10 Things To Expect As A First-Time Tesla Owner

Tesla currently sits at the very top of the EV sales chart, with three of its products occupying the top three positions. These are the Model Y, Model 3, and Cybertruck respectively, but the Model S and Model X also manage to move a couple of thousand units every quarter. It’s impressive how

Tesla is able to achieve such monumental success
from all of its options. If you find this success intriguing and are considering purchasing one of the brand’s five EV options, there are a couple of things you may experience during your ownership experience.

Tesla applies a very focused and unilateral approach to all of its cars, resulting in a

fairly consistent product line
with varying degrees of luxury and prestige. Thanks to this, you’ll find all of its options relatively similar to one another, with some key differences in comfort and performance. If you’re one of the many monthly first-time owners to the brand, you’re bound to be in for a fairly enjoyable time.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Tesla’s websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.

1

Teslas Achieve Amazing Efficiency Ratings

One of the main reasons you’d likely be considering a Tesla EV is because of the great EPA-estimated energy consumption and range figures, some of which are the best in the industry. The rear-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 is the most efficient EV in its line-up, achieving an impressive 25 kWh/100 miles combined energy consumption average. If you want the best range, you’ll have to consider the Tesla Model S Dual Motor, which achieves 402 miles on a single charge from its 99.8 kWh battery.

2024 Tesla Model 3 EPA Estimates

Teslas currently offer the best combination of performance and efficiency, but options like the

Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE
and

Lucid Air Grand Touring
achieve best-in-class efficiency and range ratings, respectively. Finding a balance between these two criteria is definitely the sweet spot for a lot of Tesla owners.

2

Incredible Acceleration Results

Teslas are some of the fastest EVs off the line, especially if you sample the

Model S and Model X Plaid variants
. These feature a collection of three electric motors that generate a combined 1,020 horsepower to all four wheels. The fastest of the lot is the Model S, which covers a 0-60 MPH sprint in a mere 1.99 seconds with a one-foot rollout subtracted. Real-world tests indicate that it will cover this in just 2.1 seconds from a standing start.

Tesla Model S Performance Specifications

The Model 3 and Model Y Performance models also hold their own in a straight line, despite their dual-motor configurations featuring less than half the combined power output. The

Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast
is another triple-motor variant that achieves supercar-level acceleration times, despite being a lofty truck.

3

Attractive Tax Incentives

Most Tesla Models benefit from the $7,500

Inflation Reduction Act tax credit
, thanks to the brand’s decision to maintain a predominately American supply chain, with the Texas-based gigafactory being the main hub of its operations. In recent months, Tesla’s models have been subject to substantial price increases, meaning that its

entire catalog now costs more than $40,000
.

How The Inflation Reduction Act Works

• The Inflation Reduction Act offers up to $7,500 in tax rebates for new electric vehicle purchases.
• To qualify, EVs must meet specific criteria including North American assembly and the use of critical minerals from U.S. trade partners.
• The tax credit applies only to vehicles priced below $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs, trucks, and vans.
• Income caps apply; individuals earning more than $150,000 or couples earning more than $300,000 do not qualify.
• A separate rebate of up to $4,000 is available for used EVs priced below $25,000.
• The law also incentivizes automakers to establish domestic supply chains for EV components like batteries.

Compared to previous model years and while taking inflation into consideration, Tesla’s current catalog is more competitively priced when compared to its rivals. This is one of the biggest reasons as to why it still manages to sell so many copies on a monthly basis. It’s also worth remembering that Tesla applied significant price cuts to its lineup after the Covid-19 pandemic started to ease up.

4

Tesla’s Convenient Supercharging Network

The

Tesla Supercharging network
is a noteworthy drawing card for a lot of potential buyers, because it provides a rapid, convenient, and efficient means to recharge your vehicle. All Tesla owners benefit from more attractive rates, as well as DC Level Three fast charging speeds of up to 250 kW, but some owners report that they do benefit from the new V4 350 kW charging speeds.

Tesla’s Impressive National Supercharging Network

• Tesla’s Supercharging network in the U.S. spans over 1,900 locations with more than 19,000 chargers.
• Superchargers can recharge a Tesla battery to 80 percent in about 30 minutes, offering rapid charging for long-distance travel.
• The network primarily supports Tesla vehicles, but some locations now include compatibility for non-Tesla electric vehicles through the Magic Dock adapter.
• Supercharger stations are strategically located along major highways and in urban areas, ensuring wide coverage for cross-country trips.
• Tesla’s navigation system integrates Supercharger locations, automatically routing drivers to nearby stations and factoring charging time into trip estimates.
• The company continually expands its network to support growing demand, with new stations added frequently across the U.S.

