Features: Range: 330 mi | Top Speed: 135 mph | 0-60 mph: 4.8 sec | Drive: Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive | Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit as of March 2023? Yes.

The Model Y received a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), “the highest overall score among any vehicle tested under Euro NCAP’s newest, most stringent test protocol.” This means that the Model Y was rated extremely favorably in protecting passengers in the car, pedestrians, and bikers. This Tesla model is not only safe but also exciting. It has a top speed of 135 mph and it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Its range of 330 miles is impressive, and it is highly configurable — you can choose between the five and the seven-seater options. Both options qualify for the $7,500 tax credit, although the seven-seater is $4,000 more to start. 

The Model Y Long Range includes basic autopilot, for automatic steering, acceleration, and braking within a lane. It also has advanced safety features that kick in with emergency braking, collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and more. it benefits from over-the-air updates that add new features, entertainment, better range, and improved safety over time. You can add features like full self-driving at an additional cost.

Specs: Range: 272 mi | Top Speed: 140 mph | 0-60 mph: 5.8 sec | Drive: Rear-Wheel | Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit as of March 2023? Yes.

The least expensive Tesla EV still packs in impressive performance. With a range of 272 miles, a top speed of 140 mph, and an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, you’ll be comfortably speeding down the road in this EV. In Nov. 2022, the Model 3 was awarded 5 stars by Green NCAP, getting the highest score of all Green NCAP tested vehicles so far on the highway test. Green NCAP applauded the Model 3’s low greenhouse gas emissions and high energy efficiency.  

In terms of resale value, it usually costs more to buy a recent, used version of a Model 3 than to purchase one new. This car holds or even increases its value, unlike most cars that depreciate in value: Cars.com reported that the Model 3 jumped 12% in resale value from March to April 2022. To put this number in perspective with the larger EV industry, that 12% increase was the highest increase in that time frame, only matched by the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The Tesla Model Y had a 9% increase. It’s not certain how recent price cuts will affect these percentages, but they say a lot about a Tesla’s value nonetheless. 

The basic autopilot package included with every Tesla applies to the Model 3 too, of course. That means automatic steering, acceleration, and braking for other cars and pedestrians within the car’s lane, plus advanced safety features.

Features: Range: 333 mi | Top Speed: 149 mph | 0-60 mph: 2.5 sec | Drive: Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive | Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit as of March 2023? No.

The Model X Plaid is a six-seater SUV, a heavier vehicle, that still manages to clock in a 333-mile range. It also has the second-best acceleration of the Teslas on this list, going from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. That’s a lot of power for a six-seater with 92 ft³ of cargo space! The front trunk of the car can fit a full-size carry-on suitcase and the rear seats can fold down with the push of a button for a spacious storage area. There are three displays included with the Model X Plaid: One 12.3-inch display for the driver, one tilting 17-inch display for entertainment or games, and an 8-inch second-row screen for rear passengers. That 17-inch display boasts up to 10 teraflops of processing power and compatibility with wireless controllers, so it’s all set for high-powered gaming via the Tesla Arcade. This SUV is highly configurable: You can choose from three interior colors instead of two and you can choose between a yoke steering wheel and a regular one at no additional cost. 

The Model X Plaid is only available in the six-seat configuration, but the Model X comes in either a five, six, or seven-seat configuration.

Specs: Range: 396 mi | Top Speed: 200 mph | 0-60 mph: 1.99 sec | Drive: Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive | Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit as of March 2023? No.

The Model S Plaid has a tri-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain with 1,020 horsepower — meaning that it can get you from 0-60 in less than two seconds. That’s high-powered acceleration! Tesla boasts on their site that the “Model S Plaid has the quickest acceleration of any vehicle in production” and a drag coefficient of 0.208 Cd, “the lowest on the planet.” If you’re all about speed, power, and endurance, this is the car for you. However, keep in mind that the Model S Plaid can only reach the top speed of 200 mph with paid hardware upgrades, so make sure to factor that in when budgeting.

One feature of the Model S that stands out is its adaptive suspension. The car reacts to road conditions and driver actions to optimize ride quality, automatically adjust ride height, and maximize range. Cool extra feature: The back seats fold down, giving you enough space to fit a bike or two inside the car. 

Specs: Range: 348 mi | Top Speed: 149 mph | 0-60 mph: 3.8 sec | Drive: Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive | Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit as of March 2023? No.

Tesla’s luxury electric SUV has a sizable driving range of 348 miles per full charge, which is more than even the Model X Plaid. You can also configure it to have three rows of seats by choosing the right seating layout for your needs. That could be either the 5-seater, 6-seater, or 7-seater option. 

One downside of the Model X that also applies to reviews of the Model X Plaid, Model S, and Model S Plaid, is that the interiors of the car do not match the luxury expected at the price points of the vehicles. This is a subjective disadvantage of course, as you might find the interiors to your liking. Tesla is known for sleek, minimal design and the interiors reflect that.