The Poor Man's Plaid - The New Model S Long Range (Full Review)

The original Model S, launched in 2012, was a great car, but it lacked essential creature comforts like parking sensors and heated rear seats. Now 10 years later, Tesla released a new Model S for 2021 and people are saying it’s just a minor update to the same car Tesla sold a decade ago. We spent two weeks driving one all around the country and even set the new EV Cannonball record (twice) with it. So with the appearance largely the same, we set out to find out if the haters were right, is the 2021 Model S just a minor evolution or a revolutionary new vehicle.

0:03 - Introduction
1:34 - Overview/Comparisons to other Teslas
3:03 - Drive Quality
4:08 - Charging Speed Improvement
4:39 - Exterior Updates
5:18 - Thoughts on the Yoke
6:25 - UI on the new 17" Touchscreen
7:56 - Cargo Space/Layout
9:01 - Closures issues in our test vehicle
9:28 - Final Thoughts

Did we miss anything in our video? Let us know in the comments below and we'll answer as many questions as we can.

#Tesla #ModelS #PoorMansPlaid
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The Kilowatts | @KLWTTS
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[jamespaul]

I ordered a Plaid and a Long Range model S Jan 28 2021. I got the Plaid early August and the long range end of Oct. This guys positive comments on the Model S LR resonate with my experience. The Plaid is scary above 60 mph but both vehicles will give you tunnel vision during full acceleration. After I scared a dozen people in the Plaid I got my Long range and I can say the plaid is not worth the extra money. I can barely tell them apart. I got grey for both. The long range handles better (feels a little lighter) rides better (19”tires on the long range) and brakes a little better. (same brakes but lighter car)
Tesla is laughing all the way to the bank selling the Plaid for 40k more than the long range. I’m laughing too as I was able to sell my Plaid for $24, 000 more than I paid and that was after paying 11k in CA sales tax on that car. I love the Model S LR and agree with the reviewer that it’s the better deal. I really feel like I dodged a bullet being able to get my money back and then some on the Plaid. It’s only advantage was pulling like a jet aircraft from 60. You really need some smooth large sections of asphalt to pull it off safely. Yes it was amazing but the long range still wows me every time I accelerate beating even Charger hellcats easily.

[WeSwapVoices]

Calling a $95k car a “poor man’s plaid” is fantastic! I ordered the LR and absolutely love it, got lucky and paid $79k as an early order

[DoctorJack]

Just got my model S LR. Love it! Some regret not getting the Plaid. Instead I took the price difference and bought Tesla stock with it back in July when I ordered my S. Absolutely no regrets as the stock price will likely pay for my car in the next year or so! 😊

[davehaller]

The taillamps are the biggest external change I would like to see in the car. When you see the Lucid, the Audis, the Mercedes and Porsche are doing, they need to upgrade. Why no power frunk?

[JustMeTalking]

When I bought my Model 3... I had the same dilemma... Long Range or Performance.

At the time there was about £10, 000 difference with lots of people saying it wasn't worth it.

So against all odds, I bought the Performance...

Then guess what...

1st thing my mates said when I rolled up in it brand new... "is it the Performance version"

It would have been a blow to say no... but instead I looked at them and said "come on... you know me"...

Phew... sometimes it isn't just what you want, it's what's expected of you 😀

[WillMoon]

I absolutely love my '21 S-LR. Best car Ive ever owned. Love the yoke, it's fantastic.

[FthePump]

I have owned 2 Model S’s, a 2015 and 2020. I love the S!

[bobcortez]

I hope Tesla evolves the Model S in the same way that Porsche evolves the 911. The car is iconic, let’s keep it that way.

[casIIsac]

I ordered mine July 02 in white/cream and have an EDD of mid - December. I am extremely excited for this car and very happy I got in at $82k after the cost of the cream interior is added on. I am coming from a 3 performance which I also loved.

[AlexVenz]

Good video. One minor correction, though: the first significant Model S refresh (new front fascia, HEPA filtration, headlights, rear diffuser, painted side skirts, etc.) was done in early 2016 (around April, IIRC), not 2017.

[walkingtour_JP]

Great video! It was getting awkward before this refresh, the 3/Y were so much better. Now all is right with the world! Gosh I wish I had half this many video editing skills

[devanshbh]

why are there no ambient lighting in the car? almost a 100k car with no ambient lightning

[zackfeldstein]

Great video as always. Loving our new Long Range Model S, actually don’t regret not getting a Plaid- would rather save the $.

[HyramBautista]

Crazy some people in the comments got theirs under 80k - can't find these under 99k brand new now. Picking mine up tomorrow, super excited. Coming from a Model 3 Performance :)

[frankbruno]

Nice review, but to call it the "poor man's plaid" is absurd. The car cost $120k with upgrades tax and license. Nothing poor about it.

[PlaidDad]

Fucking FINALLY!!!! Someone else finally says on a video that the brakes SUCK! Thank you for acknowledging that fact! That’s my complaint about my ‘21 3P! They don’t give you any good brakes! Not a true performance car if you can’t stop in time.

[Pendragon]

Honestly, after driving one for a week. One of the most beautiful and amazing cars ever made

[katana]

I just bought (in Sept 2024) a 2021 lease return Model S LR with 29K mikes for $50K from Tesla this morning. I'm supposed to take delivery in a week or so. Can't wait to give it a run. They are telling me that I get an extra 10K miles and additional one year on the warranty. I believe it's for the bumper to bumper, don't think it's for the battery, but not 100% sure yet. I got the FSD and 21" tires in the midnight silver, I wanted the white or beige interior, but when you're buying used and saving huge $$$s, you can't have everything. The 2024 new with these options was $81K, but I'm old and cheap.

[JetFire]

To answer your question, they went with the motorcycle approach for the buttons. You don’t press the airbag on the handlebars for the horn on a motorcycle, right? You use thumb controls for everything, so they did the same.

[rockwjz]

Excellent review! I wish I had rented your Model Y a couple months ago just to show my support for you guys but my plans changed! Either way, I really think they solved a lot of the issues I had with my 2017 Model S. I really appreciate the center screen being laid out in a landscape fashion instead of the portrait, as the older model created a right corner my right knee would always hit. The seats being heated and cooled brings a more luxury and premium feel to a car that should feel like that. All in all I might think about trading in the Model Y for the Model S sometime next year!