2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D: MPG and fuel economy
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D is a fully electric vehicle rated at 100 MPGe combined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has an EPA-rated driving range of 270 miles on a full charge.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 207% better combined MPG than the average car in the Large Cars class for the 2016 model year (32.6 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Tesla Model S AWD - 60D at 104 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $7,000 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Has an EPA-rated electric driving range of 270 miles.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 100 MPG |
| City MPG | 95 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 106 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $750 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | — |
| Fuel type | Electricity |
How the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D compares
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D returns 100 combined MPG. Cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year average 32.6 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 207%.
The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Tesla Model S AWD - 60D at 104 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Tesla Model S AWD - 85D alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2016 model year (across all classes) returns 25.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2016 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for electricity, which is $0.15/kilowatt-hour. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPGe and the reference electricity price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. Charging at home rather than at a public DC fast charger usually lowers the real cost below the EPA's published figure.
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $375 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $750 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $1,250 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Tesla Model S AWD - 85D
The EPA has rated the Tesla Model S AWD - 85D across 2 model years, from 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D through 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 100 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 100 MPG | this page |
| 2015 | 100 MPG | 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D |
Compare against other Large Cars for 2016
If you are cross-shopping the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model S AWD - 60D leads this group at 104 MPG, 4 MPG ahead of the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D.
Specifications
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D is a fully electric vehicle. It is powered by 193 (front) 193 (rear) (85 kw-hr battery pack). The EPA rates its driving range at 270 miles.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Large Cars
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Electricity
- Electric motor
- 193 (front) 193 (rear) (85 kW-hr battery pack)
- EV range
- 270 miles
- Annual petroleum use
- 0.1 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D.
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Is the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D returns 100 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Large Cars class for the same model year by about 207%. -
What MPG does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D at 100 combined MPG, 95 MPG in city driving, and 106 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $750 for the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D use gasoline?
No. The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D is fully electric and runs on grid electricity. The MPGe figure on this page converts electricity use into a gasoline-equivalent so you can compare it directly to a regular car. -
How much CO₂ does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D emit?
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D produces zero tailpipe emissions because it runs entirely on electricity. The full carbon footprint of charging it depends on how the electricity on your local grid is generated, which varies a lot from one state to another. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D?
City driving returns 95 MPG and highway driving returns 106 MPG, a gap of 11 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What motor does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D use?
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D uses 193 (front) 193 (rear) (85 kW-hr battery pack). Electric motors do not have a displacement or cylinder count the way a combustion engine does, so EPA reporting focuses on the motor type and battery system instead. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D have?
The 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D comes with a automatic (a1) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Tesla Model S AWD - 60D at 104 combined MPG. The Tesla Model S AWD - 85D returns 100 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
What is the EV range of the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D?
The EPA rates the 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D for 270 miles of electric driving range on a full charge. That covers most daily commutes and weekend trips without needing a top-up, but plan ahead for longer drives.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.