With its lineup of electric vehicles, Tesla is an unconventional company that thrives on throwing normality out the window. And while breaking the mold can benefit consumers, the benefit is questionable in the case of the Model X. With enough gee-whiz gizmos to give William Gibson a thrill, the X seemingly sacrifices practicality for the purpose of showboating.
The Model X SUV doesn't shine brightly. Although the X is quick and doesn't consume a drop of gasoline, it isn't as quiet, doesn't ride as comfortably, and demonstrates severely compromised usability and utility in everyday use. The new yoke steering wheel adds insult to injury. There are no stalks for turn signals, wipers, high beams or horn. Instead drivers have to press buttons on the stubby steering wheel and take their eyes off the road for added distraction. Turns that require hand-over-hand movements—such as pulling into a driveway or parking—leave one of your hands without part of the wheel to hold onto. It’s also extremely difficult to keep both hands on the yoke as you unwind the wheel after taking a turn. In some cases, the yoke simply slipped out of our test driver’s hands, which is dangerous.
Novelties such as the prominent motorized "falcon wing" rear doors that articulate upward and the humongous windshield will be the talk of the neighborhood. But ultimately, any advantage they bring is outweighed by a bigger disadvantage. For example, the rear doors create an immense opening, but their time-consuming opening and closing act gets very old, very fast. Even the electrically-actuated front doors are overcomplicated, forcing constant fussing with fiddly flush door handles. And that huge windshield creates a panoramic view overhead but struggles to keep out intense sun glare.
Since we originally tested the Model X, the battery got larger and the range became longer, currently at 329 miles. Charging is convenient with Tesla's wall-mounted connector if installed at home.
Crucially, the Model X can take advantage of Tesla's unique supercharger public infrastructure for recharging. This minimizes the typical EV limitations and facilitates long drives, although these trips require longer and more frequent stops than a conventional car.
Even with a weight of 5,400 pounds, the Model X is quick, registering 4.9 seconds in the 0-60 mph dash. Moreover, the instant thrust of acceleration proves gratifying anytime, anywhere.
Cornering is stable and even-keel, contrasting with the top-heavy feel of some SUVs. But the driving experience is ultimately hurt by the stiff ride, which amplifies bumps. Of course, absent a roaring engine, buyers expect an electric vehicle to be quiet. Indeed, the Model X emits no engine noise, but too much wind noise mars the experience. Neither shortcoming is befitting a vehicle with a six-figure price tag.
The interior is minimalist yet ultramodern. The slick, industrial design is certainly unique, but its stark vibe might not be to everyone's taste. Note that some interior design decisions compromise practicality. For instance, the monopod-mounted second-row captain chairs seem to float on air. But unlike in every other SUV, they don't fold in order to haul big cargo. (The standard bench seat is more flexible.) Cargo hauling is limited to a small space behind the folding third row or a useful small front trunk that resides where the engine lives in a conventional car. Rear visibility is tight and big roof pillars block view to all corners.
Like the Model S, a giant touch screen forms a glowing centerpiece for the dash. Since there are no normal knobs or buttons, this iPad-like screen is the interface for controlling audio, phone, and navigation functions. Even steering wheel and mirror adjustments are made through steering wheel buttons with guidance from the screen. Performing most tasks requires frequent eyes-off-the-road gazes which is very distracting. Over-the-air software updates get beamed to the car, helping the car stay up-to-date with Tesla's latest innovations.
Tesla's Autopilot feature is a system that gives the car partial automation capability. In our tests of this system, we found that it can add convenience but could potentially lull drivers into complacency.
No question, the Tesla brand has built up a cult following that basks in the cool high-tech aura surrounding its cars. But looking at the Model X with eyes wide open shows that Tesla was trying too hard to be different, just to be different.