2017 is quickly drawing to a close and it's everybody's favored time of year to do a "best of" segment for their preferred news stories, solutions, celebrity gossip, and so forth. The automotive planet is no different, as each year significant vehicles make their mark on the landscape. For me, the most beneficial car I drove this year was the Tesla Model S.

Prior to I go on, I ought to mention this disclaimer. I'm a lover of technology and fascinating concepts. I occur to own a Chevrolet Volt, so I'm not a stranger towards the merits and penalties of an electrified drivetrain. In actual fact if I had the economic means to truly afford a Model S I would kick gasoline for the curb and drive on electrons for the foreseeable future. Alas I'm not rich so I ought to settle with just a test drive.

Pros:

Totally electric long-range driving. The version I drove was the P85 edition which has in the largest battery at present offered. This battery will deliver around 300 miles of variety below best circumstances. More than sufficient for the average driver.

Exceptional construct high-quality and ergonomics. The interior and exterior are properly place with each other, that is to be expected to get a mainstream automobile in this cost range. The interior appears simply wonderful with its minimalist design and gigantic touch screen center console. The interior is equivalent in create good quality towards the last two BMWs that I've owned.

Size. There's no denying the Model S is a large car or truck. I personally believe this a benefit since it is drastically larger than nearly each and every other electric vehicle at the moment available. My Volt is tiny in comparison. Needless to say the bigger size will appeal to a bigger audience that will broaden its appeal inside the marketplace.

Speed. The P85 version is insanely quick. Like additional energy than I could possibly ever want rapid and because it truly is far more energy than I could ever have to have, obviously I need to have it. Even the 60 kilowatt-hour versions will rival the energy and speed of their gas-powered competitors.
Cons:

Price tag. At practically $ 70,000 for the least expensive model, this car or truck by no signifies is cheap. That may be a shame too, because the additional lowly priced electric cars available have drastically much less variety. Middle priced purchasers may have to wait for the upcoming Model E.

Tire noise. It really is amazing how the lack of drivetrain noise can amplify all the other sounds a car or truck tends to make. I noticed together with the summer tires around the P85 that tire noise was quite pronounced. Especially the sound of pebbles and other road debris getting kicked up by the tires and colliding together with the wheel wells. I assume far more sound deadening will be advantageous.

Battery degradation. Each time a lithium-ion battery is charged and discharged it loses a few of its capacity. Anybody who has ever owned a cell phone or laptop is acutely aware of that reality. Now multiply the size and price of the battery by thousands and it becomes a legitimate concern.