Is The Model S Still The EV Benchmark?

[@USUG0]

yoke, the "solution" to a problem that didn't really exist

[@didiermejia780]

Yoke? More like a joke.

[@daflipbizkit]

Yeah.. he was yoking around. ::drum roll::

[@didiermejia780]

@@daflipbizkit hahahaha. Good one

[@oxide9717]

Many users who initially didn't like the yoke say they refer that over the round wheel. MKBHD the guy from hoonigan and Ryan Shaw all say they refer the yoke . It only people who don't even have the car to seem to have strong opinions about the yoke same with iPhone Haters .

[@USUG0]

@@oxide9717 or just delusional. Most people are very good at justifying their own dumb choices. Or, indeed, a choice made for them by the cult leaders. They could have just left customers choose, but then of course almost no one would have chosen it. BTW, yoke is not a problem 99.9% of the time, till that emergency situation when you need to grab up to a wheel that is not there

[@MaxwellWilliams42]

The yoke is a huge step back for accessibility. Wheelchair users like myself need to use one hand to operate the steering wheel, using hand controls with the other for brake/accel. How are people using hand control modifications supposed to do their turn signals? There's no practical way to do so using a Plaid because of the lack of stalks, which are essential for accessibility with current hand control mods.

[@Errhhk]

they assume ppl who are disabled cant afford the car anyway

[@JohnnyZenith]

Yes and you'll notice the lack of criticism on Tesla channels.

[@korswe]

I have a Model S. It's the best car I have ever owned. I have owned mostly Lexus, BMW, MB and Acura.

[@jasanmiguel]

Sorry Alex, but watching you do the 4 point turn highlights what's wrong with Tesla vehicles, and it's the fact that everything goes thru the screen, including transmission shifts!! That's an absolutely crazy recipe for an accident to happen!

[@williamerazo3921]

No accidents yet. Makes you alert

[@Mabeylater293]

Screen shifting is one of its best features. So simple. So intuitive. No looking down and fiddling with a shifter just point and swipe. Doesn’t get any easier than that.

[@justabrokeredneck]

that hair line sure won’t cause any accidents

[@ZelmarDesigns]

So far this is the most objective review on Model S I have seen. I have been owner of this model for six months and Alex is spot on every issue that I have. I have adapted to the yoke steering within 2 weeks. To add my experience: Horn button definitely should be in the middle of yoke, to me it is a safety issue.

[@zipobob1]

I've heard that if you put your palm on the right side of the yoke, it will sound the horn as well.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Agree. Your reflex is just push the large part of the middle of the wheel, not try to locate a pretty small button.

[@jacobtokoly4218]

Horn button is now in the center of the wheel. Tesla will retrofit to the new wheel.

[@kkao33]

Well, human will eventually adapt to any new challenge given to him/her enough time. The question is why to re-invent the wheel when it ain't broken and works perfectly fine to start with? There is absolutely no need for a yoke as whatever a yoke can offer, a wheel can do it better. And not to mention save you 2 weeks of adaptation.

[@Cz007_]

@10:24 the door panel is misaligned as the line on he door doesn't match/line up with the line on the b-pillar

[@mattg9972]

@8:50 it already has a burnt out tail light......

[@barryoppenheim1994]

Great review... I have the exact car...and am also at 3.7 miles / kwh over 8,000 miles. And like you, I grew disappointed with the yoke, and now have an aftermarket round wheel on order. Keep up the great work!

[@walkerb1734]

I’m the owner of a Tesla S and will say I LOVE the yoke steering wheel. The forward visibility you gain is incredible

[@bobbbobb4663]

Door gap and hood gap are not consistent. Btw, I just saw a R1T on the road and those gaps looked uniform.

[@justabrokeredneck]

rivian also doesn’t have the order volume tesla does.

[@bobbbobb4663]

@@justabrokeredneck If quality suffers from a higher volume, then your processes are flawed. Musk doesn’t care about quality and his resume at Tesla is evidence.

[@abdola-g6v]

This is most objective review I've seen. I've had this car for 6 months now. The yoke or stalklessness is not a problem, it's the capacitive horn button, makes no sense.

[@Soh90]

I’m glad you talked about the panel gaps “issue”. I purchased my Model Y in September of last year with nearly perfect panel gaps. And I looked at the other 3’s and Y out for delivery and they were all perfect visually. If you look at any mainstream cad on a lot, you will find misaligned panel gaps.

[@vytenisrupeika6102]

Quality control improved dramatically. Only Tesla hater still bragging about gaps.

[@dearbulls]

Panel gaps don't really bother me, but the interior squeaking does. Build quality is a big issue comparing to the Koreans

[@giabaole2254]

I don't know but our family owned Model 3, X and Y. 3 of them was perfect and no gap, no squeaking sound. We had model x for 2.5 years and put 45k miles, the 3 52k miles and the Y that we just got about 2k miles. Only 1 small issue and Tesla Service came to our house and fixed it, after that nothing wrong with the car and no maintenance too! My friend also have an S ( 2015 ) was over 100k miles with 0 issues too.

