Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 10 years or so, everyone knows Tesla has changed the automotive landscape. Not only has its EV models taken over the United States, but globally too. The company currently offers five all-electric models — two sedans, two SUVs, and a pickup truck.

Tesla Models Lineup

Name

Body Style

Production Years

Starting Price (2023 Models)

Model S

5-door sedan

2012–present

$74,990

Model 3

4-door sedan

2017–present

$38,990

Model X

5-door SUV

2015–present

$79,990

Model Y

5-door SUV crossover

2020–present

$43,990

Cybertruck

Full-size pickup truck

2023–present

$79,990

Whether you're looking to purchase your first Tesla, or already own one and want to know more, we've looked closely at important aspects surrounding the ownership of these immensly popular EVs.

UPDATE: 2023/12/07 10:01 EST BY MICHAEL DE KOCK

How we came up with areas to focus on: HotCars looked at several aspects of Tesla ownership such as model depreciation, features, and what owners are saying about aspects such as customer service.

Any models specs and new pricing comes from the official Tesla website. Reliability and estimated maintenance costs were sourced from CarEdge. Used pricing was sourced from Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book. We sourced owners' feedback from sources such as Edmunds and Tesla Motors Club.

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Tesla Ranks Top 3 Among Luxury Brands In Depreciation

Tesla Estimated Used Prices After 5 Years

Expected Depreciation

5 Year Resale Value

Model S

35%

$64,451

Model 3

21%

$47,040

Model X

29%

$79,566

Model Y

39%

$36,363

Values sourced from Caredge's Tesla depreciation by model.

Teslas are pretty good at holding their value – mostly because of the popularity of vehicles. According to CarEdge, which plases Tesla in the top 3 of luxury brands, owners can expect a depreciation of around 3% in the first year, 12% in the second, 20% in the third, 28% in the fourth and 32% in the fifth – ending up at around 50% after ten years. This is consistent, as according to Edmunds, good condition 2013 model Teslas now cost around $25,000 – half the price of when they were new.

Models Have A History Of Build Quality Concerns

White 2018 Tesla Model 3 parked outside
Tesla

Over the years, there have been many complaints regarding Tesla’s build quality. Many owners complain that the paint is too thin and flakes easily. The body panels don’t line up properly and the interior fittings are not solidly made. Elon Musk himself addressed owners' quality control issues back in 2021 when YouTuber Sandy Munro, formerly a Ford Engineer, interviewed the Tesla CEO. Back in 2018, Munro had some criticisms for the panel gaps and other quality control issues in Tesla models. "I thought your criticisms were accurate," Musk admitted later to Munro during a 45-minute interview in Boca Chica, Texas.

Build Quality Complaints On Tesla Models

"The interior of the car and the body started to make little noises while driving that you don’t see at cars at this price point in my experience." (Edmunds user 'WestportCT car owner' about their 2022 Model S Plaid)

"Panel gaps are all over the place, they actually have a tool to know if things are bad enough to fix so they rehung my door but left the rest all a little crooked, unacceptable for the price." (Edmunds user 'Adam' about their 2021 Model S Long Range)

Both quotes provided above were sourced from Edmunds Consumer Reviews.

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Owners Have Negative Feedback About Tesla's Customer Service After Warranty Expires

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Via Tesla

It seems that, generally speaking, customer service is an issue in almost every aspect of the market. Sadly, according to some users who described their Tesla service experience, the company's service has its issues. Many customers have complained about their cars and the company after completing repairs or even just trying to get their car fixed.

Tesla Customer Service Experiences

"WORSTT WORRSSSTTT customer service I have had in my life!!!" (Edmunds user 'Rene Rodriguez' about their 2021 Model S Long Range)

"It’s a great, fun, and classy car while the warranty lasts (service is great and at no cost for warranty covered items, no questions asked). But once out of warranty you’re all on your own. They wouldn’t even buy it back from me for parts - terrible customer service (when things went south) that leaves much to be desired from such reputable brand." (Edmunds user 'Carlos' about their 2021 Model S Long Range)

Both quotes provided above were sourced from Edmunds Consumer Reviews.

