Comparisons of the Model S variants for 2021 prior to and after Tesla’s major update. (Feb-2021)
Basic Facts
The New Model S LR and Plaid started production in March 2021. The Model S LR+ and Performance variants ended production in December 2020. All four cars carry the 2021 model year vehicle identification. The Plaid+ is not shown, but is the same as Plaid, but offers over 520+ miles range, a bit faster, uses the new 4680 cells, and costs $20K more.
| Item | Model S New LR |
Model S New Plaid |
Model S Old LR+ |
Model S Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $79,990 |
$119,990 |
$69,420 |
$91,990 |
| Price with every option (see below) | $99,990 |
$140,490 |
$89.840 |
$112,340 |
| EPA Range | 412 mi |
390 mi* |
402 mi |
387 mi |
| EPA Efficiency (w/19" wheels) | 29 kWh/100 mi |
31 kWh/100 mi |
29 kWh/100 mi |
31 kWh/100 mi |
| Battery Power | 100 kWh* |
100 kWh* |
100 kWh |
100 kWh |
| Battery Usable | 95 kWh* |
95 kWh* |
95 kWh* |
95 kWh* |
| Battery Cell Type | 18650 Cell |
18650 Cell |
18650 Cell |
18650 Cell |
| Battery Cell Vendor | Tesla/Panasonic |
Tesla/Panasonic |
Tesla/Panasonic |
Tesla/Panasonic |
| Battery 12V type | Lithium-Ion |
Lithium-Ion |
AGM Lead Acid |
AGM Lead Acid |
| Maximum Speed | 155 mph |
200 mph |
155 mph |
162 mph |
| 0 to 60 mph | 3.1 sec |
2.0 sec |
3.7 sec |
2.3 sec |
| Peak Power | 670 hp |
1,020 hp |
557 hp |
778 hp |
| Maximum Regen | 50 kW |
unknown |
50 kW |
50 kW |
| Cargo Space, Seats Up | 28.0 cu ft |
28.0 cu ft |
28.0 cu ft |
28.0 cu ft |
| Cargo Space, Seats Down | 60.2 cu ft |
60.2 cu ft |
60.2 cu ft |
60.2 cu ft |
| Seats (standard/optional) | 5/7 |
5/7 |
5 |
5 |
| Max Charging Rate | 250 kW |
250 kW |
250 kW |
250 kW |
| Max Charging Speed | 800 mi/hour |
800 mi/hour |
800 mi/hour |
800 mi/hour |
| Alternate Charging Rate** | 150 kW |
150 kW |
150 kW |
150 kW |
| Alternate Charging Speed | 483 mi/hour |
483 mi/hour |
483 mi/hour |
483 mi/hour |
| Best AC Charging Rate | 11.25 kW |
11.25 kW |
11.25 kW |
11.25 kW |
| Cd (drag coefficient) | 0.208 |
0.208 |
0.23 |
0.23 |
| Weight | 4,561 lbs |
4,766 lbs |
4,883 lbs |
4,941 lbs |
* Estimated.
Options
This is a price list of all available options.
| Feature | Model S New LR |
Model S New Plaid |
Model S Old LR+ |
Model S Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Fiber Spoiler | n/a |
Included |
n/a |
Included |
| Enhanced Auto-Theft | Included |
Included |
$350 |
$350 |
| Full-Self Driving | $10000 |
$10000 |
$10000 |
$10000 |
| Interior Color White or Cream (Black Std) | $1500 |
n/a |
$1500 |
$1500 |
| Interior Color Black and White | n/a |
$2000 |
n/a |
n/a |
| Paint Black, Silver or Blue (White Std) | $1500 |
$1500 |
$1500 |
$1500 |
| Paint Red Multi-Coat | $2500 |
$2500 |
$2500 |
$2500 |
| Wheels 21" (19" std) | $4500 |
$4500 |
$4500 |
$4500 |
| TOTAL | $20,000 |
$20,500 |
$20,350 |
$20,350 |
Feature Differences
This is a list of feature differences, where one variant offers something different than another.
