The classic steering wheel returns for the Tesla Model S and Model X
When Tesla announced its intention to market a car equipped with a “yoke” steering, or “yoke” in English, some cried genius, others disaster. For some, it was a way of seeing car driving in the same way as a video game, while for others, it was downright a lack of safety. However, everyone is now satisfied because Tesla has just added the choice of steering wheel among the options to select when it comes time to place an order for the Model X and Model S.
It is therefore now possible for the buyer to choose the type of steering wheel he wishes to obtain for his new car, free of charge: the classic round steering wheel or the “yoke” steering wheel. In both cases, it’s a steering wheel that includes touch-sensitive buttons replacing the levers that are normally found on the steering column. These buttons allow, among other things, to activate the indicators or the horn. In addition, dials are placed on each of the left and right spokes of the steering wheel to control various equipment on board the car.
The announcement is a belated reaction to a slew of criticism Tesla faced when it launched updated Model S and Model X versions in 2021, equipped only with a “yoke”. Many had decried the lack of intuitiveness of this new kind of steering wheel while deploring the fact that Tesla refuses to at least give consumers the possibility of opting for this one or a traditional steering wheel.
For those who got their hands on a Tesla Model S or Model X with the “yoke” steering wheel and would prefer a classic steering wheel, know that Tesla will offer to install one in your car for a few hundred dollars. US pricing has been confirmed at US$700, while Canadian pricing is $960, including installation at a Tesla Service Center. This replacement steering wheel, which includes all the functionality of the “yoke”, is also heated and will be available from March 2023.
