This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D. 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 249% better combined MPG than the average car in the Large Cars class for the 2017 model year (29.8 MPG class average).
  • EPA estimates this car saves around $7,250 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
  • Has an EPA-rated electric driving range of 294 miles.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D. 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 104 MPG
City MPG 102 MPG
Highway MPG 107 MPG
Annual fuel cost $700
Tailpipe CO₂
Fuel type Electricity

How the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D compares

The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D returns 104 combined MPG. Cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year average 29.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 249%.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2017 model year (across all classes) returns 26 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 2017 model year is on its own page.

2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D
104 MPG
Class average, 2017
29.8 MPG
Average new car, 2017
26 MPG

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 $350
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $700
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $1,167

Year-over-year MPG for the Tesla Model S AWD - 90D

The EPA has rated the Tesla Model S AWD - 90D across 3 model years, from 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D through 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D. 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 104 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2017 104 MPG this page
2016 103 MPG 2016 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D
2015 100 MPG 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D

Compare against other Large Cars for 2017

If you are cross-shopping the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D, 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.

Specifications

The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D is a fully electric vehicle. It is powered by 193 (front) 193 (rear) (90 kw-hr battery pack). The EPA rates its driving range at 294 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) (90 kW-hr battery pack)
EV range
294 miles
Annual petroleum use
0.1 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D.

  • Is the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D fuel efficient?
    Yes. The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D returns 104 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Large Cars class for the same model year by about 249%.
  • What MPG does the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D get?
    The EPA rates the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D at 104 combined MPG, 102 MPG in city driving, and 107 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 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $700 for the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D. 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 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D use gasoline?
    No. The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D 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.
  • Has the Tesla Model S AWD - 90D become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D, 100 MPG) and most recent (2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D, 104 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D emit?
    The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D 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 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D?
    City driving returns 102 MPG and highway driving returns 107 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What motor does the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D use?
    The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D uses 193 (front) 193 (rear) (90 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 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D have?
    The 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D 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.
  • What is the EV range of the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D?
    The EPA rates the 2017 Tesla Model S AWD - 90D for 294 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.