The Tesla Model S Subzero Weather Package adds heated rear seats, wiper blade defrosters and heated washer nozzles.

On July 4th the family and I decided to embark on a road trip to Rockport, MA which is 180 miles round trip from home. This post isn’t about the amazing range of the Model S but rather how the Subzero Weather package kept complaints to a minimum, but more importantly saved me some money.

Tesla Model S Subzero Weather Package

The Subzero weather package is a $750 option that can only be added at the time of purchase. I haven’t heard of anyone being able to retrofit the option afterwards. The Tesla site shows a car driving in the snow as the marketing teaser for the weather package, but it actually has very little to do with driving in the snow. The alternate picture shows a better representation of what you get – heaters.

Tesla calls it “Cold Weather” on the touchscreen controls but the package is marketed as the “Subzero Weather Package”.

With the Subzero Weather package you get three additional controls as follows:

Rear seat heaters
Wiper blade defrosters
Washer nozzle heaters

Seat Heaters

The main reason I bought the Subzero Weather package is that I live in New England and anything that can help with the winters is worth it! But seriously, my family loves seat heaters. My wife never drives without a seat heater turned on in order to help with her back issues.

The Model S takes seat heaters to a new level by providing three seat heater positions for the rear. Each one can be controlled independently of one another and can be adjusted from a heat setting of 1 – 3. From the off position, tap once to go to level 3, then tap again to go to 2 etc. One suggestion that would be a nice-to-have, and a relatively easy change through a firmware update, is if they provided a quick “off” ability. I’m always doing extra tapping to go from 3 to off. A long press maybe?

ALSO SEE: How Does a Tesla Over-the-Air Software Update Work?

When I first took delivery of the Model S, only 1 of my 5 seat heaters worked. A reboot fixed that and they’ve been fine since. The seat heaters work amazingly well and it’s no wonder that Tesla recommends using them to deliver heat versus cranking up the cabin temperature as it’s a much more efficient method of getting warm.

Other than the quick “off” ability I’d like to also see these cold weather elements controllable from the app so I could warm my seat as well as my cabin before entering.

Another annoyance is that Tesla, in their minimalist no-buttons approach, decided not to provide the rear passengers control over, well, their rear. This means as the driver I get the constant requests to raise or lower the temperature on various rear seat positions (my co-pilot hasn’t been brave enough to touch the screen yet herself). Short of adding switches in the rear of the cabin (unlikely for Tesla, and not happening with just a software update), I don’t see this one getting addressed. They may want to consider how minimal their approach is in the Model X. SUV rear seaters expect control!

So, back to why I’m writing this in July. The outing was great and Rockport, MA is beautiful, but in traditional New England form, right after the “Lobsta” rolls, it clouded over, dropped to 65 and rained all over us. I had my handy one-person umbrella stuffed in my glove box but otherwise we were unprepared. After an hour of shopping in the rain and holding off on expensive sweatshirt purchases, the seat heaters earned their keep. All five were blazing on the way home as we were drying and warming up.

Seat heaters are not just for the winter months and can help loosen up a stiff back, take some boredom out of a long drive, and warm you up when you’re physically or mentally cold.

Heated Wipers

The other two options that come with the Tesla Model S Subzero Weather package are related to your windshield. What Tesla calls “Wiper blade defrosters” is a set of heating elements that are part of your lower windshield designed to warm up your wiper blades and prevent them from freezing onto the windshield. They’re also supposed to help remove ice from the wiper blades but I’ve heard mixed reviews on its effectiveness. The heating elements are controlled by touching the dash area. Like the seat heaters, this is not controllable from the mobile app, but having it would allow you to defrost the wipers long before arriving at your frozen car. Also, it’s important to note that these heating elements automatically turn off after a period of time so you may need to periodically turn them back on if you still need them to do some work.

I never noticed it until just now as I was taking pictures for this post, but did you ever notice that the Model S frunk has no washer fluid dispensers to detract from its beauty? It turns out they’re tucked under the edge of the frunk by the windshield.

This placement will make them less prone to being covered by ice and snow build up. The third option that comes with the Tesla Model S Subzero Weather package is a heating element to keep wipers free of snow and ice.By all reports it does a pretty good job at it.

Summary

News

Tesla Model Y wins U.S. News ‘Best Luxury Electric SUV’ award

Published

3 years ago

on

May 11, 2022

By

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has won U.S. News award for “Best Luxury Electric SUV,” beating out a heavy lineup of worthy battery-powered sport utility vehicles.

The Model Y first was delivered to owners in early 2020 and was the automaker’s answer to the widely-popular crossover SUV sector. A sibling of the first mass-market vehicle the company offered, the Model 3, Tesla’s Model Y has quickly become the company’s best-selling electric car, and that’s saying something considering it is not the most affordable Tesla vehicle and starts at $62,990.

U.S. News recognizes Tesla’s influence in the changing automotive market, identifying that it was likely the catalyst in bringing EVs to mainstream status. Despite the rapid expansion of the EV segment, Tesla has remained at the top of the hill, fending off worthy competitors like Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors, who have spent decades developing some of the best automotive technology the world has seen. However, Tesla has also managed to stay above tech-focused and savvy automotive startups entering the electric sector, with battery powertrains being their only focus. Rivian and Lucid, two of the most notable names to fit that description, still have not managed to catch up with Tesla.

The Model Y effectively expanded Tesla’s product line to include a new body style. While the Model X has been offered for seven years, the falcon-wing door-equipped SUV is still only produced for sentimental reasons, according to CEO Elon Musk. It also is much more expensive than the Model Y, and starts at $114,990.

