Tank Ledger

Tesla Model S - 90D MPG by year — every rating on record

The Tesla Model S - 90D has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 2015 to 2017. Across those years its best rated version returned 104 mpg (2017) and its thirstiest returned 100 mpg (2015). The EPA record holds 3 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.

104best combined mpg (2017)
100worst combined mpg (2015)
104latest year best (2017)
3configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
20151100 mpg100 mpg#3 of 75 (97th pct)All-Wheel DriveElectricityLarge Cars
20161103 mpg103 mpg#3 of 72 (97th pct)All-Wheel DriveElectricityLarge Cars
20171104 mpg104 mpg#2 of 74 (99th pct)All-Wheel DriveElectricityLarge Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Tesla Model S - 90D placed highest in 2017 at #2 of 74, and lowest in 2015 at #3 of 75. It spent 3 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 3 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrRangeCO2 g/miGHG
2017All-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) ElectricityEV102107104110.60.1$700294 min/a10/10
2016All-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) ElectricityEV101107103111.70.1$750294 min/a10/10
2015All-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) ElectricityEV95106100115.00.1$750270 min/a10/10

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2015 → 2016100 → 103 mpg+3 mpg112 gal
2016 → 2017103 → 104 mpg+1 mpg111 gal

What Model S - 90D fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2017 Tesla Model S - 90D burns 111 to 111 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$332$332$0
$3.50/gal$387$387$0
$4.00/gal$442$442$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2017 model year is $700 to $700 a year in fuel, or $7,750 less than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Large Cars

Across the 305 nameplates EPA classifies as Large Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 104 mpg the Tesla Model S - 90D is 83 mpg better the median, which is worth about $1,530 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Tesla nameplates

Every Tesla model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.