[@Brian-jv8iy]

@@giabaole2254 Yes, people said there were no panel gaps in Soviet cars either. Your delusion doesn’t impact is fortunately, let enjoy you family waste their money on overpriced products. Unless these were financed then on payments for overpriced products they can’t afford

[@devaannamalai]

I did have a driver seat squeak in less than 2 months of use. Half day at service center and they did something to fix it. It was gone for a few months and now it’s slightly back again :-/

[@ltkwok]

The 2 things competiters need to catch Tesla in is efficiency, 3.7 miles per kwh is insane for such a large/heavy vehicle, and charging infrastructure. The other car companies need to work closely with the charging providers on standards, location & number of chargers. Customers should not need an app to charge.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

There are a lot more CCS charging locations today than Tesla SuC locations, so that's not really a problem. And yes, CCS is the standard that ALL other manufacturers use these days, even Tesla does in Europe ... so what do you mean that they need to work on standards? The standard exists. It's not their fault that Tesla still hasn't adopted it in North America by now. And efficiency is a matter of finding the balance between form and function. There are more efficient vehicles out there, think for example the classic Ioniq. But people don't want those. They want SUVs, and you can't make those as efficient.

[@Ficon]

3.7 is Tesla's fantasy EPA rating. 2021 cars consistently performed 12-20% below the EPA rating in independent testing, so low 3s. The only thing Tesla is efficient at is cheating on EPA tests.

[@ltkwok]

@@Ficon Watch the video. That’s what Alex said he got. It’s not the 400 miles Tesla claims but still crazy for the weight of the car.

[@ltkwok]

@@Hans-gb4mv What I mean by standard is the software. Each charging company wants you to have a different App. Imagine that at an ICE gas station. No Apps. Just plug, charge & pay. Like a gas station.

[@Ficon]

@@ltkwok That math makes no sense, I think the car is very optimistic about it’s displayed efficiency (so out of character for Tesla, I know). It’s a 100 kWh pack so if you are getting 345 miles of range, you are getting 3.4 mi/kWh at best if the entirety of the pack is usable. There has literally never been a Tesla that could get within 10-20% of its EPA range in independent testing. 3.6 mi/kWh is the EPA rating which suggests the battery is 12% bigger than the stated 100 kWh to get the unobtainable 405 miles of range. Buying a 400-mile EV that’s actually a 200-300 mile EV (Teslas continue to do terribly at 75 mph cruise testing) is a big difference.

[@N8844H]

That awkward yoke is a nod to the sort of controls you find on some aircraft. Just as the fins found on 1950's autos was a nod to the jet age. And just as hilarious.

[@M1911jln]

Yokes are fine on aircraft because 1) limited range of motion for an aircraft and 2) you don't do a 4-point turn in an aircraft (if you do, then a tow bar is attached the aircraft nose gear and the parking is being performed by the tug driver, not the pilot). But cars aren't aircraft.

[@kyrosmike]

also steer an airplane with your feet

[@JW77]

It's designed for boys, by boys. Just silly.

[@thedumbconspirator4956]

T sportline sells a really great kit for the yoke-steering wheel conversion. Still retains its factory looks except now you have a top. It's really polished imo. For extra you can also get it bolstered and leather wrapped I think

[@sprockkets]

I've read that even with the short range, people who had the EV1 begged GM to keep them. It was just ahead of its time, and was too expensive for GM to keep going.

[@justin9152]

Short range and charge time. Plus it was using lead acid batteries.

[@sprockkets]

@@justin9152 They switched to nimh though. Still, people wanted it. But it cost GM reportedly hundreds of thousands for each one.

[@justin9152]

@@sprockkets no doubt people wanted them, but I mean many things had to come into place before it was practical for most people.

[@torpedan]

People may have been begging GM to keep the cars, but in the grand scheme of things that message really doesn’t mean a lot. GM produced about 1000 of them and the vehicles were expensive and had lots of limitations when compared to what the market actually wanted. In a market the size of California it’s reasonable to speculate that there are that many people who would be thrilled to have the vehicle despite the cost and the limitations it had. At the same time GM also sunk around $1 billion into the program and they needed on the order of 6 to 7 years of strong sales to break even. Demand for the car was weak and GM ended the program when they could, presumably to cut their losses and not fall into a sunk cost trap.

[@apl175]

Well....my jaw dropped. "That is the only flaw I can find." and A/A+/A across the board.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

For $100k it ought to…

[@underscorechaz]

And now it has a wheel, and it’s 75 grand 😂

[@hellkitty1014]

The Plaid is all about warp speed and it is nice. But, the new standard is Lucid, IMO. It blends real luxury and speed, with better build quality than the Model S(a 10 year old vehicle FYI). And it isn't just about panel gaps. Paint quality, interior quality/materials, and other bits all matter on a $100K+ (those Kia/Hyundai/BMW models do not cost what this does, so fair is fair). In terms of the EV1, GM themselves cannibalized their own car. They wouldn't allow anyone to purchase the car, rather leased them. The popularity was pretty high, given the time. Yet, they made all lessees return them and they were crushed.