Tesla plans to produce Model Ys with both 4680 and 2170 cells at Gigafactory Texas this year

Those who do not quite have the means to spend over $100,000 on an all-electric SUV have plenty of options, but if a consumer is looking for luxury, the Model Y may be the best choice. U.S. News highlights that, while the Model Y does offer less overall cargo and utility room than the Model X, it still boasts many of the same tech features that Tesla has been known to put in its cars. The Model Y has plenty of performance too, and its premier trim level will get you from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds, while still having over 300 miles of range and a 155 MPH top speed.

“Despite the onslaught of new competitors, the Tesla Model Y is one of the most capable and well-rounded luxury electric SUVs that you can buy at the moment,” U.S. News writes. “If you’re in the market, this is an option that’s well-worth a test drive.”

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

News

Tesla Model Y wins Cars.com’s Best Electric Vehicle of 2022 award

Published

3 years ago

on

February 21, 2022

By

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has captured Cars.com’s “Best Electric Vehicle of 2022” award, beating out several worthy competitors to be named the best EV of the year.

The Model Y is Tesla’s newest addition to its purchasable fleet of vehicles, and the first all-electric crossover to come out of the Fremont factory in Northern California. Tesla developed the Model Y to be a mass-market vehicle capable of handling a variety of tasks. Not only is the vehicle lightning fast in typical Tesla fashion, but it also packs enough cargo space to give full-sized SUVs something to sweat about. It is truly Tesla’s most well-rounded vehicle, suitable for nearly any lifestyle and at a price point that won’t break the bank.

“Tesla is an electric car innovator, and the Model Y reflects that leadership with its efficiency, charging capability, range, and options,” Cars.com’s synopsis of the Model Y said. “It checks a lot of boxes for consumers who have been considering making the jump to an EV.”

EVs are still a small slice of the overall passenger vehicle market in the United States. While EV adoption is continuing to grow at a fast rate, Cars.com says that about a third of active car shoppers are considering an electric vehicle. Additionally, the site stated that occurrences of searching for an EV on Cars.com have doubled in the past year, while inventory levels of EVs have dropped 30 percent since 2021, showing there is plenty of interest from consumers.

The Model Y may be one of the most appealing options for those who are considering switching to an EV from a gas car. Cars.com notes the Model Y’s incredible efficiency, which is paired with 326 miles of EPA-rated range in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant. Not only will the Model Y get you to where you need to go in a minimal number of charging stops, but it also gets better with age. The vehicle, like the rest of Tesla’s fleet, receives Over-the-Air software updates to upgrade vehicle capabilities, fix bugs, or increase performance.

The Model Y is also great for those who have a focus on purchasing cars with a focus on American manufacturing. The vehicle was ranked third on the 2021 American-Made Index, trailing its sibling in the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang.

Cars.com’s list is void of the Lucid Air, Rivian R1T, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6. The publication noted demand and production growth of electric vehicles will allow more models to be considered for the award in the future.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

News

Ford Mustang Mach-E wins Consumer Reports’ Electric Vehicle Top Pick award

Published

3 years ago

on

February 17, 2022

By

Joey Klender

Available Ice White Appearance Package on appropriately configured 2022 Mustang Mach-E and Mustang Coupe models. Closed course.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has won Consumer Reports‘ award for the Electric Vehicle Top Pick. The Mustang Mach-E displaces the Tesla Model 3, which has held the award for the past two years.

CR credits the Mach-E’s rich heritage with the Mustang brand and its obvious popularity based on sales figures to determine the vehicle was in the running for the top pick. After Ford’s introductory EV, the Mustang Mach-E, solidified its prowess in the electric sector by earning the best Overall Score, which factors road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety, Consumer Reports had enough evidence to choose it over Tesla’s mass-market EV.

: Credit: Pirelli

: Credit: Tom’s Ford/Instagram

: Credit: Ford

“Make no mistake, the Model 3 is still a great choice, and Consumer Reports recommends it. It shines with the latest technology, a long range, an impressive charging network, and a driving experience closer to a high-performance sports car than a sedan,” CR said. “But the Mustang Mach-E is also very sporty, plus it’s more practical and easier to live with. The Ford is also quieter and rides better. Both cars have large infotainment center screens, but the Mach-E’s is far easier to operate and doesn’t require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using the defroster or adjusting the mirrors, as with the Tesla. Also, the Mach-E has an edge when it comes to reliability, according to first-year results in our Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.”

The report notes that the Mach-E is more similar to the Model Y than the Model 3, which is a fact. The two vehicles were the one-two punch in the electric crossover SUV sales figures for the U.S. last year, with the Model Y beating the Mach-E.

: Credit: Emma Berg/Twitter

: (Credit: Ford)

: (Credit: Ford)

Consumer Reports also said the Mustang Mach-E gained two additional points to the vehicle’s Overall Score due to the fact it has an active driving assistance system with an adequate driver monitoring system. Any vehicle that has these features gains two additional points. However, CR did not award Tesla Autopilot the two points because the system “can still be used if the driver is looking away or using a phone, as long as there is at least one hand resting on the steering wheel.”

Tesla activated its cabin-facing driver monitoring system in September as part of software update 2021.32.5. Drivers noted that the system worked adequately, alerting drivers following a brief look away from the road to glance at a cell phone or the floor of the vehicle. However, in CR’s in-house study, the publication stated that GM’s SuperCruise did a better job of monitoring drivers during vehicle operation.

Ford has a lot to be proud of as the Mustang Mach-E was its first crack at an EV, and it went pretty well. Mustang Mach-E sales totaled 27,140 vehicles in 2021, according to Ford. While it was not the best-selling EV crossover last year, it was one of the best, and it made a real splash on the passenger market.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.