Reviews
A Simple Center Console Organizer for the Tesla Model S
One of the things I most respect about the Model S is the care given to its design aesthetic. The Tesla team always chooses less over more. The abbreviated trumps the comprehensive at every turn. A great example of this is the center console in the Model S. Or should I say the lack of one. There’s no typical dashboard mutation curving down to invade the cabin crowding your knees. Gas cars require that space to house the transmission tail for linking to the gear shift lever, cup holders, power plugs, phone stand; sometimes even a parking brake handle and drive train. Whew, that’s a lot of stuff. No large console means more open space given over to the imagination to personalize and experiment. This unique quality of the Model S is under appreciated and often misunderstood.
Tesla Motors created the Yacht Floor with finish options to match dashboard décor. That subtle edition is for cosmetic purposes only, not utility. So along came a number of aftermarket products to further imagine the space by making it more useful while taking care to preserve the DNA of the car’s design. The problem they are trying to solve is how to have a collection of small items at the ready while behind the wheel.
Personally I never felt the need for an console organizer. I like openness and am not one to tolerate clutter. But I wear prescription sunglasses and so I need a safe place to store them. Either my sunglasses or regular glasses rest on that space at all times. Whatever I place there rests on the floor, so when I punch the accelerator items travel forward and backward freely. I want to be sure to protect my glasses, but the only way to ensure safety is to store them on the shelf below the touchscreen. The shelf is nice but it has height restrictions and is not as easy to get to while driving.
Here at Teslarati we came across a different approach to making use of the console space without losing the clean, open look. A very simple center console organizer from the Swiss firm, Tesla&More. I got my hands on one and have had it in my Model S for a couple of days now. I have to say that I am finding it useful, but it’s adding visual clutter.
Initial Impressions
The product arrived in a cocoon of protection. The foam packaging was precisely cut to house the organizer as if it had been part of the manufacturing process. No chance of it getting smashed or blemished in transit. This is a critical but often overlooked detail. The organizer has a very low profile, is made of aluminum and powder-coated in smooth black. It feels good to the touch and is pleasing to the eye.
No assembly is required for the organizer. Simply pull it out of the box and place it onto the floor of your Model S center console. It snuggles in nicely, resting forward and leaving a wide space against the armrest pillar. The dividers rise flush with the top of the leather covered lips, converting what was a single floor space into seven sections of varying sizes that can accommodate a number of small items.
ALSO SEE: Premium Tesla Model S Rear Seat Cup Holders (PARZ) Review
The key word here is small. The organizer provides one cubby 6″ x 6½”, two 3½” x 5½”, and two 4½” x 5½”. The largest compartments are at the top, exceeding 7″ tall, but they are a bit out of the line of sight and hard to reach. The best way to think about this product is as a desk drawer organizer; useful but not overly versatile.
Everyday Use
Unlike some of the other consoles out there this one is not covered, so you can see whatever you store and so can anyone else who might be looking. May not make much of a difference, but it’s something to consider.
At first I drove around without putting anything in it but my glasses. I arrived home after some errands and my glasses were right where I placed them when I backed out of my garage. Imagine that. So I was ready to branch out. Next I looked for more small items that I might need at any moment. I’m always transferring new music files to memory sticks so this seemed perfect. Turns out the organizer is a great place to park those sticks. I can place two or three of them in the same cubby and can easily get to them when I feel a musical mood change emerging.
I found it easy to slide charging wires beneath the dividers allowing for multiple devices to get juiced through the USB outlets without fear of them sliding around.
Other things that I’ve found to fit nicely are a stress squeeze ball to combat Chicago traffic snarls, charging adaptor, my iPod or iPhone and a tire pressure gauge. Any number of things can go in there as long as they don’t exceed a five inches and are not top heavy. Do not place your coffee cup in this organizer.
READ: Did you know you can personalize your Tesla Center Console?
Potential Improvement
The sections are fused together and cannot be adjusted. It would be nice to make the second divider from the bottom removable, allowing for the option of a longer compartment. This would introduce an entirely new size of items to be storable. A compact umbrella for instance. Since the Model S console is V-shaped, offering additional slots and dividers would make proper fitting difficult and likely add unnecessary expense.
Summary
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.
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.”
The Tesla Model Y. (Credit: MotorTrend)
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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