[@Curryolla]

Lucid certainly is impressive! It's efficiency spanks the Model S. But, I'm not so sure about build quality. I've seen some videos and the Lucid build quality was worse than Tesla! I'm also concerned about servicing a Lucid. But my goodness, I was torn between ordering a Lucid Air Touring or a Model S Long Range. I went with the Model S...but I keep thinking if I could make the Lucid work.

[@M1911jln]

I had hoped Lucid would be the anti-Tesla, with a similarly sophisticated drivetrain and battery efficiency, but with better build quality. Unfortunately, if anything, Lucid quality appears to be ever worse than Tesla. Watch Edmund's test of the Lucid Air, with door handles that often didn't work and many other problems.

[@hellkitty1014]

I've seen some of the issues on Lucid, but I've also seen reviews where the cars had no issues(see Doug Demuro for instance). Tesla's R&D budget makes Lucid look like the USA compared to Estonia. Yet, this 10 year old car still has build quality issues is all that I'm saying. Lucid has been around less than 2 years on the public market. Tesla has 5 models out with huge plants. Dont get me wrong, Tesla is still the one to beat. But at a $100K+, you should expect better, especially with the competition heating up by the day.

[@4literv6]

@@hellkitty1014 lucids parent co existed in 2007, the air first debuted in early 2016, they started taking people's deposits that summer. The running gear for the air was actually shown off in a converted cargo van beating a then pretty quick p85d in a drag race. Lucid has raised as much $ as tesla has in its entire existence already. They also built a ground up brand new ev plant amp-1 in 12 month's, yet haven't had any kind of demonstrable ramp in production. Rawlinson himself boasted in multiple interviews going back to 2020 they wouldn't go through any production hell. Yeah that didn't age so well now did it. The recent article on employees from corporate called down to build cars using amazon parts. 😀 Multiple reviews done by people being paid to ppf and detail lucid airs. Have shown they have very similar build quality issue's as some teslas still do. With trim not fitting, door opening issues, gaps not being uniform, re spray or overspray issue's, wildly different paint thickness etc. Edmunds also hates elon and tesla, so they easily could've praised the air to put down tesla. Yet they showed some very interesting flaws and concerns with the actual production spec air they tested. Not to mention the controversy over it's battery pack size. Per Edmunds the air took over 144kwhs to recharge from completely empty. Which means rawlinson lied again. As he publicly stated multiple times lucid wouldn't just slap a huge battery under the air to get a long range. Yet the air has a pack near or over the rivian r1t in total useable kwhs. And Edmunds wasn't the only one to use a lot more energy than the listed capacity on a range test either. Tom muloghney from inside evs used over 134kwhs on the air he tested to recharge it from full. 🤔

[@ct1904]

I’ve seen videos of Lucids with some massive panel gaps, comparable to the worst teslas. Lucid does have a nicer interior, but it’s also way more expensive with less performance. I also find it uglier than the S

[@victorduru]

They need to fire the person that greenlit that steering wheel ugh

[@hellkitty1014]

Lexus: Me too bro.🤣

[@giabaole2254]

Hey Alex, the new model s 2022 the front and the back motor actually use the same permanent magnet motor! Not induction motor anymore. You can check it.

[@tomdrummy4984]

The yoke and the huge vertical screen is a no for me. I prefer the ioniq5 dash style.

[@handelrussell1858]

Vertical?

[@kristians2704]

the vertical screen is by far the best screen in any car

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It seems Lexus has come up with a yoke that has adaptive input and short lock to lock. It's an implementation of the yoke I'm curious to see reviewed. But I prefer just a regular round steering wheel. Even flat bottomed ones don't appeal to me as much as round ones.

[@ChosenMJ]

@@kristians2704 The OLDER S models had vertical screens. This one is not vertical but horizontal.

[@kristians2704]

@@ChosenMJ yeah, my mistake

[@wilber8260]

Why do you say it has a rear induction motor? My 2022 MS delivered in January says permanent magnet f ront and rear. Both the in car screen and the Monroney sticker say this.

[@臺灣是國家臺灣是國家]

Awesome review again Alex. You are super thorough & I would certainly take your reviews into account when buying/leasing a new car. Not a fan of Elon any more or the look of Tesla’s product except the model S. However I still take my hat off to Elon & Tesla on how they have shaken the industry at its very core & forced it to make changes for the better.

[@Brian-jv8iy]

Before any Tesla car gained traction or sold in any meaningful numbers, most of the manufacturers already started coming out with their cars that were much better offerings. Also for most of the previous decade, a different car was a best selling EV.

[@james2042]

For the steering wheel I could honestly see a knob going right where your thumb is, that you put your hand on, kind of like a valve. But these issues could be resolved simply by not using a stupid steering wheel, or at least offering a choice (and most would order it with the regular wheel lol)

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Perhaps the yoke flipped 180deg would work better 🤞🏻 Exterior shape still looks great on the S.

[@tri3pleagent]

Is it still the benchmark? From a certain perspective. But that design simply hasn't changed very much.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Right. It can only be a benchmark within it's own sedan-type and price category.

[@thedumbconspirator4956]

I think it's good the design hasnt changed. It's a good looking sedan as it is. They aren't wasting time and resources in a new look. Cars like the 911, range Rover, and dodge challenger all retain their looks and it's a great way to future proof the car.

