21 Tesla features that make them unlike any other electric cars
- Autopilot is a Tesla feature that gets a lot of attention.
- But the cars come equipped with many more, including the "frunk," which competitors have copied.
- Other unique Tesla features include "Dog mode" and "Ludicrous Plus Mode."
Tesla vehicles are engineered with a plethora of interesting add-ons and easter eggs.
Some of the features are what you might expect from a tech-savvy car company, like the Tesla app and key card. Others reflect Elon Musk's unique sense of humor and have added to Tesla's cult following.
From sentry mode to "caraoke," these 21 Tesla features — and some bonus ones rumored to be coming in an upcoming software update — put the cars in a league of their own.
All Tesla models are equipped with a driver assistance system called Autopilot.
The feature enables a car to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within its lane. The function does not replace the role of a driver, but is intended to make driving easier and cut down on accidents.
New Tesla models have eight cameras and 12 sensors that provide a 360-view of the vehicle's surroundings, per the carmaker's website. In the past, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has compared the Autopilot cameras to the human eye.
The system also features an $8,000 or $99 per month Full-Self Driving add-on which can change lanes, as well as recognize stop lights and stop signs. The feature is currently in beta testing.
In 2019, Tesla's got a new "caraoke ' function, which allows Tesla owners to choose from a vast selection of music and song lyrics.
The feature became especially popular in China. In January, the carmaker's $188 in-car Tesla karaoke microphones sold out within an hour of the initial launch in China. The TeslaMic is currently only available in China.
The "caraoke" music selection also features music in different languages. But don't get the idea that you'll be able to sing caraoke while driving, in order for this feature to work, the car has to be parked.
Tesla's Model X and Model Y, as well as more recent versions of the Model S and Model 3, are equipped with a HEPA filtration system that prevents toxic chemicals from getting into the cabin of the car.
The Tesla filtration system targets anything from pollution and bacteria to pollen, the carmaker has said
In January, Tesla released a demo video on X comparing a Tesla filter with a non-Tesla one.
—Tesla (@Tesla) June 5, 2022
All Tesla models feature a unique touchscreen that comes with an array of features including video games, streaming services, and live traffic updates.
The screens are also home to standard features like climate control and navigation but look nothing like anything else on the market.
Tesla is constantly updating its infotainment system with apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.
The system also has several options including Theater, Arcade, Toybox, and Browser. With the Arcade setting, drivers can use the steering wheel buttons or a USB controller to play full games.
The majority of the entertainment features are only available when the car is parked, but drivers have said it has helped them pass time when Teslas are charging or stuck in major traffic jams. In 2022, a Tesla driver said he watched Netflix while stuck in a 14-hour traffic jam in snowy weather.
Tesla connectivity provides drivers with access to features that require data, like streaming music, media, and live traffic visualization.
With Tesla's premium connectivity, you can access various websites while your car is parked, including Hulu, Spotify, and PLEX media player.
Each Tesla is programmed with virtual Easter eggs that can range anywhere from Santa in a sleigh, a rainbow-like road, and even the port of your supercharger lighting up with colors of the rainbow.
Teslas are equipped with a smart auto raising air suspension system that changes based on the GPS coordinates of your vehicle.
Users also have the option to change the firmness of the suspension manually through the Tesla control panel. This feature could really come in handy if you're traveling across the country, and experience changes in the road.
Sentry mode allows you to keep a close eye on your parked vehicle from anywhere in the world.
Let's say someone hits your car with a shopping cart, your Tesla will start recording from the outside cameras and alert you that your vehicle has been hit through the Tesla app. This feature eliminates the stress of ever wondering where that mysterious dent came from.
There are more than 50,000 Tesla supercharging stations in the world -- a number that the company continues to grow.
Tesla says that you can charge your car for as little as 15 minutes for up to 200 miles of travel.
In the past, EV drivers have said the fast-charging stations give Tesla owners an advantage over others due to their speed, as well as the wide availability of Tesla chargers.
There are plenty of options that aren't traditional keys for a Tesla.
If you don't want to use your phone or the card, there are also unique key fobs shaped like a Tesla car.
The Tesla Model X has doors that unlock and fully open as the driver approaches, carrying the key.
The automatic-open option is a setting that can be turned off or on in Tesla's in-car display.
In July 2022, Musk dubbed the feature "one of the best" Model X features.
One of the most interesting things about Tesla is the app, which allows drivers to control their car from virtually anywhere.
The app sends real-time updates if sentry mode were to activate. You can also check the status of your vehicle while it's charging, control the air conditioning and heat, and also lock and unlock your car.
Tesla vehicles frequently receive over-the-air updates which are designed to send new features to the vehicles and "make them safer," Tesla's website says.
The vehicles cannot be operated when updates are being installed, but you can operate your vehicle when updates are downloading. Other automakers have since adopted Tesla's approach for vehicle updates.
If you have a need for speed and want to take your Tesla to the race track, then ludicrous plus mode is for you.
This feature heats up the Tesla battery to an optimum temperature that allows the vehicle to hit maximum speed.
Tesla Model S Plaid mode is another feature for speed racers.
Teslas with plaid mode "have batteries and three electric motors that can produce up to 1,020 horsepower and can take the car from zero to 60 miles an hour in just two seconds," CNN says. That brings these cars in the same performance bracket as Bugatti's and Lamborghinis.
With your family pooch in mind, the carmaker introduced Tesla dog mode to keep them in the car with the temperature of the car being regulated to avoid the animal overheating.
The touchscreen on the car will display a background letting curious bystanders know that your car is a comfortable temperature for your dog and that you will be back.
In December 2022, Tesla released an additional feature that enables users watch to their dog in realtime while its in the car by transmitting a live feed from the cabin camera directly to the Tesla app.
Tesla also has an automatic climate control system for severe weather conditions.
The Cabin Overheat Protection system turns on when the interior of the empty car hits 105 degrees.
Tesla's website when you adjust the cabin temperature in Auto, it "automatically adjusts the heating, air conditioning, air distribution, and fan speed to maintain the cabin at your selected temperature."
Tesla cars are equipped with a fart mode that allows your vehicle to sound like its breaking wind.
The driver can even choose which speaker the sound comes from to give the impression that the sound is coming from a specific seat or direction.
The carmaker used to have a boombox mode as well, which allowed drivers to replace the sound of their horn with anything from the sound of a bleating goat to a round of applause, but the feature was disabled in February over concerns from the NHTSA.
Most cars have a truck in the back, but why would Tesla pass up the opportunity to be anything less than original.
The frunk is just like a trunk, but in the front instead of the back — another feature quickly copied by competitors.
Since Tesla adopted the frunk other automakers have followed suit. For example, the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck also has a frunk feature.
The EV giant released a series of updates in May, including a hands-free automatic trunk that opens when you stand behind it.
Through your Tesla music app on the infotainment system, you can censor explicit lyrics in songs, which is perfect for driving with young children.
The rumored 2024.26 update was released to employees on July 3, according to Not a Tesla App and Tessie, two websites that track Tesla software changes.
The update includes new parental controls, with a number of features that can be enabled with a vehicle PIN, according to the reports. The new "Night Curfew" feature sends notifications to the Tesla mobile app when a vehicle is driven past a set curfew time.
For parents who worry their kid could be taking advantage of the extra zip and high top speed possible with a Tesla, there may also be new controls that give parents the ability to set a maximum speed limit and reduce acceleration.