Tesla's Model S P85D Forces Consumer Reports To Reamp Ratings Scale

When Consumer Reports bought a Tesla Model S for road testing this spring, its $127,820 sedan got off to an inauspicious start. After 27 days and 2,300 miles, an electric door handle failed, locking the driver’s door shut.

It got fixed. And as testing moved forward, it became clear that it was Consumer Reports’ rating scale that was broken. The Model S P85D scored a 103 on a scale meant to stop at 100, forcing the magazine to recalibrate its ratings.

“It blew away everything else we’ve ever tested,” Jake Fisher, the automotive testing director at Consumer Reports, said in an interview. Not only was it the quickest car tested in the magazine’s history, dashing from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, it delivered the equivalent of 87 mpg from its electric powertrain.

mre30 - 8/27/2015 10:19:28 AM

+1 Boost

Well - good thing they like it - this way, if the car is defective and the faulty electronic door handles/openers 'locks-in' the passengers, at least they will be entombed in something they like.

What happens if they get entombed and then the batteries run dead? Would they be completely locked in then?

runninglogan1 - 8/27/2015 2:13:54 PM

+2 Boost

Incredible machine.

TomM - 8/27/2015 6:25:45 PM

0 Boost

At least you called it a machine - and not a car.

We have yet to see if any of this technology will trickle down to an area where the average person could afford it - and we have to see IF these cars will retain any value when traded for another Brand of car. We do not know how long the battery sets will last - and if they will degrade over time (Which is likely). And we still have no options for resetting the computer - except returning to Tesla - so if the Computer decides to STOP you car for a problem - so far - only tesla can fix it and get the car running again.

Sorry - it is NOT the greatest car ever built - and few cars are truly American - lots of parts come from other places. And that will only continue in the future

carloslassiter - 8/27/2015 5:26:06 PM

+2 Boost

Greatest car ever built, and it's American.

MDarringer - 8/28/2015 8:54:20 AM

+1 Boost

The rating scale was electrically powered?