[@thedumbconspirator4956]

@@davidmccarthy6061 depending on how you look at it. In terms of a performance, efficiency, and value standpoint it is. And it also serves as a great benchmark for electric cars in general as multiple OEMs have been caught testing the plaid. However in quality it isn't really a leader.

[@thedumbconspirator4956]

That being said model 3/y do need a redesign. Those don't look nearly as nice as S/X

[@acorb87]

Thanks for the review, Alex! Regarding road noise. Tesla initially advertised active noise cancellation, but I haven't see any reviews that mention this feature. Were you able to verify this is actually in the vehicle, and if so, can you turn it on and off to see the difference it makes?

[@jasondavis2945]

It was just recently turned on in a update and I did watch a video from out of spec motoring or one of their sub channels (has a full wheel and stalks in it) and he tested it and said something along the lines of "it's not much of a change" but not sure if there are ways that's you can adjust it or not.

[@drive-channel1834]

It has the best center consol setup of any vehicle in the world. That storage setup is ultra-genius. Can we get a Model S with: * normal round steering wheel * regular dual stalks * extra steering wheel switches like this yoke, For some handy shortcuts. Not turn signals of course, it has a stalk for that. * physical buttons/switches/knobs array for Air Conditioning control, below the display. ?

[@ArvindSingh-hf2zd]

Always thankful for your reviews 👍🏽

[@heathwirt8919]

Glad to see the fit and finish greatly improved in this latest model S, but disagree with your opinion that it's not important. In fact it's very important and is a general indicator of the overall build quality of the vehicle in areas we can't generally see. With a 100K price tag the build quality should approach perfection. The Yoke steering wheel is a gimmick, a round wheel with a flattened bottom section to make ingress and egress easier is preferable and does not impact low speed maneuvering like the yoke. Overall the car performed excellent in driving dynamics. Thanks for the great review Alex.

[@hkevinmiami]

He’s make an effort justify build quality and it in fact does affect the car and the experience. Tesla has a history of poor build quality. He has taken 1 bmw and it speaks for all build quality for all bmw in history. Poor paint quality, and fogged / condensation lamps. Things that I have mentioned and well as others are not debatable fix it. I did drive an S today. It was a great car but some cheap parts inside. The yoke was okay. But after driving it I think a round wheel is best after trying to do a u turn.

[@james2042]

Tesla announced within the last few days they will be switching to CCS chargers, and upgrading superchargers to CCS and opening them to the public. Huge step in the right direction for tesla and EV's as a whole

[@4literv6]

Step back imo, the tesla connector is superior to the ccs1 standard. Smaller, easier to maneuver, better cooling and proven for over a decade up to 250kwhs. Not to mention in the US over 80% of all evs on the road today are teslas. And with freemont increasing capacity by 20% this year, plus the world hq opening in tx. That percentage isn't likely to change for at least another 3-5 year's. So no switching to ccs is not a step forward for anyone except the competition. It does tesla no favors other than potential access to the infastructure funding and sc fees increasing for none tesla users. 👍🏻

[@james2042]

@@4literv6 tesla already uses ccs in every other market. It's only the US allowing a company to use a proprietary plug. Tesla said they'd license the tech out back in 12 and thought superchargers would dominate the charging infrastructure, but everyone chosing an open standard vs making their own proprietary plugs forced tesla to back down from their plug. Imagine if gas stations had proprietary nozzles, everyone would lose their shit

[@4literv6]

@@james2042 more uniformed fud and lies. Tesla developed their standard because chademo was the only other plug available in late 2009. And it was stuck around 50kwhs, they wanted to go much faster. The first superchargers in 2012 could do double that speed. Just like tesla to actually lead, and they made their patents open source by 2015 to. Educate yourself next time before spreading more misinformation. 👍🏻 I noticed how you also failed utterly and completely to even acknowledge the simple truth of how 80% of all evs on us roads are teslas. And with freemont expanding and tx opening that isn't going to change by any significant amount anytime soon either. Thereby and imo choosing to intentionally install non tesla compatible plugs, it SLOWS DOWN EV adoption not increases it and onky benefits non tesla owners which are the minority of all ev owners in the U.S. But someone with your comment history rarely does acknowledge other's relevant point's.

[@james2042]

@@4literv6 By the time tesla made their plugs public, the CCS charger was already officialized, if tesla truly wanted to make their charging infrastructure open to the public they would have had it open from the start. Elon is not as nice of a guy as all the tesla fanboys hype him up to be Teslas only make a large portion of EV's in north america, they are no where near as dominant in other markets. And this is only since about 2019. Before that, tesla was still a low volume automaker and right in line with other EV's. It would of been very easy for tesla to make the switch to CCS back then and not have this major conflict of proprietary chargers. In europe, people are smart enough to not buy proprietary shit, and when tesla tried the tesla connector there, it simply failed and tesla was forced to change it early on. In america, consumerism allowed it, but its days are numbered and they know it which is why they're swapping This is the same thing thing that happened to apple with the lightning connector for iphones. The lightning connector is severely outdated and outclassed by usb-c, but apple prevails with it because of their market position and political power. The EU is about to bring an end to the port by force, demanding all phones use usb-c going forward. I acknowledge your points, I also know you think tesla is the greatest thing since sliced bread and probably ignore all their anti consumer policies and anti-reparable designs.

