Is Tesla a Luxury Car?
How luxurious is a Tesla—and which one is right for you?
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- Is Tesla a luxury car?
- What makes a luxury car?
- Is Tesla a good luxury brand?
- Only in a Tesla
- Current Tesla offerings
- How to save on Tesla insurance with Jerry
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Tesla is more than just a luxury car maker—they’re an industry trailblazer in the field of all-electric vehicles.
The days when seeing a Tesla in traffic was akin to spotting a unicorn may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean they no longer impress. A Tesla is more than just a luxury car: it’s a glorious push toward the future of automobiles—and in some cases, one of the fastest things on four wheels.
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Is Tesla a luxury car?
That would be a big yes. Although they’ve introduced some more relatively accessibly priced models in recent years, Tesla is widely known not only as a premier maker of electric cars but a top maker of premier luxury cars, period.
While they may be missing some basic features that you would really expect in a car costing six figures (no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? C’mon, Elon!), the sheer panache of Being a Tesla seems to be all they really need. Plus, Tesla offers a lot of insanely cool and highly entertaining features that you won’t find anywhere else.
Want to find out just what makes these beauties so electrifying? Let’s take a look!
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What makes a luxury car?
So exactly just what makes a car a luxury car anyway—besides the sticker price? While there are no hard and fast rules around what makes a luxury car, there are a few general areas that you would expect a luxury car to excel in:
- Performance: A luxury car should have a powerful engine and a responsive, comfortable ride.
- Comfort: Luscious leather seats, top-quality materials, and heated and powered everything are frequently seen in luxury vehicles.
- Technology: Premium sound systems, brilliant navigation and safety aids, and opulent features you never knew you needed are all hallmarks of a luxury car.
- Style: It doesn’t just feel good, it looks good too. A luxury car should have a style that’s distinct and eye-catching.
While a lot of cars on the road these days deliver handily in one or more of these areas, a true luxury ride will be hitting it out of the park in all categories.
Is Tesla a good luxury brand?
Tesla is a luxury brand like no other. For that matter, it’s a car brand like no other. While some people might look askance at the spartan interior styling, others love the clean, futuristic look.
But no matter what you think of Teslas, there’s no denying their popularity. Tesla not only currently makes up more than 65 percent of the market share for electric vehicles, it recently displaced BMW as the
top-selling luxury car brand
in the US. Only in a Tesla
As previously mentioned, Teslas are a bit odd in that they’re missing some options that many folks would consider basic—but they also have a lot of out-of-this-world features that simply don’t exist anywhere else, including lots of entertaining Easter eggs.
Before we move on to the specific models, here’s a glance at just some of these intriguing features. Buckle up, kids. It’s about to get ludicrous.
- Web browsing, streaming, and gaming: Tesla’s stellar connectivity means you can access websites, watch streaming content, and play video games—when in park, of course.
- Caraoke: When parked, you can choose from a wide variety of songs and have the lyrics presented on the screen karaoke-style, for your shameless tune-belting pleasure.
- Bioweapon Defense Mode: An enhanced HEPA filtration system keeps pollutants out of the cabin, which Tesla says will target things like pollen, smoke, and bacteria.
- Ludicrous Plus Mode: We told you it was coming. Rememberthat scene in Spaceballs? Well, someone must be a fan because all Teslas come equipped with something called Ludicrous Plus Mode. This feature heats the battery to an optimal temperature for maximum speed. Side note: ever wondered why the fastest trim levels on Teslas are calledPlaid? Also a Spaceballs reference.
- Dog Mode: Go ahead, let your pupper relax in the car while you run errands! Dog Mode will keep the cabin at a safe and comfortable temperature, while the touchscreen will display a clear message to passersby that you’re coming back and your dog is okay.
- Fart Mode: Great news—all Teslas now come with Fart Mode standard! Choose from a variety of delightfully juvenile sound effects and then make them emerge from any seat in the cabin, or at unsuspecting outsiders via the pedestrian warning speakers. Yes, seriously.
Other more practical features include an automatic air suspension that changes based on your GPS coordinates and Cabin Overheat Protection that will make sure your interior never gets too hot when it’s parked.
