Tesla has just done a quiet refresh of the Model S and Model X; and although it is light, the price increase is loud. If you were thinking of getting one of these luxury electric vehicles, here’s a brief overview of what has changed in 2025 and if the additional dollars will be worth spending.
Smoother Ride, Quieter Cabin
Tesla has concentrated on comfort with this refresh and the Model S and Model X now have new suspension bushings and improved active noise cancellation meaning the ride feels more seamless and the cabin is much quieter at freeway speeds. Tesla has also modified the wheels with improved aerodynamics to eliminate some road noise. It is the kind of change you will probably not notice at first, but you will certainly know once you are inside and moving - especially if you are coming from an older model.
Why it matters:
- Less fatigue from long commutes
- Great for parents driving kids or pets
- Spectacular for EV enthusiasts who love the "whisper quiet" experience
Minor Design Changes, Significant Impact
While it's not a total redesign, there are appreciable changes in appearance. We now have a new camera located on the front bumper that will be advantageous to features like “Smart Summon” and future autonomous technology. You'll also see some new matte black badging and ambient lighting animations inside the cabin for a little more premium feeling and modern aesthetic. Additionally, we noticed some minimal redesigns on the front-ends of the Plaid trims aimed at increased airflow when the vehicle is moving at high speeds (though as you will see below, this has trade-offs)
Why this matters:
- The new camera makes future self-driving updates easier for Tesla
- The ambient lighting adds some luxury and makes for a tasteful consideration for night movements
- The new matte black badging cleaned up the vehicles and is a modern sportier approach.
Slight Increase in Range
Tesla is able to extract a touch more mileage from the refreshed models. So, Tesla now says the Model S Long Range can range around 410 miles on a full charge - with 19-inch wheels - which translates to a very slight increase in range. Same with the Model X and Model X Plaid versions, even in their AWD versions, the range is improved just a little using various aerodynamic tweaks and slight muffins in efficiency. Not game-changing, but those extra miles are certainly welcome and add up if you are on a journey.
Why it matters:
- Extra miles = less charging time
- Great for weekend trips, or long trips cross country
- Great payload for electric vehicle (EV) owners in rural and snowy conditions
Price Tag Goes Up
Here’s where it hurts: both the Model S and Model X are now $5,000 more regardless of option. The Model S AWD is now priced from $84,990, while the Plaid is $99,990. The Model X AWD is now $89,990 while the Plaid crosses the six-figure mark of $104,990. Those are some increases, especially since Tesla didn’t add the next gen features of steer-by-wire as well as 800-volt charging architecture.
Why it matters:
- Fairly or unfairly, it makes it harder to justify buying now vs. waiting
- More direct competition to other luxury EVs from Lucid, BMW, or Mercedes
- Raises expectations for even more robust updates in the next software release
Performance Slighly Dialed Back
Interestingly, the Model S Plaid is now a little heavier (about 26 pounds heavier) and its top speed is limited to only 149 mph instead of the previously advertised 200 mph. The Model X Plaid didn't fare any better. It is now approximately 186 pounds heavier. While chances are most drivers won't hit those speeds anyways, it is still a change that performance enthusiasts will notice. It definitely feels like Tesla is prioritizing luxury comfort over raw speed this time around.
Why this matter:
- You'll probably be unaffected by it unless you're a track rat
- The extra weight will have some modest effect to its handling and acceleration
- The emphasis quite clearly has switched to "crazy comfortable" from "crazy fast"
Tesla Model S & X (2025) Specifications
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Conclusion
Tesla's Model S and X improvements aren't transformative, but they likely do add to to the comfort of the driving experience. If that's enough to justify the $5K price bump all depends on your priorities, and if they are about luxury and tech improvement then maybe you think the new models will tip the scales in that direction. If you thought there would be huge improvements with (for instance) range or performance then this latest refresh might feel a tad too, let's say, literal.
Source(Image / Thumbnail): carscoops