[@joetacchino4470]

also, Alex you are 100% right about the panel gaps. It’s a non issue. No better or worse than most OEM’s. What still sucks, though, is actual parts quality. A Model 3 is cheap as hell inside. Door cards, seats, center console are especially flimsy. I liken it to first Gen Acura MDX level of parts quality. Close to 20 years behind. I guess it’s one way to keep the Model 3 dual motor weighing in at less than 4100 lbs which is a lot lighter than an i4 and comparable to a 340/440i. But it’s cheap. Not nice.

[@juliet4093]

The car is 100k it shouldn’t have gaps, other expensive cars don’t, nor do economical cars

[@t1328]

Great review. Other than that steering wheel, they should really give people the option of adding CarPlay or Android Auto in my view. But I couldn’t afford a Model S either way.

[@williamerazo3921]

Lol. You think Tesla want another software in there cars

[@t1328]

@@williamerazo3921 no I don’t. In fact I know they don’t. But as much as their infotainment systems are very good, they’re lacking CarPlay features that I personally rely on. So one can always hope. For now; I’m happily driving a Hyundai Ioniq 5 that has CarPlay, a heads up display, etc. Preferring it by far to my Model Y.

[@justin9152]

@@t1328 It seems the industry is gonna move forward with Android Automotive anyway, Android OS built into the dash, there are some like Toyota trying to create their own, not sure how that software will turn out.

[@t1328]

@@justin9152 yeah, right now based on Volvo and a few others, it’s looking that way, but at least that allows for things like using Waze, Audible, Apple Music (or any choice of music player other than Spotify or Tidal), responding to messages from WhatsApp and even MS Teams and Zoom, like CarPlay and regular Android Auto does. Given how much better Ok Google is at voice recognition than any car’s infotainment, it doesn’t surprise me. But I do think even car manufacturers that go that way will have to add CarPlay support to maintain their customer base. Volvo and Polestar both promise to add it (although that promise has been sitting there for a while). Time will tell. At the end of the day, I think Tesla would benefit from adding support for both CarPlay and AndroidAuto. Having its own app ecosystem hasn’t worked out that great for Tesla, with many of the Tesla versions of the apps, really being inferior to those same apps on the phone or on CarPlay or AA. Great example is Spotify. It’s implementation on Tesla absolutely sucks.

[@mrnobody1816]

TESLA is still a front runner but they're not there by themselves anymore, IMO. This is probably the wrong thread to say this but: I think it depends on your budget/what you're willing to pay to enter the EV market. I just picked up a, battery replaced, Bolt EV in like new condition for $26k....yes.....$26k! GM certified used vehicle with a new 80k mile warranty. You can barely find a Corolla for that. I love Tesla. But no way I'm paying 50-100k + when I can enter the ev market for what amounts to nothing.

[@rayshepherd2479]

The 2023 charge port is not lit up like previous model s. When it's dark out it's harder to plug in. It also comes standard with a round steering wheel and base cost is $74,990. I just wish it came with stocks for turn signals.

[@LifelongMusicJunkie]

Excellent review of the Model S!! Mine arrives on Dec 29th and is on a shipping container as I type! Cheers

[@wilber8260]

Thanks for a good review. BUT as a 2022 MS owner for six months now, I disagree about the usefulness of the yoke. I like it. For the first month I grabbed it the same way you did and felt frustrated. Then, I found a youtube video by an MS owner who explained that the Yoke works MUCH better if you keep your hands on the flat lower portion of the wheel at least 90% of the time. You didnt try that in this video. I tried it and made the Yoke much more useful for all maneuvers and I now love the yoke!

[@JuanCarlosLTO]

This is the best, most comprehensive review I’ve seen on the Model S. You knocked it out of the park when you did the comparison in panel gaps with the BMW i4. $100k is a lot of money but I rather drive this than anything comparable. I just drove a 2018 and found it to be great but I really want to see about this suspension upgrade. The steering wheel needs to go

[@justin9152]

Also needs a redesign, the Model S looks really dated, especially looking at it from the front.

[@JuanCarlosLTO]

@@justin9152 I agree! I think it has looked dated for a few years now.

[@justin9152]

@@JuanCarlosLTO It's still a sleek looking car. Probably my favorite of all the Tesla's thus far. But it does look like it's from the early 2010s.

[@JuanCarlosLTO]

@@justin9152 I’ve thought about it. Car designs prototypes are conceived regularly every 5 years so by the time they hit the lot the idea has been around for a long time. The S looks (IMO) like products from the mid 2000’s; like my 2007 Lexus IS350, obviously with crucial differences due to the nature of the EV platform etc. I like how some EV’s are starting to look more like regular cars, like the i4, even the Lightning, just a regular truck. I also like the Taycan, a lot!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@justin9152 Right. And a redesign doesn't have to be anything dramatic. Just something evolutionary. A lot of Tesla fans go on about the cars being "timeless" but they aren't. Porsche has redesigned their cars but the redesigns are evolutionary. That's what Tesla should consider doing. And sooner or later, they have to add more richness to the interior. You can have a minimalistic interior and have it feel rich. That's what Polestar looks to have done in their Precept to Polestar 5 or say NIO has done with the ET7.

