Used 2012 Tesla Model S Base for sale 

The Tesla Model S is available in four basic trims but various motor and battery combinations to match the budget and needs of buyers from all walks of life. There are various features available as standard, with more added on in every trim alongside a larger battery and additional motors to generate more power and torque. The price of the sedan falls between $59,350 for the Base trim to $107,350 for the high-end Signature Performance trim.

We Recommend

Although the top high-performance trim is the one that has people excited, the prices also shoot up drastically for the higher-end trims. Thus, opting for the base trim with a larger battery pack seems like an ideal choice to save some money and get maximum practicality out of it. All in all, the Base trim with a larger battery suffices all the needs and therefore becomes a value for money offering. 

The Tesla Model S is available with various levels of powertrain options, which provide a varied range of performance as well. The base trim gets a 362 hp and 325 lb-ft, AC electric motor that is mated to a single-speed automatic transmission. There is also an option for dual, and triple motor setup with maximum power output rated at 416 hp.

The base powertrain is brisk, to say the least, as it can speed to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds, whereas the quarter-mile is completed in a blistering 13.3 seconds, thanks to all the torque available instantly. 

There is clearly no competition to the Model S as we can see that both the Ford Focus Electric and the Nissan Leaf Electric generate a much lower power and torque output and hence have considerably slower acceleration timings. The top speed too is pretty low for the hatchbacks, whereas the Tesla can go up to 134 mph with the base powertrain specs.

Tesla makes use of a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack which is available in different sizes depending on the variants. There is a 40 kWh, 60 kWh, and top-of-line 85 kWh battery available, each of which provides a decent amount of range on a single charge. The base trim is rated for 160 miles, whereas the 85 kWh battery can go up to 265 miles on a single charge, but then both these numbers are in test conditions, and in the real world, the range is set to drop. There are supercharging stations available all over the country, with new ones being added every day, but with a 220V power socket, it takes 10 hours to replenish the battery.

It’s again a complete washout for the Tesla Model S, as even its base trim, it is leaps and bound ahead of the Focus Electric and Leaf Electric. They both have a similar driving range of over 70 miles on a single charge, but the Model S offers more than double despite offering such high levels of performance. 

Inside a Tesla Model S, it feels like stepping into the future as every button, knob, switch that can ever be needed is replaced by a mammoth 17-inch touchscreen system placed at the center of the dash. It is one of the most premium, classy, and futuristic cabins that you will ever see in any modern-day car today.

In terms of comfort, there is ample space for all the passengers, and the seats are very supportive to be comfortable on long drives if the Tesla charging stations lie on your intended route, but the rear-seat headroom isn’t the greatest and can be an issue for tall passengers. For the entry-level trim, the materials are of top-notch quality, but for the top-end trim costing over $100k, it might seem a bit underwhelming. 

The Model S provides more space than the other two in this comparison as it is a sedan as compared to the hatchback body style of the other two. Thus, the trunk capacity is also much higher at 26 cu-ft, with the rear seats in use, and the large hatch style opening together with the folding rear seats open up over 63 cu-ft of space for all your cargo needs. Major interior features include-

• 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats w/driver memory
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seats
• Napa leather & Alcantara seat trim
• 3-spoke power-adjustable tilt/telescoping steering wheel w/memory
• Remote keyless entry w/remote start
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rear climate control w/separate controls
• Fully trimmed cargo area w/keyless open

How is the 2012 Tesla Model S Electric Sedan’s infotainment system?

As mentioned before, the Model S replaces every possible physical control switch, knobs, and buttons with the ginormous 17-inch vertically oriented screen and is used to control anything and everything in the car. It looks like a large vertical iPad and also performs with a similar poise as well. The UI is customizable, and users can choose to place the audio, navigation, and climate controls to their liking. Although, the only downside is that turn-by-turn navigation has to be bought separately through an add-on package, and the base trim gets access to online maps only for viewing purposes. Few key infotainment features include-

• 17.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 12-speaker 580W Dolby ProLogic 7.1 surround audio system
• 16GB built-in hard drive memory
• Built-in navigation system
• HD radio 
• WiFi mobile connectivity
• Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity

The exterior of the Tesla Model S is equally striking as its interiors. The large front grille is shut close to improve aerodynamic efficiency, and everything around the car is designed to improve the performance and efficiency of the car.

It looks stylish, to say the least, with its large wheels, tasteful chrome embellishments, and a long smooth flowing body style of the car. 

The Tesla Model S is a long and wide car and also offers a long wheelbase to help open up maximum space inside its cabin. It is substantially heavy though, mostly due to its larger and denser battery pack, but it does offer a decent amount of ground clearance. The Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, is the larger amongst the other two and offers a marginally higher ground clearance too. Few key exterior highlights of the Model S are-

• Auto halogen headlamps w/LED daytime running lights
• LED rear tail lights
• Dual heated power body-colored mirrors w/memory
• Carbon fiber spoiler
• Rain-sensing adjustable speed wipers
• 21-inch performance alloy wheels

Being an all-new model and an expensive one, the 2012 Tesla Model S has not been crash-tested for rating its safety standards by either of the safety testing agencies, the NHTSA and the IIHS. That being said, Tesla does offer a decent amount of safety and driver assistance features to make life safer and easier and gain the trust of the American masses. Few salient safety features include-

• Electronic stability control and Traction control
• Rollover & crash sensor disconnects high-voltage circuits
• Tire pressure monitor
• Cruise control
• Backup camera
• Dual front head, knee & pelvis airbags
• Side curtain airbags

The Tesla Model S is a revolutionary new vehicle that is said to change the automotive industry in terms of electrification. The performance and range offered by it are unparalleled and unprecedented. With the list of premium features that it has to offer and the already peerless rivals sheet, the Tesla Model S is not just the car for the future but is an option as a car for the ones who care about mother Earth’s future.