- Tesla reboots the Model S and X in Europe after removing them from the configurator in July.
- The two models get a host of improvements but cost the same as they did before their Euro sales hiatus.
- The Model S Plaid gets the most improvements, including exterior design revisions that improve its aerodynamic performance.
The Tesla Model S is one of the most important modern electric vehicles, and it’s been on sale almost without pause since 2009. However, sales and interest around it and the Model X SUV have waned in recent years as more EVs became available, and now the two big Teslas barely register in the manufacturer’s sales figures. That’s why we weren’t surprised when they were removed from the online configurator in Europe an July and we were pretty sure they weren’t coming back.
However, Tesla wasn’t planning to discontinue the models. The hiatus in their availability on the continent was because Tesla was preparing to bring the refreshed models to Europe, and now you can order them again here. They feature the same updates as the refreshed S and X available in the United States, which is to be expected since that’s where both are still built.
The Model S achieves a higher WLTP range of up to 462 miles (744 km), making it the longest-range Tesla that you can buy today. The same model is rated at 410 miles (659 km) EPA, which is closer to what you can expect to achieve in real-world driving conditions.
The front end of the 1,020-horsepower Model S Plaid is slightly tweaked with a reshaped bumper, which Tesla says helps with high-speed stability, as do the reshaped diffuser and rear carbon spoiler. There are also new wheel designs for both the Long Range and Plaid variants, both of which help make it more aerodynamic, and in combination with new low-rolling resistance tires, are a big part of why it now has more range.
Gallery: 2026 Tesla Model S
The Model X SUV also gets new wheel designs, but the rest of the exterior remains untouched. The claimed WLTP range rises to 403 miles (649 km), and Tesla says it has made the third row seating more spacious, as well as improved the cargo room. Dynamic ambient lighting now extends throughout the cabin of both models and you can drag a cursor around a spectrum to choose the exact hue that you want.
Tesla says they ride smoother now, thanks to revised and improved air suspension with new bushings, which also enhances their dynamic abilities. The Model S Plaid is listed as having received “new stabilization components for improved high-speed handling,” but Tesla doesn’t say what exactly it changed.
Traveling aboard the revised models should be an even more serene experience thanks to improved sound insulation and sound-absorbent materials throughout. Wind and road noise levels should be lower now, thanks to enhanced active noise canceling.
Gallery: 2026 Tesla Model X
On the safety front, both cars get the new front-facing camera that was also added to the Model 3 and Y, as well as blind spot monitoring and adaptive headlights. But they still have no radar. The starting prices for the Long Range versions of the Model S are still €109,990 ($127,500) and for the Model X €114,990 ($133,000). The Plaids will set you back €119,990 ($139,000) and €124,990 ($145,000), respectively.
The two models may look the same, but Tesla says it has done a lot of work under the skin to make them better cars. They were already very quiet and capable machines, but now promise to be even better. Tesla doesn’t expect to sell too many of these anyway, although the update may bring renewed interest from buyers who have a lot of alternatives now. We’ll see just how much better they are when we test them on European roads later this year.
