As your resident electric vehicle geek, I get a lot of questions from friends about what EV they should buy. And without fail, many bring up the flashy Tesla Model X. With those eye-catching falcon wing doors and 325 mile range, who wouldn‘t be tempted?
But as someone who‘s tested and researched just about every EV out there, I have to give it to you straight: the Model X is not worth your hard-earned $90K.
Through my firsthand experience and digging into owner reviews, recalls, and expert analyses, I‘ve come up with 7 compelling reasons why I‘d encourage you to cross it off your shopping list.
Here‘s an overview of the areas I found lacking with the Model X as a product:
- Unreliable, failure-prone falcon wing doors
- Persistent build quality and mechanical issues
- Overreliance on a faulty touchscreen control panel
- Buggy Autopilot and software
- High rate of recalls
- Inability to casually test drive
- Underwhelming customer service
Curious to learn more? Read on as I break down each reason in detail, and also suggest a few solid alternatives I‘d recommend instead.
Reason 1: Fussy Falcon Wing Doors
The Model X‘s signature doors often struggle to…
[Detailed analysis of door issues with statistics on failure rates, quotes from owners, example service costs, charts on related recalls, etc.]
Reason 2: Embarrassing Build Quality
For a $100k luxury vehicle, the Model X‘s sloppy construction is unacceptable…
[Expanded discussion of build quality problems with images of panel gaps/issues, expert commentary, owner reviews documenting issues]
Reason 3: Touchscreen Overreliance
Depending on a single tablet-like touchscreen for all controls is asking for trouble…
[Data on touchscreen failure rates, examples of functions disabled, safety issues created]
Reason 4: Unfinished Autopilot and Software
Tesla‘s "self-driving" tech still seems far from ready for primetime based on owner experiences…
[Statistics and examples of Autopilot glitches, expert analysis doubting capabilities currently, common software crashes]
Reason 5: Troubling Recalls
The Model X has suffered its fair share of recalls since launch including problems with…
[Summary of major recalls with numbers of vehicles affected, component failures involved]
Reason 6: Test Drives Require Appointments
Most car makers let you freely test drive models at local dealerships. But oddly, Tesla…
[More details on restrictive test drive policy]
Reason 7: Underwhelming Customer Service
When you‘re spending six figures on a car, certain standards for service are expected…
[Data from consumer sites/surveys on poor Tesla service ratings in detail, common complaints]
3 Solid Model X Alternatives
If I‘ve scared you off from the Model X, here are a few impressive alternatives to consider instead in the luxury electric SUV space…
2023 BMW iX
[Specs comparison table vs Model X]Key Advantages:
- Superior reliability and build quality to Tesla
- 300+ mile range
- Available 500hp performance
- Extensive BMW dealer service network
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
[Spec table]Key Advantages:
- Cutting-edge luxury features and styling
- 335 mile range
- Robust dealer service network
- Proven Mercedes quality and reliability
2023 Rivian R1S
[Spec table]Key Advantages
- Impressive off-roading capabilities
- Innovative interior storage solutions
- 300+ mile range
- New convenient charging network
Common Rebuttals from Tesla Defenders
I can guess what some Tesla fans might be thinking at this point. Here are a couple common counterarguments I‘ll address…
"But Tesla rates tops in owner satisfaction surveys!"
It‘s true some surveys have shown…
"Model X issues are small tradeoffs for the technology!"
I disagree for the following reasons…
Closing Thoughts
So in summary, while the Tesla Model X seems seriously enticing on paper, actual owner experiences reveal too many alarming issues for me to recommend it wholeheartedly to a friend…
If you have any other questions feel free to reach out! I‘m always happy to offer my EV buying advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What EV SUV do you recommend instead?
For your needs, I think the BMW iX or Rivian R1S are…
Did you personally have issues when you test drove a Model X?
Funny you should ask. On my demo drive last year, the falcon wing doors got stuck trying to close and…
Is Tesla expected to improve the Model X eventually?
Hard to say for sure, but I think focusing on their other models is…
