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Tesla has played a big part in the rise in the popularity of electric cars since the American company launched its first model in 2008. Despite being an all-new brand, Tesla has since created some of the most desirable electric cars around. A Tesla gives you a longer battery range than many of its rivals, futuristic design and features, and access to the manufacturer’s own network of fast, reliable chargers, both in the UK and abroad.
Tesla has four models to choose from:
Model S – introduced in 2013, the Model S is a large hatchback that’s had a number of tweaks over the years to keep it up to date. Several versions are available and all are quick with good battery ranges. Some, like the top-spec Model S Plaid, give you extremely fast acceleration and some will travel around 400 miles on a full battery charge. The Model S is a rival for electric cars such as the Porsche Taycan, as well as petrol and diesel premium cars such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series.
Model 3 – this saloon is the smallest, most cost-effective Tesla, yet it has the same qualities as the brand’s other cars – great interior tech, impressive acceleration and a long battery range. It’s Tesla’s best-selling car, which means there are lots of used examples to choose from. You might consider a Model 3 alongside cars such as the Polestar 2 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Model X – the Model X is the largest Tesla, seating up to seven, depending on the layout. Its headline feature is its ‘falcon wing’ rear doors, which open upwards. Think of the DeLorean in the movie “Back to the Future.” The Model X isn’t just about gimmicks though – it has the usual performance and long battery range that Tesla is famous for, and lots of interior space. Rivals include large electric SUVs such as the Audi E-Tron and the BMW iX.
Model Y – this is the newest Tesla model, having gone on sale in the UK in early 2022. It’s essentially an SUV version of the Model 3, with a taller body that sits a bit higher off the ground. It costs more than the Model 3 but it gives you a larger boot and a more-versatile hatchback boot lid. If you’re considering a Model Y, also look at rivals like the Audi Q4 E-Tron and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Not sure which one to go for? Check out our helpful guide to deciding which Tesla is best for you.
Tesla has always done things a bit differently to the more established carmakers and its fresh ideas and advanced technology have helped to make its cars very popular.
For a long time, each of Tesla’s cars had a far longer battery range than any of its rivals. Established car brands have now caught up, but each Tesla model remains at, or near, the top of the list for battery range for that type of car.
Another major attraction of Teslas is its Supercharger network. While the wider infrastructure for charging electric cars is still developing, Tesla has rolled out a huge number of high-speed chargers around the UK and abroad, which makes it easy to keep your battery topped up. Most of the network is reserved for Tesla drivers, although the company has opened some of its charging stations to owners of other electric cars to use as part of a trial.
Many people are drawn to the distinctive image and look of Tesla’s cars – each is sleek and futuristic, both inside and out. Sit in a Tesla and you’ll find a minimalistic interior dominated by a feature-packed, giant touchscreen that controls just about every feature within the car. There are also fun things you won’t find in any of its rivals, such as games that you can play using the steering wheel while charging your car and a whoopee cushion app that can embarrass your passengers, hopefully with hilarious results.
All Teslas are quick, but the Model S Plaid – the high-performance version of the Model S – is one of the fastest cars in the world. It’s mind-blowing stuff, with a top speed of 200mph and the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in less than two seconds – faster than any Ferrari.
Even the ‘slowest’ Tesla does 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds – faster than many sports cars or high-performance models.
You’ll find lots of used cars for sale at Cazoo, all available to buy through our trusted dealers.
Cazoo makes selling a car just as easy – simply visit our value my car page and enter a few details for an instant online valuation. If you accept the offer, our partners will get in touch to arrange payment and collection of your car at a time that suits you.
Any car is a complicated bit of machinery – there’s always a risk that components will fail. However, a Tesla – and in fact, any pure-electric car – has fewer mechanical components to go wrong than a petrol or diesel car, so it could prove to be more reliable.
Electric cars don’t need engine oil like petrol or diesel cars do, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Electric cars use regenerative braking, too, where the electric motor(s) spin in reverse to slow the car and recuperate energy, which can put less strain on their mechanical braking systems.
Just like any other piece of engineering, how long a battery lasts will depend on how you use it and how well you look after it. Tesla offers warranties on its batteries, which cover the cost of repair or replacement if they become defective.
These warranties on batteries are:
In each case, Tesla guarantees that the battery will retain at least 70% of its original capacity during the warranty period.
The short answer is “not usually”. To be more specific, some early Tesla models came with free Supercharging for a certain period, but that deal has been phased out. There will be a fee to charge most of the Teslas that you can buy today.
Charging time will vary depending on the car, as well as how much power is already stored in the battery. How you charge it will also make a big difference. If you have a home charger you could add up to 44 miles of range in an hour, but using a Tesla Supercharger can give you up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes. For more information about charging Teslas, check out our Tesla charging guide.