangular shape one typically finds in a jet. Unlike the traditional circular steering wheel, some drivers feel the yoke makes turning more awkward in certain situations.

It’s mandatory in all Plaids, so if you prefer a traditional steering wheel, too bad, it’s not going to happen. The yoke may take some time for drivers to feel comfortable with the steering. Other than the steering wheel, the Plaid is very agile, corners well, and holds the line on curvy roads.

The Plaid is equipped with adjustable levels of regenerative braking, which means some folks might rarely use the brake pedal.

Standard safety features include front and rear parking sensors, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning and lane-keeping system, and adaptive cruise control.

Charging and Range

The range dips to 348 miles with the optional 21-inch wheels. Charging takes 27 minutes, going from 20 percent to 80 percent with a V3 Supercharger (250 kW). A 7.4kW home wall box takes around 14 hours, going from zero to fully charged.

Performance and Speed

The three-motor-powered sedan produces a mind-boggling 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. The 4,766-pound Plaid has a huge 100-kWh battery pack, comes with all-wheel drive, and has a sizable range of 396 miles before a charge is required.

Conclusion

Tesla continues its innovative ways with the introduction of the 2022 Model S Plaid. Its performance is off the charts, and overall, it advances the Tesla brand a little further.

–  J.W.

User Video Review: 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid