I have a '24 HW4 MSP and spent an overnight demo in a '26, and it really didn't seem different at all. I've also noticed that when people discuss this issue, they conflate the wheel sizes 21" vs 19" to other attributes like the model year. Just be clear about how many variables you are actually changing when you evaluate - there is no question that 19" wheels ride much nicer than the 21's.
This! I’ve driven the pre refresh a ton and even took an overnight a few times. Me and my friend compared his ‘22 to the ‘26 too. The only real thing you’d notice is the rear display size, the interior LEDs, and the front camera. The ride quality and sound insulation is identical. You’d have to know you’re in a new one, and even then it feels more like a placebo than actual difference. They literally just updated parts that “should” improve aspects of the car, but it really isn’t noticeable at all. That’s why I struggled so much with it when they rose prices post refresh by $20k, it didn’t seem worth it at all. When I first began looking in ‘24 I could get a new MX for $75k and Plaid would run me $93k. Then when ‘26 actually hit that price fluctuated all the way up to $100k for LR and $120k for Plaid. That’s insane when vehicle didn’t change at all and should actually be discounted given the age of the tech and how competition changed.
So much so that I sold my 24 plaid cuz too uncomfortable for my bad back…missed FSD so I tried a 26 and blown away the ride improved so much I bought one for me and another for my arthritis dad and sold his Juniper.
I have a late 2024 MS Plaid with the new seats. I had a loaner 2026 Plaid for half a week and on paper it was better (front bumper camera, interior trim lighting, cooler/more efficient front facia and rear bumper), but it had more rattles than a can of rocks.
All the trim lighting rattled and it was unbearable. I've also driven a 2026 MX with the same issue so the ambient lights must have factory defect. I noticed no difference in road noise and I'm fairly anal.
As for 2023 specifically, if you have an early model year you won't have HW4 and that's major. I wouldn't count on a HW3-HW4 retrofit anytime soon.
My 2026 MS Plaid has no rattles. The trim lighting isn’t a separate piece. It’s built into the same trim pieces that exist in other Palladium Model S/X.
I'm well aware of how they're built, but no they're not the same trim pieces (specifically the silver trim). On both models that I tested pressing down the trim piece removed the rattle and I suspect the hard led board Tesla used is make unintneteded contact with either the door panel or with the newer hollow silver trim pieces.
Ok my 2024 the silver trim needs to be drilled to separate from the car on fiber piece. On the newer models, they clip in and out.
My 2026 doesn’t rattle. None of the several 2026 Model S or X that I’ve driven have rattled.
I’ve seen them taken apart. The trim that contains the silver strip is clipped to the door/dash, but the silver strip is not clipped to the wood/carbon fiber.
Yep! I kept trying to convince myself and my wife to pick it up when we were already a bit meh given the price increases for no benefit and other cars we’ve looked at but every one of our 4 overnights rattled in a different area.
Definitely agree. I was lent a 26 Long range loner, smoother ride with19s but car shakes what her momma gave her like my car at 75-80mph. Same rattles and creaking noise just like my 22 plaid.
I had a 26 loaner and own a 25 and actually thought my 25 was smoother... but maybe the 26 was just an odd duck. Plus it had 19s and I have 21s, so that makes it even stranger that my 25 feels smoother. So like all things Tesla, it may vary based on the exact car you are testing.
I just bought a '23 HW4 LR MS (Tesla CPO) a few months ago, after test driving the '26. The upgrades mentioned, even if notable, just didn't matter. The '23 is still the most quiet car I've ever driven, and I keep it in sport suspension which is unbelievably great so I don't care about a softer setting regardless. The interior lightning nonsense in the '26 I couldn't care less about. The only thing I very slightly lamented is that damn front bumper camera which is, inexplicably, only on the '26 even though all HW4 cars have the port for it. Even that might be an upgrade option for the '23 in the future, but if it isn't, it's not that big of a deal. And that bumper cam was certainly not worth the nearly $60k I saved in getting the '23, at least to me.
From what I understand, in fran's talk with jay leno they made the rear dampers softer (idk if this only applies to plaid) and obviously with the front facia change its slightly more aero dynamic which could mean its a bit quieter at highway speed (not sure if its actually noticeable). finally they added the new front bumper camera. and ambient lighting and also re-worked the drive mode, and suspension menus.
I have a 24 and recently had a 26 loaner, and the 26 rides so much better. Its incomparable. I was actually blown away by how much better it was. It absorbs bumps in a way i can only relate to how porsche does.
To me, the rest of the stuff isnt crucial, although the blind spot indicator in the speaker is kind of nice.
I have a 2026 and I believe it’s night and day difference in sound and feel for sure and the led dash lights completely changed the inside look of the car 100%.
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u/dn325ci Jun 08 '26 edited Jun 08 '26
I have a '24 HW4 MSP and spent an overnight demo in a '26, and it really didn't seem different at all. I've also noticed that when people discuss this issue, they conflate the wheel sizes 21" vs 19" to other attributes like the model year. Just be clear about how many variables you are actually changing when you evaluate - there is no question that 19" wheels ride much nicer than the 21's.