Drive On: Tesla's Model S wows 'Consumer Reports'

First came Motor Trend, and its Car of the Year Award, earlier this week. Now, early, unofficial raves from Consumer Reports magazine.

On the same week that the Tesla became the surprising choice of Motor Trend's coveted COTY, the nation's top consumer magazine weighs in with kind words of its own for the all-electric luxury sedan from Tesla Motors.

Granted, this is not CR's official test. That will come later when it buys a Tesla from a local dealer. But based on its loan of a car from California-based Tesla, CR made an impact.

"We've driven almost every electric car made, and tested most, but the Tesla Model S comes as a revelation. We've been taking turns driving a Signature Performance version on loan to us from Tesla for about a week now, and everyone has come out of it impressed," CR says.

Basically, CR validated everything that Motor Trend found — and frankly, that we, USA TODAY's Drive On, told you last summer.

The Model S destroys just about every negative image of an electric car. It gets a government-rated 265 miles per charge from its battery, is quick, agile, full of surprises like its 14-inch center display screen and beautiful to boot.

"Now driven the Model S, you get a very strong impression: These guys are serious about demolishing every obstacle that stands in the way of the electric car," CR says.

A CR endorsement is huge, given the magazine's non-profit status and enormous reputation for independence.