2016 Tesla Model X Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　

What’s new

　　The 2016 Tesla Model X is an all-new model.

　　

zzdcar says

　　If you want a family-friendly electric SUV, the 2016 Tesla Model X is in a class of one. You'll love the large door openings and silent speed of this midsize electric crossover that utilizes many of the same components as Tesla's successful Model S sedan.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2016 Tesla Model X EV Insights

Trim:Model X 75D

　　75D 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $83,000 MSRP90D 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $95,500 MSRPP90D 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $115,500 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

　　Not available

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | OpenStreetMap

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs / Warranty mileage is unlimitedThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　Exceeded original 8 year warranty.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.

　　

Charging at Home

　　No charging time information available

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$4,000

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

　　For the vehicle to qualify: Price cannot exceed $25,000. Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased. Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted. Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.

　　For individuals to qualify: Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status. Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle. Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle. Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.

　　To learn more, visit OpenStreetMap

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit OpenStreetMap

　　

Cost to Drive

　　Not Available

　　Model X

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　Lost among the sometimes hype-driven commentary regarding the Tesla Model S sedan is that it's simply a very nice, very fast car. It's sleek and seductive, with luxury, performance and price beyond any electric vehicle on sale today. Tesla hopes to extend its win streak with the all-new 2016 Model X, a crossover-style version of the popular sedan.

　　Buyers who like the Model S but want something bigger should be pleased with the Model X. Its standard third row of forward-facing seats offers a choice of true six- or seven-passenger seating, compared to the optional rear-facing jump seats in the Model S. The Model X is also available with two rows of seating for five passengers.

　　Unique articulating rear doors (Tesla calls them "falcon wing" doors) use dual hinges and many sensors to reduce their opening and closing arcs in tight spaces and allow freer access to the rear seats. Tesla says the doors can open with just one foot of side clearance. They are slower to operate than traditional doors and disallow the use of roof-mounted cargo boxes or racks. Parking spaces with limited overhead room (like traditional garages) limit how far the rear doors can open.

　　Despite building the Model X on the same platform used for the sedan, the Model X is taller, wider, heavier and slightly longer than the Model S.

　　

Performance & mpg

　　The base Model X 75D has 328 horsepower and a 75 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery that gives up to 237 miles of driving range. Stepping up to the 90D trim level increases power to 417 hp and the battery capacity to 90 kWh for 257 miles of range. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph quickens from 6.0 seconds for the 70D to 4.8 seconds for the 90D.

　　A more performance-oriented 463-hp P90D trim is good for a projected 250 miles of range and hits 60 mph in a claimed 3.8 seconds. With the optional "Ludicrous" performance upgrade, power rises to 532 hp and the 0-60 time drops to 3.3 seconds in our testing. That's astonishing acceleration for any car, let alone a multi-passenger crossover.

　　All Model Xs feature a second electric motor driving the front wheels, endowing all Model Xs with standard all-wheel drive.

　　

Safety

　　Driver safety and convenience features include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and parking assist, and a near hospital-grade cabin air filtration system. A "Summon" feature moves the Model X out of parking spaces or garages remotely.

　　There's also an available "Autopilot" driving mode that uses the adaptive cruise and lane-keeping systems so that the Model X can function as semi-autonomously. It's clever but not perfect. We implore drivers to remain attentive when the system is engaged.

　　

Driving

　　Acceleration from low speeds is surreal in its combination of instantaneousness, ferocity and relative silence. Its thrust is its best party trick, by far. And for a vehicle this heavy (some 5,400 pounds!), it handles commendably well. It steers precisely for its ample size and weight, though it's on the numb side. The ride quality isn't quite as supple as its Model S sedan stablemate, particularly with the optional 22-inch wheels.

　　The panoramic windshield offers a terrific outward view to the front. It's best on overcast or cold days, as the ever-present sun in your field of vision soon quickly loses its novelty on sunny days. Plus, the windshield becomes heat-soaked on bright days, which then radiates on your head. The supplied manual sunshade is a disappointingly chintzy and halfhearted solution. Rearward visibility is minimal, so you tend to rely on the backup camera.

　　More so than the sedan, the Model X requires some compromise. Although the crossover will benefit from Tesla's most current hardware and software updates, long-term reliability is still an issue for this new automaker (we encourage you to read our opinions on owning a OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap). To that end, Tesla offers an eight-year, infinite-mile battery and drive unit warranty.

　　Long-distance road trips require more planning and much more time than a conventional car, although Tesla's growing network of free, high-speed Supercharger stations makes this easier. That, and the navigation system tells you where to Supercharge and for how long in order to minimize the downtime. The "falcon wing" doors also won't please everyone, especially those who'll find no space on the roof for cargo boxes or racks. Tesla will offer an accessory hitch carrier for bikes, skis and snowboards to somewhat skirt this inconvenience.

　　

Interior

　　Like the Model S, the Model X has a dashboard that's bereft of nearly all buttons. Instead, the majority of the controls are embedded in the colossal central touchscreen. It's a fast-responding and sharp interface, though finding exactly what you're looking for can sometimes be a bewildering experience.

　　Aside from the gimmicky rear doors, the driver-side door can auto-open as you approach, and close once you're inside by simply applying the brake pedal. The second-row seats slide forward to ease access to the third row even if child seats are installed in the second row. The third-row seats also fold down for increased rear cargo area. Tesla hasn't announced the Model X's rear cargo volume, but claims the area is large enough for "bikes and gear," although the second row seats do not fold down. A front trunk can also accommodate additional cargo.

　　A large panoramic glass windshield is designed to allow more sky and ambient light into the cabin, its inspiration drawn from the bubble canopies on helicopters.

　　The Model X is also rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with 20-inch wheels. Opting for 22-inch wheels drops the tow rating to 3,500 pounds. In the real world, towing with a Model X should be reserved for short local trips only as range drops precipitously when towing, and the Supercharger network is very difficult to use when a trailer is attached.

　　

2016 Tesla Model X models

　　The 2016 Tesla Model X is a midsize electric crossover SUV.

　　The base Model X 75D starts at $83,000 and comes standard with keyless entry, a power liftgate, LED headlights, parking alerts, navigation, blind-spot warnings and collision-mitigation braking.

　　One rung up the ladder is the Model X 90D, starting at $95,500, which adds an air suspension and a larger battery that delivers quicker acceleration and the longest range (257 miles) of all Model X flavors. The $116,700 P90D bumps up the speed quotient further still, at the expense of a bit of range, which drops to 250 miles.

　　Options can really ratchet the price skyward in short order. Packages include the Premium Upgrades package,which includes a motorized driver door, HEPA cabin air filter, ventilated front seats, extended leather surfaces, synthetic suede headliner and adaptive headlights. The Subzero Weather package includes wiper blade defrosters, heaters for every seat, and a heated steering wheel, and the Towing package which comes with a removable 2-inch hitch receiver, 7-pin trailer electronics harness, and stability control software.

　　Stand-alone options include seating for six or seven passengers, leather seating surfaces, premium audio, autopilot semi-autonomous driving, 22-inch wheels, a high-current (72 amp) onboard charger and a Ludicrous Speed upgrade.

　　The Model X will have the luxury EV crossover niche to itself for a while, or at least until Audi launches its Q6 E-tron crossover, said to arrive in 2018 and offering nearly 300 miles of range. Mercedes-Benz is also planning an electric SUV for production in 2018, as is Jaguar with its all-electric E-Pace.

　　

2016 Model X Highlights

Trim: 75D90DP90D75D

　　

Base MSRP	$83,000
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Electric
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	26.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / unlimited miles