Tesla Model S 2016–2021 car dimensions: 4970 mm long, 1964 mm wide and 1445 mm high. Boot space with the seats up is 745 litres.
The cabin centers on a large 17-inch vertical touchscreen that handles climate, media, navigation and most controls with swipe and tap inputs. Dual-zone automatic climate is standard. Basic cruise control comes standard, while traffic-aware adaptive cruise and Autosteer lane-keeping form part of the Autopilot package on many cars. Ultrasonic parking sensors, blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking and a high-definition reversing camera are fitted as standard safety kit. The interior is quiet and minimalist with power-adjustable heated front seats.
Rear cargo holds 745 litres with seats up and expands to 1645 litres with the 60/40 rear seats folded. A front trunk adds extra storage under the hood.
Official manuals list trailer towing as not permissible on this generation, with no factory hitch offered in most markets. Air suspension is available as an option for adjustable ride height but is not reinforced for heavy work use. The car suits passenger and light cargo duties rather than towing or commercial loads.
The cabin is quiet thanks to careful noise engineering paired with the silent electric powertrain. A large 17-inch touchscreen handles most controls. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard along with 12-way power heated front seats with memory. An optional all-glass panoramic roof opens up the space. Optional cold weather package adds heated rear seats and heated steering wheel.
Fully electric with no gasoline fuel required
Service as needed. cabin air filter every 2-3 years, tire rotation every 6,250-10,000 miles, brake fluid check every 4 years
NHTSA 5-star overall rating in frontal, side and rollover tests
IIHS Good in moderate overlap front, side and roof strength. Acceptable in small overlap front. Superior front crash prevention
Standard eight airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, ABS and rearview camera
8-year unlimited-mile battery and drive unit warranty
This is a fully electric vehicle so there is no gasoline or diesel fuel to buy. Charging uses Tesla Superchargers for long trips or a home wall connector and mobile connector for daily use. Battery sizes in this generation support ranges suitable for most driving needs.
Maintenance is light with no oil changes or engine tune-ups. Tesla recommends service on an as-needed basis plus cabin air filter replacement every few years, annual wiper blades, tire rotations at set mileages and brake fluid health checks every four years. Software updates arrive over the air.
Crash tests give the Model S a 5-star NHTSA overall rating. IIHS rates it Good for moderate overlap front, side impact and roof strength with Acceptable for small overlap front. Front crash prevention earns Superior. The aluminum body with boron steel reinforcements and low battery pack center of gravity help. Standard kit includes eight airbags, stability and traction control, ABS and a rearview camera. Autopilot active safety features roll out via updates.
The 8-year unlimited-mile battery and drive unit warranty covers major powertrain costs. Access to the Supercharger network and over-the-air updates help keep the car current and usable for years.
Length 4970 mm, Width 1964 mm, Height 1445 mm, Wheelbase 2960 mm (Model S 2016–2021)
Sources: manufacturer data, Tesla Model S Owner's Manual, auto-data.net Model S facelift 2016 pages, Tesla support specs archive 2017.