[@robp3431]

Really nice to see the yoke in action on winding roads....so awkward. Otherwise, an awesome product.

[@Mr_57ChargerRT]

@5:22 At that price point, the build quality should be near 100% 👌👍

[@broosewee]

Fair review and excellent points made.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It's not the panel gaps that bother me about Tesla's build quality unless they're egregious. It's some other aspects of fit and finish. But mostly it's rigidity of the body structure that doesn't measure up to other cars. So, in that respect I don't find them to equal Hyunda/Kia and certainly not BMW or Audi or Volvo that all have very stout feeling body solidity. The S is an attractive car IMO and the interior refresh is good. But I'm not a Tesla guy. I respect the efficiency and some aspects of the performance. And the S does have a much better ride than the Y or 3. Tesla's charging network is reliable. I'm not big on tech except for sentry mode and recording. The tech I like to see is more rear steering and anything that enhances the refinement in the over the road experience as a car is not a computer. It's a vehicle IMO. Volvo does restyle their exteriors. For instance, a 2014 Volvo s60 does not look like the current model, inside or out. In fact, it's much different. The platform is different but the body is completely different. The Model S doesn't look terribly dated but it does look a bit dated in the exterior and the 3 and Y are aging as well. Tesla should think of updating the exterior look of their cars and the interior as well. As much as some Tesla fans like them and think they're "timeless," most people want a fresher design. And Tesla has shown they'll update the interiors as they've done an extensive one of the S and X and a noticeable one on the console area of the 3 and Y. One more thing I want to say about Tesla is I think they made electric cars more appealing because they were more conventional. The S looks aerodynamic but conventional. The 3 does as well. The Y looks like a big 3 and not as successful and the X maybe is the least conventional one. They emphasize speed and performance, conventional aspects of cars that appeal to consumers. Cars like the BMW i3 weren't conventional. The interior materials were "sustainable" and different than BMW's usual and the dash wood treatment and the suicide doors were very different. It was more like a city or town car and not as good on the highway. So, while the tablet thing may have been somewhat new, the overall look of the interior, though especially stark on the 3 and Y, is fairly conventional as are the values of speed and performance.

[@samhan3168]

please review Lucid AIR

[@InternetDude]

I've owned two Model S over the course of 6 years. Tesla has become a lifestyle brand more than a car company. Quality and support isn't as good as traditional automakers. Hype is Tesla's #1 product. Fun car tho

[@Neji1984]

Why don't you own them any longer?

[@InternetDude]

@@Neji1984 too many problems 13 service visits in 2.5 years on my second car that I thought would be better. For the money they are 100% not worth it

[@Greggory1987]

Great video! But I drive a Model X and I actually love driving with the yoke. It took me about a week or so to get used to it. But the yoke is really fabulous.

[@JohnGlennSpace]

I didn’t think the front headrests were height adjustable.

[@garyclark6747]

The oldest benchmark but that bar has been significantly raised. It set the standard that many are still targeting but others have superseded easily. It may be from different manufacturers but collectively they have taken every metric Tesla was best at. Any model Lucid makes goes further than any Tesla and arguably is more equipped as a luxury sedan.

[@MaazJilani]

This is one of the most accurate and Informative reviews I’ve seen. Thank you for doing your homework before filming and presenting. Great work!

[@shupengyu8558]

9:50 forgot to blur license plate

[@aliendroneservices6621]

4:49 Alex obliquely references Tesla's famous "whompy wheel" problem.

[@sorgill99]

Alex, did you notice any front drivetrain vibration between 30-45mph as some refresh owners have noted on forums?

[@KennyKo39]

I've had it happen once on this vehicle but never felt it again. If I do though anc it's repeatable I'll file a service request to get the half shafts replaced

[@rogue13131313]

How is that steering yoke legal?

[@MrAircraftGuy]

Alex, go online and get a steering wheel knob. I use one on all of my cars and trucks. I pull a lot of trailers and I find that the knob is worth it’s weight in gold when backing a trailer as well as during 3 point turns. But this will solve your problem with the wheel, rather than going through the steering wheel replacement BS.

[@amperformance7998]

I'm pretty sure those knobs are not street legal...

[@nc3826]

BEVs such as the KIA Niro EV (and the F-150 Lightning) proved that a flexibly designed architecture, can be just as efficient for battery packaging as ground up/bespoke designs. Plus the fact that Model S has been modified to be powered by an ICE proves it. A vehicle's outer sheet metal does not make it an EV or an ICEV. It just takes changing a few appropriate parts.

[@Tinrs80]

Alex that old Subaru XT that had the odd windows.. was its steering wheel considered a yoke?

[@sloanNYC]

Compared to the Ioniq 5 and EV6 the Tesla line up right now looks boring and old. While the interior it comes down to whether you want to use a single screen for anything or want some actual hard controls.

