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On day three of the Munro Live Tesla Model S Plaid road trip, the team continued their journey toward Maryland—and Sandy Munro finally took the wheel. With over a thousand miles already traveled, the episode dives deep into hands-on driving impressions, new insights into Tesla’s user interface, Autopilot quirks, and an unexpectedly huge fan turnout in Laurel, MD.
Supercharging Speed & Range Anxiety Solved
The team stopped at a supercharger en route to Chester, Virginia. Despite common concerns about EV charging delays, the Plaid’s 250 kW charging capability quickly put those fears to rest. Within ten minutes, the vehicle had already added 130 miles of range, charging at a rate of 527 miles per hour.
The Tesla navigation interface not only recommends optimal charging stops but also calculates reserve margins. When the system warns that the next stop would land the battery at 0%, it suggests waiting just a few more minutes to build buffer—enhancing trip planning confidence and reducing driver stress.
Road Feel: Ride Comfort and Suspension
Driving on “Comfort” mode, the suspension system actively adjusts hundreds of times per second to maintain stability. This adaptive damping is ideal for long hauls, delivering smooth performance without the driver needing to tweak settings unless desired.
While discussing the Plaid’s control setup, the team also pointed out a notable omission: the once-available energy trip graph now only shows a predictive percentage remaining. Although less granular, it still supports energy-conscious decision-making across long distances.
Sandy’s Take: Yoke Steering and Interior Ergonomics
Sandy Munro finally got behind the wheel—and had opinions. He immediately praised the Plaid’s yoke-style steering wheel, highlighting its unobstructed instrument visibility and intuitive button layout. Unlike traditional wheels that hide vital readouts or rely on awkward turn-signal stalks, the yoke enables easy thumb access to key functions.
Sandy even speculated about the future: “I really hope this comes standard on the Cybertruck,” he noted. Its minimalism aligns well with rugged applications, especially for drivers used to open-wheel setups like Jeep owners.
Still, Sandy pointed out one drawback: the rear seats in the Model S Plaid weren’t quite up to par in comfort compared to the front. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm for the driving experience overall was clear.
Phantom Braking and Autopilot Behavior
Not all feedback was glowing. Sandy described a minor—but notable—issue while cornering. At one point, the car unexpectedly decelerated, seemingly confused by the turn geometry. It wasn’t the only anomaly—he also experienced a phantom braking event, where the car momentarily slowed with no visible hazard present.
Although phantom braking isn’t exclusive to Tesla, it remains one of the more controversial aspects of any advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). For daily driving, these glitches may be rare, but they still warrant attention from OEMs and regulators alike.
Safety Alert: Do Not Unbuckle While Driving
One of the most surprising moments of the trip happened when Sandy briefly unbuckled his seatbelt to retrieve a wallet. The car’s response was immediate and dramatic. A flashing red alert took over the screen, ordering him to “Grab the wheel!” and overriding navigation mode.
“It was like the end of the world,” Sandy exclaimed.
This aggressive intervention reinforces Tesla’s commitment to occupant safety—even if the execution feels excessive. It’s a strong deterrent against risky behavior while driving, underscoring how seriously Tesla treats driver presence monitoring.
Meet and Greet: Maryland’s Massive Turnout
Arriving in Laurel, MD, the Munro Live crew was greeted by their largest crowd to date. Enthusiasts from the Maryland and Virginia Tesla Owners Clubs showed up in force, demonstrating just how strong the EV community is on the East Coast.
“There had to be hundreds,” Sandy said. “More than we’ve seen in California.”
The highlight? A well-coordinated prank. As Sandy and Corey parked, a fake police cruiser lit up behind them, complete with a mock traffic stop. The staged officer questioned Sandy about speeding—only to conclude it was just a gag to welcome them in true Tesla fashion.
Autopilot Adjustments and UI Feedback
Another key discussion point was Autopilot customization. The team had just activated full features, including Navigate on Autopilot and traffic sign recognition. Setting the following distance to “1” instead of the default “5” allowed tighter, more natural driving behavior. The looser default often causes hesitation, allowing other drivers to cut in.
The new yoke control buttons also earned praise. Rather than awkwardly reaching behind the wheel for stalks, drivers can now use their thumbs to signal and change lanes with greater efficiency.
Tesla’s continued focus on interface refinement—such as future options to change lanes without confirmation—was seen as a welcome improvement, especially for highway users who favor hands-off simplicity with lane discipline.
Quality Touches: Stitching, UX, and Lean Design
One often overlooked feature caught Sandy’s eye: the steering yoke’s hidden stitching. Unlike traditional triple-stitched leather wheels, the yoke’s seam is hidden along the backside. It’s a smart lean manufacturing move, removing unnecessary visual complexity while improving quality control and customer satisfaction.
This is classic Tesla—prioritizing functional minimalism in both design and production. For engineers and design professionals, it’s another example of how Tesla continuously iterates on form, fit, and finish without bloating complexity.
Final Thoughts: Cost vs Performance
While Sandy remains a fan of the Model 3 and Model Y for their price-to-performance balance, he conceded that the Model S Plaid delivers unmatched speed, comfort, and control. However, he jokingly noted that owning one might mean “losing your license in a week.”
Still, for those who can afford the Plaid and want a flagship experience, it offers an incredible blend of innovation, safety, and sheer EV power.
Key Takeaways for Automotive Professionals
- Tesla’s trip planning UX is highly effective, recalculating in real-time with safe margins.
- Adaptive suspension tuning enhances long-range comfort and stability.
- Yoke steering design offers improved visibility and intuitive control.
- Autopilot quirks like phantom braking still occur occasionally, but feature refinement continues.
- Driver monitoring alerts are forceful but enhance safety compliance.
- EV community engagement remains a powerful marketing asset, especially with regional clubs.
Stay Tuned
This is just one leg of Munro Live’s in-depth look at the Tesla Model S Plaid. For more expert EV teardown analysis, lean design reviews, and firsthand engineering insights, subscribe to Munro Live or explore our full blog archive.