2015 Tesla Model S 70D - Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, And Test Drive

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2015 Tesla Model S 70D

From the moment you walk up to the Tesla Model S 70D, something amazing happens.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front- and rear-motor, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED: $83,950 (base price: $76,200)

MOTOR TYPE: front: induction AC, 257 hp, 203 lb-ft; rear: induction AC, 257 hp, 203 lb-ft; total combined output, 329 hp, 406 lb-ft; 70-kWh lithium-ion battery pack

TRANSMISSIONS: front: 1-speed direct drive; rear: 1-speed direct drive

DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 116.5 in
Length: 196.0 in
Width: 77.3 in Height: 56.5 in
Passenger volume: 95 cu ft
Cargo volume: 3/26 cu ft (front/rear; C/D est)
Curb weight: 4608 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:

Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 13.4 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 31.0 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 5.1 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.0 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.8 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 140 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway: 101/102 MPGe
C/D observed: 90 MPGe

DESC:
Tesla made history with the introduction of its Model S sports sedan two-plus years ago, prompting approbation from car critics far and wide. This was the breakthrough electric car the world had seemingly been waiting for, offering attractive design, a remarkable interior, and entertaining performance. The price—starting at about $60,000 before the $7500 federal kickback—was far beyond the average household’s reach, and range anxiety will always be a concern for any pure electric, but the S was a refreshing interpretation of just how super a modern supersedan could be. As with the rest of its Model S lineup mates, the 70D has mostly aluminum body and chassis construction, a battery pack built into the floor, comfortable seating for five (or up to seven with the optional jump seats), and attractive interior and exterior design. The huge, 17-inch touch screen providing navigation, entertainment, and car information and control functionality still smiles congenially from the center of the dash.

The big news here is a pair of 257-hp (Tesla’s before-the-transmission rating, the post-gearbox rating is 329 combined horsepower) AC motors driving all four wheels and a base price of $76,200 before federal tax credits. A 70-kWh battery provides an EPA-rated 240-mile driving range; your results will vary. Compared with the Signature Performance (P85) rear-driver we tested more than two years ago, the new 70D is 177 pounds lighter and delivers slightly poorer accelerating, braking, and cornering performance. That said, it consumed less energy, achieved a higher top speed, and is a bit quieter during acceleration and cruising. A major plus is the extra confidence in adverse weather conditions provided by the 70D’s all-wheel drive. (It improves in nearly all areas save for weight versus the now-defunct, rear-drive Model S 60 we tested.)

The recent expansion of the lineup to provide four distinct Model S, er, models warrants an award grander than the 10Best Cars recognition we bestowed upon the S earlier this year: our nomination for “Car of the 21st Century” honors. Combining the aforementioned virtues with significant new features and a modest increase in price makes the Tesla Model S 70D reviewed here the new ultimate in four-door sedan engineering and technology. It’s worth noting that the 70D replaces the Model S 60 that picked up our 10Best accolade as the entry-level version. “D” signifies dual-motor all-wheel drive; the only RWD Model S available now is the 85.