[@windtherapy99]

If it’s got a yoke, it needs steer by wire like the Lexus RZ instead of normal direct steering.

[@Curryolla]

This makes me even more excited for my Model S Long Range I have on order. Great handling, great ride comfort, great efficiency. That's a pretty impressive report card. And, if the only issue is the yoke...fine by me! I hardly use my steering wheel on my Model Y with FSD Beta! Ha!

[@chrisw443]

till you gotta parallel park it lol

[@Curryolla]

@@chrisw443 I did get it with FSD, so it'll have Autopark. Works pretty well on my Model Y.

[@ChosenMJ]

@@chrisw443 If you already know how to park what's the problem plus the car can park itself too. Hater. 🤣🤣🤣

[@kkao33]

Incremental update means logistic nightmare for spare part since there are so many combination variation and extra spare part. One could argue that you just need to have smart design of new parts to make it backward compatible. But judging by some car disassembly video, parts can be very different just for a model year difference. So it's not surprising that Tesla is having huge problem on spare parts availability and service center not able to fix car.

[@devaannamalai]

Mudguards. Where are the factory installed mudguards? I bought a mudguard from Tesla store (they only sell for front wheels) and it keeps scraping the ground due to suspension action.

[@USUG0]

the hood is definitely the same since 2012!

[@TalismanPHX]

I'll take a Lucid Air Sedan for 100 grand.

[@Ramneek22]

Isn’t it $160

[@devaannamalai]

Alex, I always respect your spot on reviews but as 6 month Model S owner, you lost me on the 10/10 rating on the driver seat comfort. This seat is very mediocre and the Toyotas/BMWs I have owned in the past have better seat comfort.

[@marcusmartinez3692]

Why doesn't anyone talk about this car's incredible sound system? I have seen many videos but no one talks about the sound system it just makes your head explode

[@tayloranderson456]

Is this really the same decibels as a Subaru Forester? I think you said that was 71 and the Tesla is was 70?

[@iSina93]

The horn this is even weirder than the yoke

[@SteveSabbai]

That Half Steering Wheel looks absolutely impractical. I would rather have the full steering wheel for making full turns. I never understood why designers change things that dont need to be changed. Silly Humans.

[@jbmcdoogle]

I just don't get why the Model S and 3 have that goofy brake light blinker combo thing. Model X and Y have amber indicators.

[@mrelalemever]

That 4 point turn was so painful to watch with the yoke and the touchscreen transmission.

[@Wised1000]

Aero covers. My 1980 citation had those to but we called the hubcaps. How Gauche.

[@almohndes9]

What happened to 4K :D

[@jeromep3182]

You know it’s nice and all but the 1 EV car I can’t wait to see Alex review and the 1 EV car if I had to choose would be the new BMW I7 what I love VS all these others cars is that they actually took the time to sculpt a unique, stunning, and luxurious interior not short cut and make a minimal interior

[@Wised1000]

It looks like a hearse. Ugliest BMW in history. Yesterday I saw a 635i, now that was BMW's best design EVER. Its all been downhill since then. It still looks fresh 40 years later.

[@scottbreseke716]

@@Wised1000 Batmobile, not hearse.

[@GabeVeasey]

I see the Model S as my dream car, but I am not a big fan of the yoke steering wheel.

[@newfguy1826]

glass roof too reflective of audio

[@aurorajones8481]

Nope. The car seems old. Because IT IS!!!! The S is half way through what should be a true ground up Gen 2 S. The Interior is a good upgrade but the exterior needs some attention. I dunno given who Tesla is Im not seeing a real replacement for this car for at least 3 -4 years. Thats crazy.

[@Canaz73]

AA is the best reviewer out there!

[@flashsushi1843]

So when are dual motor Tesla vehicles getting real torque vectoring? So far, it's only the Plaid that has it. That technology trickling down would convince me that Tesla's are high up in the technology and performance ranking. Not really sure what is so advance with a Tesla when so many complain about charging, range, etc. On Tesla Motor Club. They may be the minority but still the variances among owner experience seems to suggest many EV buyers didn't bother doing research before taking the plunge.

[@joetacchino4470]

Finally got a chance to sit in one last week so disappointing. Should have skipped the yoke and raised the back seat so humans can comfortably sit. Still haven’t fixed that in 10 years. Such a shame, they do the EV thing so well but get the car part so happenstance.

[@JT-fq2bl]

SMH. That yoke steering wheel and the placement of the buttons are a no for me. I rather deal with the Mercedes and I don't like Mercedes.

[@weirdshibainu]

True. A "solution " in search of a problem

[@M1911jln]

@@weirdshibainu It's worse than that. The standard solution -- a round steering wheel -- is far superior to the yoke in usability and safety.

[@weirdshibainu]

@@M1911jln I concur. I just don't see what this accomplishes.

[@Xemnas103]

The Model S design is timeless, it may be 10 years old but it stills looks good today.

[@rcube168]

When will you review the Tesla Model X?

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I think we're going to rent one on Turo next month for review.

