You know what they say about reinventing the wheel—it's hardly ever a good idea. When Tesla revealed the refreshed Model S, though, it also brought

Tesla’s ‘Knight Rider’ Steering Yoke Is Getting Panned in Early Reviews

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2021-06-18 17:00:10

You know what they say about reinventing the wheel—it's hardly ever a good idea. When Tesla revealed the refreshed Model S, though, it also brought with it a goofy yoke-style steering wheel that's become pretty controversial amongst Tesla stans and the general car-driving public.

Debates on whether on not the wheel is tasteful have run rampant on social media, many defending the use of a non-traditional steering wheel because it allows for more unobstructed visibility of the gauge cluster. Others argue that the real issue is practicality—and as videos of the refreshed Model S begin to hit the internet, that's becoming pretty evident. As shocking as it may be, it turns out that a rectangle might not be the most ideal shape for a steering wheel on a daily-driven car.

The refreshed Tesla Model S has a lot going for it, especially if you're driving it in a straight line. The Plaid variant will do zero to 60 miles per hour in under two seconds—so long as you VHT-prep the track surface, allow the car several minutes to pre-condition the battery and powertrain, and then drop it into its "Cheetah" stance. The new yoke steering wheel is an interesting addition to the cabin too, and it is better for forward visibility. The only real challenge comes if you need to turn, which is also pretty important.