Customers who managed to get into contact with Tesla later complained that they had to wait for a long time to get any sort of feedback regarding their queries. Steven Banks of Massachusetts reported via Business Insider in 2018 that he had a minor issue with his car that left him stranded in the middle of nowhere and then took Tesla weeks to solve. After the ordeal, he sold his Model S just so he didn’t have to deal with customer service anymore.

"The customer service is lousy. They get away with it because the products are fantastic."

Sourced from Steven Banks' reporting on Business Insider.

Autopilot Costs Extra

Tesla’s Autopilot self drive feature represents the future of autonomous driving. The system is always on – even when not in use – and monitors the road and situations to help the driver. "We're still years away" from a fully autonomous vehicle, said Transportation Editor Michael Ballaban for CNN Business. The YouTube channel published a video showing Ballaban testing the feature. What many don't realize, however, is that Autopilot costs extra, either in the form of a monthly subscription fee or one-off transaction.

Autopilot Prices

Standard Autopilot

Standard On All New Tesla Models

Automatic Emergency Braking

Standard On All New Tesla Models

Enhanced Autopilot

$99 Per Month Subscription/$6,000 Once-Off

Full Self-Driving

$199 Per Month Subscription/$15,000 Once-Off

Normal Autopilot is a more advanced adaptive cruise control system — similar to the ones found on modern German cars — while Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving provide all the smaller details, such as using freeway on- and off-ramps, navigating intersections and taking the indicated exit when prompted by the SatNav. All current Tesla models come with Autopilot capabilities, with Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving being a subscription paid monthly, or available as a once-off option when speccing the car.

Tesla Models Offer EV and Energy Incentives

2024 Tesla Model 3 - Front Quarter
Tesla 

Tax Incentives For The US Market

  • $7,500 rebate on electric cars if the total price does not exceed $55,000.
  • May only qualify if Gross Income does not exceed $300,000 for a married couple, $225,000 for the head of a household or $150,000 for individuals.
  • Electric vehicle may only be used in the USA.
  • Electric vehicle may not be sold for profit.
  • $7,500 tax incentive is non-refundable.

As in most countries where electric vehicles are sold, Tesla offers tax breaks and financial incentives for the purchase of a Tesla vehicle. According to Tesla and the Internal Revenue Service, up to $7,500 may be provided to a new customer for the purchase of a Tesla. However, there are some prerequisites that must be adhered to, such as the vehicle must be used in the U.S., and it may not be sold within a certain period of time.

There are other requirements on the IRS website, such as household income and new car model MSRP caps. If all the IRS conditions are met, the incentive is pretty good. According to the automaker's website, the incentive is expected to be reduced to $3,750 in December 2023. You can find more information on Tesla's website related to electric vehicle and energy incentives.

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Test Driving A Tesla Model

Tesla Full Self Driving Autopilot
Tesla

What's Required When Booking A Demo Drive

  • Zip Code Location
  • Valid Driver's License & Be 18 Years Or Older
  • Full Name
  • E-Mail Address For Communication
  • Cellphone Number
  • Selection As To Which Tesla Model To Drive

Tesla does not have traditional dealerships where you can go to and order a new Tesla or even complete a test drive. Instead, they have showrooms where there is a selection of cars to check out. To test drive any of them though, Tesla encourages booking at the nearest location where there are Teslas. You can locate a store location on Tesla's official Find Us page.

On the website, head to the ‘Demo Drive’ tab, enter your details and the car you’d like to test and a Tesla Advisor will contact you with information. The Demo Drive lasts around half an hour and lets any potential customer experience the power, comfort and efficiency of the Tesla model. Sometimes, Tesla hosts walk-in test drive events that are shorter, but allows more people to drive their cars.

Taking Delivery And Servicing: The Process Is Simple

Taking delivery of your new Tesla is pretty easy. Just download the Tesla App, sign in with the credentials, submit the required documents and register the car on the app. This can be done at a Tesla location, direct delivery to the location of your choice or via a courier.