[@daflipbizkit]

I agree it’s function as an EV is the benchmark. Motors and battery that others right now are barely touching albiet for a higher price are what makes it appealing. It’s form, though, as is changes things that need not be changed ala yoke, is where it loses that appeal makes it a benchmark with a caveat. Many here agree that when Lord Musk wants something changed on a car that was controlled one way for decades doesnt make the car better, in fact is can make is unsafe. Say When you need to honk at someone for safety reasons, instead of the split second reaction straight to the center of the wheel to activate it, you have to look down at your steering wheel, locate the honk and proceed to press it and then accidentally press your wipers… you get where I’m going with this.

[@hugosousaeng]

Nice review ... a little bit formated but finally a nice clear Tesla review... But missing points to consider: - Best passive safety; -Best active safety; -Best assistance; - Best power train; - Best structure; - Best battery pack; - Best battery BMS; - Best consistency in performance;

[@Wised1000]

The interior still looks befitting to a 1990 mid priced GM product. The yoke is a superbly stupid design. Lest we forget this thing as expensive as an EQS!

[@OnboardG1]

Tesla produce great cars but undermine them with their mania about being unconventional (and not in a charming way like Saab or old Citroens). The yoke has been dragged sufficiently, but why put everything on capacitive controls and touch screens? It doesn’t offer adequate feedback to the driver (no, autopilot isn’t an excuse since you’re not going to be in it all the time). A nice high-quality, single-purpose switch gives haptic feedback to indicate a successful actuation, so you don’t need to look at the screen. It doesn’t even need to be a lot of buttons. You could have a minimalist bar of shortcuts for the AC, seat heaters and hazards under the touch screen and it wouldn’t disrupt the interior design experience.

[@seanparks1675]

I drove a Model S Plaid and hated the steering wheel. Cool for a video game, not cool in real life with lots of horsepower.

[@Luma_29]

This design will never feel dated imo

[@Carfan678]

Ehh the rear end is starting to look old

[@Luma_29]

@@Carfan678 I’ll give you that ngl

[@justin9152]

Def looks like a car from the early 2010s, somehow though the Model X looks ancient even though it's newer.

[@whiteandnerdytuba]

Cars advertised based on lies and fraud would tend to be polarizing. You flirted with that line by comparing it to cars that start at half the price, this price competes with the g90, a8, 7 series, full size luxury cars.

[@InvestBetter.]

The Tesla Model S With a badge you can buy on eBay, and a better set of rims, anybody can drive a Plaid for under $100k

[@bradweinberger6907]

Since this was filmed, Tesla has said they are going to open up their charging network to non Teslas. Zoo that CCS adapter will be available stateside soon I think

[@SaltCritters]

I'd take the Yoke anyday over a normal wheel.

[@nc3826]

To ask if a vehicle a Benchmark. Shouldn't it be a comparison test?

[@SteveSabbai]

Still waiting for the "$25,000 Tesla".

[@scottbreseke716]

Today, on the Tesla website, there is now an option for the Rear Wheel Drive Model 3. If you choose the 18" wheels, then range is 272 and 0-60 is 5.8 seconds. Price: $46,990.

[@kyrosmike]

So Lexus only one cares about gap anymore

[@chrispnw2547]

As configured this vehicle is $100K. When you factor in the price , features, and 2020-2021 quality ratings, the Model S is clearly not a benchmark from an ownership perspective. Tesla (the billionaire CEO) has had years to build up a support network appropriate for a $100K+ asking price and has chosen to not do so. For a consumer luxury is respecting the owners time and demonstrating attention to detail. Tesla remains sub-par in these areas. FYI FSD was talked about from the release of the Model S and consumers are still waiting. Many would consider FSD fraud and misrepresentation. The fact that Alex has to borrow a vehicle from an owner because Elon does not want to provide vehicles for long-term review (to assess initial and long-term reliability) speaks volumes. Hard pass on the Model S/Y in 2022.

[@ChosenMJ]

Not for me. I will be ordering one later on this year. 😁

[@obiflex]

The benchmark for EVs is the Lucid Air, period

[@hereigoagain5050]

I grabbed my table watching Alex steer around hairpin turns with the yoke. I'd like Tesla even more if Elon lost his smartphone. :)

[@kubi0461]

I just can never get over the design of the flat front. It looks like someone with their mouth melted shut that gives me a creepy vibe. Think of the scene early in the matrix. I just can't unsee it when I see the front of a tesla. Maybe I can draw a grill on with crayon.

[@jamiemcgrath1292]

Omg funny you say this. I’ve never felt this way until I saw a black Model S with no headlight on the other day. I was like what the heck is this weird looking thing almost flat on the ground. It really did give me a creepy vibe. But with the headlight on it looked fine though.

[@justin9152]

This is looking quite old.

[@im_jeff]

Don't worry. You won't be able to afford it anyway.

[@justin9152]

@@im_jeff My Tesla stock gains could nearly pay for a brand new one.

[@rogue13131313]

That damn yoke looks so f'ing clumsy when he's turning... Geezus... Why!?... So ridiculous.

[@ChosenMJ]

Aren't you lucky you don't have one! 🤣🤣🤣