In recent months, Tesla has been gradually opening up its public charging stations to other manufacturers, resulting in longer waiting times and higher charging fees. Thankfully, you can also charge your

Tesla on other public networks
, including Electrify America and EVgo, provided you have the correct adapter.

5

Tesla’s Intuitive Full Self-Driving Suite

Tesla’s optional $8,000

Full Self-Driving suite
is an expensive extra, but it’s well worth the price when you consider how much of the driving responsibility it takes over. You do need to remember that it’s not a comprehensive autonomous suite, and still requires some level of driver intervention. Tesla clearly discloses this in all relevant media when discussing the FSD suite.

There are some compelling rivals to FSD, such as

GM’s Super Cruise
and

Ford’s BlueCruise
, but many critics still value Tesla’s system above its rivals. If you don’t tick the FSD box, you still get access to the comprehensive Autopilot system, which is a great light advanced driver assist system.

The

Tesla community
is one of the more criticized automotive groups across the broad spectrum of car culture, but those within the circle tend to enjoy it. Fellow Tesla owners benefit from a unique sense of camaraderie, likely because they’ve all made a conscious decision to go green, invest in an American EV start-up, and embrace the future of automotive engineering and design.

While there’s no direct benefit to being part of a close-knit car community, we can’t deny the appeal attached to nods of approval that you’ll get when driving past a fellow Tesla owner. Tesla owners are also very active on online forums, so if you have any questions or queries, you’ll be sure to get prompt and informative responses.

7

Impressive Value Retention For An EV

EVs typically depreciate at much faster rates
compared to conventional ICEs and hybrid vehicles, but Teslas hold their values incredibly well by EV standards. The Model X appears to hold its value much better than any other Tesla, which is interesting when you consider that it’s the brand’s least-selling option.

2024 Tesla Model Y Depreciation Estimates

Recent model years don’t benefit from the best value retention rates, because of the brand’s aforementioned price cuts. Tesla’s tendency to continually update its products is massively beneficial for new buyers, but it does negatively affect its previous models by outdating them at a faster rate. Despite this, recorded valuations yield impressive used value figures.

8

Aesthetically Pleasing Minimalist Interiors

Tesla is one brand that does

minimalist and functional interior design
better than anyone else. Many criticize the brand’s decision to forgo all physical controls in favor of a digital-only control terminal, but the result is a much sleeker and clutter-free dashboard that caters to millennials who favor minimalist design to a much greater extent.

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Tesla Model S and Model X

• Standard five-seater and optional six- and seven-seater configurations.
• 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
• Heated yoke or standard multifunction steering wheel.
• 960-Watt 22-speaker premium audio system.
• Heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable front seats.
• Two wireless smartphone chargers.

Tesla extends this throughout the cabin, by incorporating black vegan leather upholstery, which you can optionally upgrade to white or beige in select models. The brand’s crossover and SUV options are available with third-row seating for those with larger families.

9

The Best In-Car Infotainment Experience

The

aforementioned central infotainment system
is a core component of Tesla’s in-car experience, as it manages all the car’s functions in one convenient space. As we’ve mentioned, this garners a lot of criticism for it being a fussy and confusing experience, but those who are familiar with it find it a pleasing unit to operate.

Tesla’s central screen is a high-resolution system that you can even use as a powerful gaming machine. In the brand’s smaller Model 3 and Model Y options, it also acts as a digital instrument cluster, which you may find a bit distracting. Newer options are now available with an

optional screen for the rear bench
, which benefits from the same entertainment and comfort features that you would get to experience with the front screen.

10

Tesla’s Handy Dog-Friendly Modes

Tesla’s Dog Mode
allows owners to keep their pets comfortable in the car while they step away briefly. Activated via the touchscreen, Dog Mode maintains a safe temperature inside the vehicle, even when the car is off. The display clearly shows a message that the car’s climate control is active, and it indicates the interior temperature to passersby, preventing any misunderstandings about the pet’s safety.

This feature helps avoid situations where concerned people might think the pet is in distress and attempt to break into the vehicle. The system runs on Tesla’s battery, so drivers can confidently leave their pets inside without needing to leave the engine running. If the battery level drops below 20 percent, Tesla sends a notification to the owner’s phone, ensuring they return in time to prevent any risk. Dog Mode can be manually adjusted for temperature settings, providing flexibility for different weather conditions.