Tesla Servicing Intervals

  • Brake Fluid Health Check Every 4 Years.
  • A/C Filters Replacement Every 4 Years.
  • Carbon Air Filter Replacement Every 2 Years (3 Years For HEPA Filters).
  • Clean & Lubricate Brake Calipers Every 12,500 Miles (Especially In Areas With Salted Roads During Winter).
  • Tires Rotation Every 6,250 Miles - Or When Tread Depth Difference Is 2/32 Inches Or Greater.

In terms of servicing, Tesla strives to mitigate servicing as much as possible. Thanks to the minimal moving parts in a Tesla vehicle, there really isn’t much to maintain. The car can be diagnosed, and the problem fixed using software. Any mechanical part repairs need to go to a Tesla service center via customer support.

A Single Massive Screen For Everything

One of the bigger innovations in Tesla cars – other than the electric powertrain – is the massive central infotainment system. The screens in older Tesla cars used the portrait layout and put most of the car’s functions on the screen. This is still the case in modern Teslas, but with the screen in a landscape orientation. Here's some pros and cons to Tesla's infotainment screen in its models:

Pros

  • Everything's conveniently housed in a single location
  • Clear display
  • As responsive as a tablet

Cons

  • Potentially distracting
  • Model 3 and Y use them as an instrument cluster
  • Lots of sub-menus for essential fuctions

While the screen is great with its responsiveness and clever use, the fact that everything is in a menu may cause some newer customers some problems. The infotainment, climate control, navigation, car settings and even the button for the glovebox sit in a menu or submenu on the same screen.

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Interior Tech Receives Over-The-Air Software Updates

All Tesla vehicles are able to update via what is called ‘over-the-air updates’. This is much the same as a smartphone or any other piece of technology these days. This system lets Tesla make adjustments to all of their cars as they go, mitigating any reasons to visit a maintenance shop. For more information, visit Tesla's website detailing software updates.

How to update your Tesla model's software:

1. Navigate to ‘Controls’ > ‘Software’ > ‘Software Update Preference.’

2. Select ‘ADVANCED’ or ‘STANDARD.’ If you choose ‘ADVANCED’, your software update as soon as it becomes available (only for version 2019.16 or later)

Tesla Model S And X Software Updates Guide

Supercharger Network Offers Over 50,000 Ports

Tesla has one of the largest EV charging networks on the planet, with current charging stations in the U.S. alone reaching well beyond 50,000 ports. This infrastructure – called the ‘Supercharger Network’ – is extremely important as every single Tesla will calculate its route to a destination based on the availability of the network.

Tesla Models Range

Model

EPA Range

S

320–405 miles

3

272–358 miles

X

269–348 miles

Y

303–330 miles

Tesla vehicles can charge at different speeds, with the waiting time being at least 25 minutes. As the battery technology gets better, the charging times will decrease and the range will increase. Toyota is already talking about a 10-minute charge which can last more than 700 miles thanks to solid-state batteries. Tesla is also working on their own version of this tech, hopefully with good results.

It Costs Extra To Charge A Tesla At Home

Superchargers available in public areas are still the fastest way to charge a Tesla, but for people who charge at home, there are a few options. The car comes equipped with the standard Mobile Connector which has a wall-socket adapter. Charging this way will take around 10 hours to fully charge a Tesla.

Cost Of Home-Charging Equipment

Product

Price

Gen 2 NEMA Adapter

$35-$45

SAE J1772 Charging Adapter

$50

CCS Combo 1 Adapter

$175

Mobile Connector

$230

NEMA Adapter Bundle

$245

Wall Connector

$475

Universal Wall Connector

$595

Tesla also sells Wall Connectors and Universal Wall Connectors. These are Wifi-enabled, so they update and get better as time goes on. Charging with one of them will result in 41–44 miles per hour, or around 7–8 hours of charging time. These Wall Connectors cost from $35 - $595. Charging overnight is usually the preferred method when commuting in cities, but using a Supercharger is much faster.

Sources: CarEdge, Edmunds, Business Insider, Tesla, IRS