But if you want the autonomous driving features that everyone’s talking about, those are extra. Regardless of the model, Enhanced Autopilot is $6,000 more, and adding on Full Self Driving Capability will add an extra $12,000 to the sticker price.
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Current Tesla offerings
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is the maker’s least expensive model, and let’s be real—it’s the only way that most of us regular folks can park a Tessie in the driveway.
But just because it’s Tesla’s entry-level model doesn’t mean it’s cheap. Depending on trim level, the Model 3 starts at anywhere from $48,440 to $64,440—which is definitely luxury pricing.
The interior is almost jarringly spartan, with almost everything controlled via a large touchscreen in the center of the dashboard.
Standard features include:
- Leatherette bucket front seats
- Heated and power-adjustable front seats
- Bluetooth capability
- Remote keyless locks
- Heated mirrors
- Dual-zone climate control
Specification | Model 3 |
|---|---|
Max passenger capacity | 5 people |
Cargo space | 15 cubic feet |
Horsepower | 480 |
Top speed | 140 to 162 mph |
0 to 60 time | 3.1 to 5.8 seconds |
EPA estimated range | 267 to 358 miles |
Tesla Model S
Here’s where things get exciting! If you want a Tesla with spine-melting acceleration and an insane 1,020 horsepower, then the Tesla Model S Plaid is one for you. But even the base level trim is nothing to sneeze at with its 670 horsepower and a zero-to-sixty time of 3.1 seconds.
Standard features include:
- Heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats
- Secondary display cluster screen
- Rear seat touchpad
- Bluetooth capability
- Heated steering wheel
- Three-zone climate control
- Yoke-style steering controller
- 22-speaker stereo system
Upgrading to the Plaid trim will get you a third electric motor and all the speedy goodness that goes with it, but not a whole lot more on the technology side.
Specification | Model S |
|---|---|
Max passenger capacity | 5 people |
Cargo space | 26 cubic feet |
Horsepower | 670 to 1,020 |
Top speed | 155 to 200 mph |
0 to 60 time | 1.99 to 3.1 seconds |
EPA estimated range | 348 to 405 miles |
MORE: How to pick Tesla car seats
Tesla Model X
If you want an SUV Tesla, then you have two options—and at a starting price of $112,590 to $130,590, the Model X is the most expensive. The
Model X
is built on the same platform as the Model S and has very similar standard features and trim levels.But if you want to go to Plaid with up to seven people, the Model X can accommodate with its optional third row of seating.
Been wondering which Tesla has the gull-wing style doors? It’s this one—and depending on who you ask, the doors are either really cool or really embarrassing. And Tesla calls them falcon-wing doors, thank you.
Specification | Model X |
|---|---|
Max passenger capacity | 5 to 7 people |
Cargo space | Up to 91 cubic feet |
Horsepower | 670 to 1,020 |
Top speed | 155 to 163 mph |
0 to 60 time | 2.5 to 3.8 seconds |
EPA estimated range | 311 to 332 miles |
Tesla Model Y
The other SUV-style offering is the Model Y, which can also accommodate up to seven people. It has a more accessible price tag at between $55,690 and $59,690 but doesn't deliver on as much cargo room or performance power. As the more reasonably priced SUV option, its standard features are basically the same as the Model 3.
Specification | Model Y |
|---|---|
Max passenger capacity | 5 to 7 people |
Cargo space | Up to 76 cubic feet |
Horsepower | 450 |
Top speed | 135 to 155 mph |
0 to 60 time | 3.5 to 4.8 seconds |
EPA estimated range | 303 to 318 miles |
How to save on Tesla insurance with Jerry
Teslas are no ordinary cars, even by luxury standards. Getting Tesla car insurance will be on the expensive side, owing mostly to all of the next-level tech and the high cost of repairs.
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Is Tesla more luxurious than BMW?
This is highly subjective and is sure to be a potentially passionate discussion. It’s really up to you, and your idea of what luxury looks and feels like! But it is worth mentioning that Tesla recently surpassed BMW to be the number one selling luxury car brand in the US.
Are Teslas expensive?
They certainly can be. The Model 3 is Tesla's entry-level model with a not insignificant starting price of $48,440 to $64,440. But several others like the Model S and the Model X are well into six-figure territory, with starting prices of up to $140,000.
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