We Try Out the Tesla Model S Plaid’s New and Improved Screen Setup

The headlines for the Tesla Model S Plaid tout the ludicrous 1020 horsepower and the 2.1-second zero-to-60-mph time, but along with otherworldly amounts of speed, the Plaid also brings the revised interior that all Model S cars received for 2021. The update brought a redesigned user interface, a small screen for rear-seat passengers, and a switch to a horizontal screen up front, among other changes. When we tested the Plaid and experienced its brutal 1.0-second jump from 50 to 70 mph, we also gave the new interior a whirl, finding several minor improvements and that the system works quite well overall.

Read Our Instrumented Test

The center screen itself is all new and no longer comes in portrait orientation. Instead, the 17.0-inch touchscreen is in landscape orientation, similar to the Model 3 and Y but two inches larger. The resolution is incredible, at 2200 by 1300 pixels, and the picture is bright and vivid. "You can tell they didn't skimp on quality there," noted staff editor Drew Dorian. The software has also been overhauled, and Tesla says it has 10 teraflops of processing power, enough to rival the PlayStation 5.

An upgraded user interface runs on the touchscreen. It allows you to rearrange the windows by dragging them around the display. The new system also features a button to access recent apps and a swipe-to-close feature for apps, rather than the old "X" button, and can pair with multiple Bluetooth devices. The new 8.0-inch rear screen hosts media and climate controls along with games, making for a more engaging and comfortable experience for back-seat passengers. While the system is "snappy and responsive," as Dorian put it, it isn’t the most intuitive infotainment setup we've experienced.

Part of the issue is that Tesla has shifted many functions normally found on stalks and buttons to the screen. Similar to the Model 3, controls such as mirror adjustments are built into the infotainment system, and it can be annoying to use the screen for these types of functions. This is especially true when driving, as the screen buttons are small and don't provide the same tactile feedback as a traditional button. As deputy editor Rich Ceppos explained, "When you're driving and can't look at a screen—or don't want to because it takes extra time to precisely line up your finger with the onscreen button—reaching for a switch or button or knob you can actually feel is actually the better solution."

Tesla swapped out the physical gear selector for a slider on the left side of the screen. The car can also auto-select a gear for you. In our time with the Plaid, we found that the gear selector correctly guessed the direction we wanted to travel only around half of the time. Still, we didn't find ourselves quite as frustrated with the gear selector as we did with the yoke steering wheel, since the auto-select can easily be overridden via the screen. And while the yoke may have caused unnecessary drama when trying to navigate parking lots, it did help provide a clear, uninterrupted view of the digital gauge display.

Ultimately, the interior changes probably won't matter much to those intent on buying a Plaid—they're probably more focused on bragging rights and out-accelerating virtually every other car on the road in between stoplights. But the high-definition reoriented screen, sleeker user interface, and new rear screen are all welcome upgrades to the Model S. While we may have balked at the lack of physical controls, we imagine many Plaid customers will approve of the futuristic, buttonless interior. Just don’t try to adjust the mirrors while zipping to 100 mph in 4.3 seconds.