| Special Features/Options | Model S New LR |
Model S New Plaid |
Model S Old LR+ |
Model S Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Canceling | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| AI Gear Selection | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Air Suspension | Likely* |
Likely* |
Yes |
Yes |
| Audio Peak-Power | 960W |
960W |
560W |
560W |
| Audio Speakers, cabin | 22 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
| Carbon Fiber Decor | n/a |
Yes |
n/a |
Yes |
| Carbon-sleeved Rotors | n/a |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Center screen orientation | Landscape |
Landscape |
Portrait |
Portrait |
| Chrome Delete | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Climate Zones | 3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Cup holders | 4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
| Display Control | MCU3 |
MCU3 |
MCU2 |
MCU2 |
| Display Resolution, center | 2200x1300 |
2200x1300 |
1080x1920 |
1080x1920 |
| Displays | 3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Displays area, combined | 200 sq in.* |
200 sq in.* |
180 sq in. |
180 sq in. |
| Door Pockets | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Door Releases, Electronic | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Enhanced Anti-Theft | Yes |
Yes |
Optional |
Optional |
| Enhanced Battery Cooling | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Heat Pump | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Interior Camera | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Phone Key, Keycards and FOB | Yes |
Yes |
FOB only |
FOB only |
| Rear Fold-down center armrest | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Rear seats electric release | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Rear seats fold flat | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Seats - Perforated, Ventilated front | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Seats - Third Row | Optional* |
Optional* |
n/a |
n/a |
| Steering Wheel Selection Controls | 12 |
12 |
6 |
6 |
| Steering Wheel Stalks | 0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
| Steering Wheel, Racing inspired | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Tilting Center Screen | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Tires, Advanced | Yes |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Torque Vectoring | n/a |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
| Traction Motors | 2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| USB Charging | Fast |
Fast |
Normal |
Normal |
| USB Charging Ports | 5* |
5* |
4 |
4 |
| USB Type | USB-C |
USB-C |
USB-A |
USB-A |
| Ventilation control, Front | Electronic |
Electronic |
Manual |
Manual |
| Wireless phone charging | 4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
* Unconfirmed or estimated
Exterior Changes
The new Model S includes the following exterior changes:
- The front facia has a larger air inlet and is more aerodynamic
- The rear facia is changed to be more aerodynamic
- The standard 19″ rims have inserts to be more aerodynamic
- The front fog light and cornering light is changed
- Most items previously in chrome are now blacked out
- The chrome strip below the doors is gone
Common Features
These are features related to all 2021 Model S variants.
| Charging | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fast Charging up to 250 kW | At V3 Superchargers |
| Includes Mobile Connector | With 120v and J1772 adapters |
| Largest Network of Charge Connections | 23,277 by end of 2020 |
| Plug-in and Charge | Easiest system to use |
| Schedule Charging | Allows home charging at lowest rates |
| Superior Design | Lightweight and compact connectors |
| Full-Self-Driving Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Auto-Lane Change | When Auto-steer active |
| Autopark | For parallel and perpendicular parking |
| Autosteer | Maintains within a marked lane |
| Location-to-Location Self Driving | Future feature |
| Navigate on Autopilot | Navigates from on-ramp to off-ramp |
| Smart Summon | Brings the vehicle to you via the phone App |
| Interior | Notes |
|---|---|
| All LED lighting | Improved longevity |
| Auto Dimming Mirrors | Both sides and rear-view mirror |
| Auto-Garage Open/Close | With Homelink |
| Automatic Keyless Entry | |
| Automatic Wipers | Manual and automatic modes |
| Backup Camera | High-definition |
| Bluetooth Phone Connection | For hands-free talking, contacts, calendar |
| Dashcam | Records 4 video camera streams |
| Driver Profiles | Includes Easy Access profile for entry/exit |
| FM, FM HD and XM radios | |
| Heated Seats | |
| Heated Steering Wheel | |
| Homelink | GPS aware |
| Interior Accent Lighting | LED |
| Lighted Door Handles | LED |
| Maps - Points of interest and Charging locations | Shows charging stall availablity and more |
| Maps - Real-time Traffic Monitoring | Color coded traffic levels |
| Maps - Resident and Google Maps | With free updates |
| Maps - Road and Satellite Views | |
| Maps - with Navigation | Includes pinch to zoom or rotate |
| Mobile App Remote Control | Shows vehicle location, status and more |
| Over-the-Air updates | Free, often with new features and enhancements |
| Panoramic Glass Roof | Tinted, IR and UV filtered |
| Power Folding Mirrors | Heated and profile memory position |
| Power Front Seats | 12-way and driver profile memory |
| Power liftgate | With lift-height memory |
| Power Windows | One-touch |
| Puddle Lights | LED |
| Retracting Door Handles | Automatic extension on approach |
| Secondary storage | Frunk and under Trunk |
| Sentry Mode | Dashcam records activity while parked |
| Sign Reading | Stop signs, Traffic lights, Speed |
| Streaming Audio without a Phone | Slacker, Spotify and TuneIn |
| Tesla Arcade | Wide range of games to play while parked |
| Tesla Theater | Connect to your Netflix, Hulu, Hulu+ and YouTube |
| Traffic-Aware Cruse Control | |
| USB Music Player | ACC, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV files |
| Voice Activated Controls | With hundreds of commands |
| Washer Nozzle Heaters | |
| Wiper Blades Defroster |
| Safety | Notes |
|---|---|
| 360 Degree Driving Visualization | Shows cars, bicyclists and pedestrians |
| Air Suspension | GPS aware, ability to raise height for more clearance |
| Airbags - Eight | Driver and passenger heads, knees, and pelvis plus two side curtain airbags |
| All-Wheel Drive | Independent front/rear motors adds safety over clunky ICE AWD systems |
| Antilock Brakes | |
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Blind-spot Warning | With visual vehicle placement |
| Collision Avoidance | |
| Cornering Lights | LED |
| Daytime Running Lights | LED |
| Electronic Stability Control | Far better than ICE, as motor control is almost instant |
| Electronic Traction Control | |
| Five-star Crash Ratings | NHTSA 5-stars In every category |
| Fog Lights | LED |
| Front Impact Protection | |
| HEPA air filtration | |
| Low Rollover Risk | |
| Second Row LATCH | For attachment of child seats |
| Side Impact Protection |