Tesla’s “Updated” Model S and X Highlight How Much Ground It Has Lost
On June 13, 2025, Tesla quietly introduced modest refreshes of its flagship Model S and Model X, marking the first updates since their 2021 overhaul. But rather than showcasing bold innovation, these mid-cycle tweaks underscore Tesla’s diminishing lead in the luxury EV arena.
Minor Enhancements, Major Price Hike
Tesla raised prices for both models by roughly $4,500–$5,000 across all trims—Model S AWD now starts at $84,990, while the Plaid hits $99,990; Model X begins at $89,990, with Plaid at $104,990. In return, buyers receive incremental improvements:
- Range extension: Model S Long Range now offers 410 miles (a 5‑mile gain), Plaid variant delivers up to 368 miles. Model X sees similar modest range bumps
- Ride and cabin refinements: Enhanced noise cancellation, revamped suspension bushings, front‑facing camera, and “dynamic” ambient LED lighting updated from Model 3/Y Lineage.
- Subtle styling tweaks: Minor exterior changes on the S Plaid aimed at high‑speed stability and larger wheels focusing on aerodynamics
- Utility boost: Model X gains 2.5 cubic feet in third‑row/cargo space
Trade‑Offs and Technical Step‑Backs
Critically, these additions come with compromises:
- Weight gain & performance drop: S Plaid is 26 lb heavier and limited to a 149 mph top speed—down from the previous 200 mph. X Plaid increases by approximately 183–186 lb
- Yoke steering wheel sidelined: No longer standard; now a $1,000 option only on Plaid trims
These regressions on speed and agility illustrate not progress, but backsliding.
Innovation on Pause
What stands out is what’s absent. Tesla’s celebrated technologies from the 2023 Cybertruck—such as steer‑by‑wire systems, 800‑volt architectures, and next‑gen batteries—are notably missing. Despite customer hopes for the transfer of these future‑ready technologies to the S and X, Tesla held firm on more superficial enhancements
Comments in Tesla’s X announcement highlight dissatisfaction:
“People want real 3-row SUVs with more range and tech, and this isn’t that.”
This sentiment echoes a growing sense that Tesla’s flagships have become stale.
Sales: Not Just Slowing—but Sliding
In Q1 2025, Tesla delivered a mere 12,881 units across the Model S, X, and Cybertruck, within a broader delivery context of 336,000 vehicles (mostly Model 3 and Y). Further, Electrek reported a 30–37 percent year‑over‑year drop in Model S/X deliveries, attributed to weak demand, not production constraints.
These figures spotlight the decline: once-premium marquee vehicles have become niche afterthoughts.
Broad Shifts in the EV Landscape
Tesla’s minimal refresh arrives amid fierce competition. Legacy automakers and newer EV entrants (e.g., Lucid, Rivian, Genesis EV, Kia EV9) are offering premium three‑row SUVs with higher tech, better interiors, and often more range. Tesla’s continued dominance is far less assured, especially as the industry catches up.
Internal criticism adds another layer. Tesla’s past decision to bundle yoke steering into the Plaid package drew backlash; reverting it to an optional add-on reflects a reactive posture rather than confident leadership.
All Dressed Up, No Place to Go
The updated Model S and X are quieter, comfier, slightly roomier—but also heavier, costlier, and technologically stagnant. They feel like midlife facelift exercises from a struggling automaker rather than flagships of innovation.
In sum, the refreshed S and X embody Tesla’s current crossroads: once trend-setting pioneers, now symbols of a company under pressure, scrambling to keep aging icons relevant in a landscape it once dominated.
What Tesla desperately needs is substance, not just bells and whistles: a bold return to groundbreaking EV innovation. Without it, the Model S and X risk becoming elegant relics—overpriced reminders of better days.