Tesla Model S

Prices for the Model S have crept up over the years as Tesla has increased power and dropped the cheaper versions to avoid any crossover with the smaller Tesla Model 3. As a result it now costs as much as luxury cars such as the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with top-spec versions nudging the £100,000 barrier.

If the ticket price is daunting, the running costs are less so. Topping up with electricity will cost you a lot less than diesel or petrol for a combustion-engine rival with similar performance. Maximum battery range is better than just about any other electric car, varying between 367 and 379 miles depending on model. Like every Tesla, the Model S can be charged using a home charger, standard or fast-charge public chargers, or Tesla’s own extensive network of rapid-charge ‘superchargers’.

As a pure EV the Model S is exempt from emissions-based congestion zones and Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), while company car tax is zero for the 2020/21 tax year and rises to a negligible two per cent from 2022.

Residual values are stronger than those of most big saloons, while Tesla operates an ‘as-needed’ policy for servicing, and points out that its cars don’t need oil or air filter changes, while regenerative braking reduces brake wear.