Tesla Model S 60kWh review

The Model S’s refinement, performance and practicality always impress. A more forgiving set-up and accessible price point make this 60kWh version a more obtainable real-world prospect than the flagship. But only with a more comprehensive recharging infrastructure will it be described as faultless.

Until Tesla’s Model X arrives next year, and the all-electric Model 3 3 Series rival appears in 2017, the 60kWh version of its Model S is the entry point into ownership. At £50,335 after the Government grant, it costs £19,000 less than the flagship P85+. So, what does the base Model S miss out on?

Well, not much. The main difference lies beneath its floor, with a less powerful 298bhp electric motor (the flagship boasts 410bhp) and a smaller battery pack, dropping the range from 310 miles to a still impressive 215 miles.

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Performance will rival a Porsche Boxster. You don’t even have to fumble about with keys or starter buttons, as the Model S detects your presence and turns itself on. Simply select drive, gently squeeze the throttle and the Tesla swiftly glides away. Floor it and you’ll get from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, but it feels infinitely quicker as there’s no delay whatsoever in the power delivery.

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Perhaps even more impressive is the Tesla’s overtaking ability. It’s perfect for joining a motorway or passing dawdling motorists, with the instant hit of torque propelling you forward. 

Ease off and the Model S transforms itself into an effortlessly compliant and relaxing cruiser. The 60kWh car comes as standard with 19-inch wheels, whereas the P85+ wears enormous 21-inch alloys and skinnier rubber. 

Also helping soak up rutted British roads is more traditional mechanical suspension, as opposed to the air-sprung set-up in the P85+. It simply glides over surfaces the performance model would fidget and fight against.

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Show it some twisty back roads and body control is well managed, aided by the 100kg weight reduction the smaller battery brings about. It’s still not the most agile car – it’s marketed as a luxurious electric cruiser more than a tantalising sports car – but it holds its own. Just don’t expect to achieve the full 215-mile range with a heavy right foot. 

While the range will satisfy most buyers’ daily needs, recharging remains an issue. From a standard household power source, a top-up is delivered at only five miles per hour. That’ll take a mammoth 43 hours, although more efficient wall-box chargers are available.