Tesla brought back to earth by reviews

IT’S been virtually all accolades for Tesla’s Model S — from the automotive press, electric-vehicle fanatics and Wall Street analysts whose reviews have helped boost the company’s stock price nearly 650% since early 2013.

But here’s where the rubber meets the road: the car has now been out long enough to be thoroughly tested, and the reviews so far have brought the early hype a little more down-to-earth.

These so-called dependability reviews are important because they reflect how cars respond in the real world, after that new-car aura has dissipated. If the Model S doesn’t fare well in long-term dependability, its resale value will be negatively affected.